Page 72 of Absolution

“I’ll assemble the men, but I won’t be there,” Angus tells Viktor.

“Excuse me?” Viktor asks as I start to drive again.

“I gave my word to Ava that I’d stay with Aisling.”

“I’m giving you a direct order.” Viktor barks, his voice so loud it vibrates through my ears twice.

“Aye. But so did Ava, and I gave her my word. Send me the address. I’ll have men meet you there.” With Viktor shocked into silence, Angus is forced to add, “Anything else?”

“Nothing for now. I’ll call you with an update.” I advise Angus before ending the call.

“What the fuck?” I can’t help but chuckle at Viktor’s grumbled comment. “What’s so funny at a time like this?”

“What did you expect? Ava isn’t a fragile woman who needs your protection. You wanted a Queen to rule beside you, so you have to trust she knows what she’s doing.”

“If something happens because she couldn’t fucking wait—”

“She probably thinks she needs to protect Niko and that time is of the essence. Ava has faced so much these last two years. She can defend herself. You’ve been preparing her for a moment like this. Trust the training you’ve given her. Besides, she told us where to go. She’s expecting us to get her.”

Ava has always been a fighter. I saw that on the night I met her. This is no different. She always fights for those she loves. Whether Viktor wants to admit it or not, this is the fastest way to find Niko. Ava thinks she found where Niko is being held. Now we need to bring them both home.

ChapterTwenty-Two

Viktor

It’s impossible for me to not worry about Ava. So much could go wrong. Cillian plays dirty, and we can’t confirm that my father didn’t have a hand in this. Oliver is right, Ava can protect herself, but I can’t shake the feeling that something will go wrong.

Ava shouldn’t be facing Cillian on her own. She shouldn’t be finding our son.

That’s my job, not hers.

“We need a plan,” Oliver breaks the silence.

“Simple… go in and get them.”

“A real plan, Viktor. This is why Ava sent me the address and not you. We know this is a trap. Shit, she even knows it’s a trap.”

“What makes you so sure she knows? Because if she does, this is by far the stupidest thing she’s ever done.”

Oliver lowers his speed. “I understand you’re pissed and concerned for her, but she needs us to be smart right now. Cillian is expecting you to come in with guns blazing. We know how many men are outside but have no idea how many are inside. Not to mention, we don’t know what conditions they have Ava in.”

“She could be hurt,” I mutter, confessing the real reason my stomach won’t stop churning.

“Or she could be fine. We need to be strategic. Otherwise, letting us know what’s waiting outside would have been for nothing.” He scans the street before asking, “We’re about five minutes out. What do you want to do?”

I take a deep breath while running my fingers through my hair. This whole ordeal is bullshit. We’re gambling with Ava’s life, and Niko’s too, if he is there.

“What do you have in mind?” I ask, instead of feeding off the adrenaline, which could get my family hurt.

Oliver spends the next few minutes describing a plan he thinks might work. It’s reckless, but it’s not like we have many options or much time. He’s going to drive to the property alone as a decoy. I’ll use the cover of night to rescue Ava and hopefully Niko. We will meet at a drop-off spot where my men will be waiting.

His plan is a gamble and has a lot of ‘what ifs’ that put me on edge. I’m not keen on that, but there’s no other way.

Right before we come in to view of the warehouse, I exit the SUV. My fists ball when I watch Oliver drive away. We’re in an industrial area, which works in our favor. There’s no way they’ll know I’m here, waiting to ambush them.

I follow a path that should lead me to the back of the building.

As I get closer, I see the silhouette of men. From my vantage point, I can’t see Ava or Niko. This means they could be inside the building. Not exactly what we need. Through a window, I see a few shapes inside the building. They’re the size of adults.

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