Page 42 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

Chapter Nine

Avery

My heart was torn to shreds. Completely. Aiden’s fear seeped into me. Everything he said made sense. Absolutely everything. I was tired of this shit. So tired that I couldn’t stop now. We’d set this plan in motion and I was ready for it to all be over.

“Are you okay?” John asked, looking back at me through the rear view mirror.

“Not really.”

“Aiden didn’t look happy.”

I sighed, fiddling with my coat.

“He’s not. We had a fight. He doesn’t want me to do this tonight. Rick called him then he went mental at me.”

“Rick called him?”

I nodded, but then realised he was paying attention to the road so couldn’t see me.

“Yes. Not sure what he said other than he knows Aiden and I got married and I got the impression he still wants to meet me in person.”

John drummed his fingers on the steering wheel for a moment.

“Rick’s never got in touch with him before from what he’s told me.”

Aiden hadn’t exactly been unreasonable with me and it made this worse. I knew him talking to Rick would piss him off. I just wanted to know what the man said to cause my husband to go completely off the deep end over me going to the Shaws tonight. Except instead I’d got angry at him too. And now I felt like the world’s worst wife. I should’ve pressed him about what Rick said. I should’ve made him tell me.

“No… It’ll be okay, I’m just worried about him and what he might do. I mean last time he beat the crap out of Robert Bassington.”

John gave me another look through the rear view mirror. He seemed concerned too.

“Are you sure you still want to do this?”

“Not really, but do I even have a choice at this point? If I don’t do this now, then it’ll just be later down the line and I think we’ve all had enough.”

He nodded slowly. He’d dealt with my family for a long time. He knew a lot of their darkest secrets. John wanted a quiet life now, just like Aiden and me. One without threats and dark family deeds hanging over us. I’d meant what I said to Aiden. I wanted a life with him where we could be free to love each other in the open.

Was it so wrong that I wanted to be able to walk down the street and hold my husband’s hand without being scared we’d be exposed by the press or some random person snapping a picture of us? I wanted to be able to wear my fucking wedding ring. I just wanted to be normal. Not that our relationship could ever be described as normal. Not with how it started and the ways in which we desired each other.

“As long as you’re sure. I can take you back if you’re not.”

“I’m sure.”

The rest of the journey to Frazier’s was silent. I was too busy dwelling on my argument with Aiden. I wished we hadn’t got into a fight. It made this so much worse. My nerves coiled in my stomach, destroying my appetite and giving me a slight headache. I needed Aiden’s support and I didn’t have that. I pulled out my phone, settling for sending him a message.

ME: I’m sorry.

ME: I love you xxx

I didn’t get a response. He was probably still cooling off. Something in my gut told me I should be worried about him not responding. He hadn’t even seen the texts. Aiden didn’t usually ignore his phone going off. I was about to try calling him when we pulled up in Frazier’s driveway. I stuffed my phone back in the pocket of my dress. I’d picked it deliberately because a dress with pockets, who didn’t want one of those?

John helped me out the car and gave me a sharp nod.

“I’m only a text message or phone call away.”

I put a hand on his arm.

“I know. Thank you… Hey John, can you try calling Aiden and see if he’s calmed down yet? I don’t know why, but I feel like something’s wrong.”

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