Page 71 of Absolution

“She gave me the address and told me what to expect when we get there.”

“Call the men. Have them meet us there.” When I step past the emergency exit door, Viktor mumbles, “Oliver.”

I press the button to call the elevator to our floor.

“Are you fucking kidding me? You want to take the elevator?”

“You need to calm down. Ava obviously texted me because she wants us to think first and act second.”

“Don’t tell me what she wants. She’smywife.”

“And she’smysister.”

It’s the first time I’ve admitted that out loud since Diana told me.

“If something happens to her because…” The ding of the elevator interrupts him.

“We’ll be smart. Nothing will happen to her. If she’s there, chances are, she found Niko. We don’t know who is behind Niko’s kidnapping. So we need to think.” I massage my temples as we ride to the lobby. “Give me your keys.”

“What?”

“I want your keys, Viktor. I’m driving,” I demand as we step outside the building.

When he hands them to me, I take out my cell and dial Angus.

“I have nothing yet,” Angus announces a second after answering.

“I need to know what Ava was doing before she left the mansion.”

“Put it on speaker,” Viktor orders.

I do.

“She was in Viktor’s office. She had the hacker going through all of Grace’s stuff. She was studying the pictures on Grace’s social media accounts.”

“Where are you?” I ask.

“Kitchen,” Angus answers.

“Go to the office.”

Viktor faces me through heavy brows. “What are you thinking?”

“She saw something. Ava is more calculated than you give her credit for. She doesn’t do things impulsively. Even when she disappeared while pregnant, she thought things through. The woman was literally hiding in plain sight,” I remind him.

“I’m here,” Angus announces. “What am I looking for?”

“Facetime me. Let me see what she was looking at.” Angus scans over everything on Viktor’s desk. “Stop.” I pull over to the side of the road to take in the image more carefully.

“What is it?” Viktor asks.

“Angus, hold the phone closer to the picture to your right. The one where Grace is hiking.” After barely a second, I know what Ava saw. “It’s the Irish. Cillian has Niko.”

“How do you know?” Viktor asks, needing to make sure.

“One of the men behind Grace attacked Ava when she was pregnant,” I tell him.

“Angus, I’m sending you the address where Ava is. Assemble the men and meet us there,” Viktor orders, his voice a vicious bark.

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