Page 101 of Absolution

“Aye,” he agrees.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Ava

There has to be a way for me to save Oliver. I can’t sit and do nothing. Oliver would find a way to rescue me, so I must do the same for him.

I can’t let him die. But how can I save him?

I sit down and study the screen. There are at least four men inside Eros. Some of them are pacing, searching the place. Well, more like destroying it. Cillian has Oliver on his knees.

Where the fuck is Viktor when you need him?

The thought leaves my head as quickly as it entered. This is what I’ve been training for. We’ve also been through too much for things to end like this.

“Is that Oliver?” Brenda asks.

I startle. I didn’t even notice that she’d exited the bedroom.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Oh my God. Are they going to kill him?” Her voice shrieks through my ears.

“They’re not,” I assure her, shaking my head.

“Are we both seeing the same thing?”

Before I can answer her, Cillian mocks, “Ava, are you not coming out? Oliver has done so much for you. It’s cruel to let him die for you, too.”

“I have to go out there,” I mumble to myself.

“If you go out, he’ll kill youandOliver. The man is evil.”

I turn and face her. “Do you know Cillian?”

“I know enough. My parents migrated from Ireland. I grew up hearing horror stories about what he does to people. He doesn’t care about anyone. Please, don’t go out there,” she is almost crying.

I take a deep breath. “I understand you’re scared, Brenda, but I can’t sit here and do nothing. Oliver is my brother. Can you check on the kids so I have a minute to think?”

She leaves—hesitantly. I wasn’t born into the mafia, but I have spent the last two years with someone who was. I’ve seen Viktor and his men plan attacks. This is no different. I’m fucking smart enough to outsmart Cillian. He’s cocky and thinks he knows everything. I have the element of surprise. Because he thinks I’m defenseless and weak.

I don’t want to kill him. But if I have to, I will.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

My last lesson with Viktor at the guardhouse comes to mind.

“When you’re facing your enemy, all you need to do is think about a chess game.”

I laugh.

“What?” he asks with a smile.

“I don’t know how to play chess,” I confess.

“It’s simple. Your goal is to make your opponent think they have you. That they have won the game. The weaker you seem, the more your opponent stops seeing you as a threat. Analyze all the possible outcomes. Your opponent, at this point, should have tunnel vision. They’re so focused on checkmate that they haven’t seen all of your other possible moves.”

“So I just wait?”

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