Page 127 of Absolution

“Ava, are you here? Oliver?” I have never been more relieved to hear Viktor’s surly tone.

“We’re back here.” I stand.

Ava also rises. When she sees Viktor, she runs into his arms.

“You were cutting it a little close, big brother,” I breathe out when I reach them.

“It looks like you had all the fun.” He’s trying to sound playful, but all I hear is sheer relief.

“Mom,” Ava cries, letting go of Viktor and racing to Diana.

I follow her.

“Mom,” she calls out again as her eyes dart over Diana’s body. She is barely breathing, and her face is white.

I kneel beside her. “She’s dying, Ava.”

Viktor’s brows pull together when Ava murmurs, “You saved my life.”

“I’m sorry, Ava. I never meant for this to happen.” She starts coughing up blood. A sign she is close to the end.

“Don’t say anything,” Ava pleads. “Someone call nine-one-one. Mom, hold on.”

Diana turns her pained eyes to me.

“It’s your job, Olly, to do what I never did. Love her like I never could.” Her glassy eyes drift between us. “I’m sorry, I…” She doesn’t finish the sentence.

Diana is gone.

“Mom, please don’t die!” Ava cries while clutching her hand for dear life.

“Ava, we have to go.” Ignoring me, she leans over to hug Diana. “Come on, Ava, we have to go.” When she continues crying over Diana’s body, I lift my eyes to Viktor. “Help me here.”

He jumps straight into action. “Come on, baby girl. This place will be swimming with cops any minute.”

When he forces her to her feet, she fights him. “Let me go, Viktor!”

“I’m sorry, Ava.” He plucks her from the floor and tosses her over his shoulder. We hear the sirens as we make our way to the back. The warehouse is out of the way, but that doesn’t mean someone didn’t hear the gunfire.

There are SUVs waiting for us outside. We get in the first one we see. Ava is still crying, but Viktor does his best to comfort her. I didn’t know Diana, and she wasn’t my mother, but I feel her loss, too. Not for me, but for Ava.

The car is silent except for Ava’s cries as Marco drives us away, and the sirens fade in the distance.

“We will get through this,” Viktor tells her, his voice oddly soothing.

“Where to, sir?” Marco asks, peering at the rearview mirror.

“Oliver, call Angus. Ask him where he is.”

Understanding Viktor’s orders, I yank out my cell and dial Angus’s number. He answers one ring later.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Tell me you found her.”

My smile is heard in my reply. “I did.”

“It’s good to know you made it out alive as well.”

---