Page 59 of Marked For Revenge

Edgar’s attention landed on the arm Harley still had around Ava, and while his mouth didn’t exactly turn into a scowl, there was the initial punch of disapproval. Much to Harley’s surprise, however, that faded.

“If you had any part in keeping Ava safe,” Edgar said, “then thank you.”

Harley shrugged and figured that was as close to a compliment as he’d ever get from the man.

Edgar went silent again, but it was obvious there were things he wanted to say. Maybe to try to start resolving things between Ava and him. The man must have decided that was a lost cause, though, because he muttered a goodbye and turned as if to leave. He didn’t get far. Edgar immediately turned back around.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted. “For a lot of things.” He added a glance to Harley, maybe to let him know that part of the blanket apology was for him. Edgar swallowed hard. “I’d like to see my granddaughter when she’s born. If that’s possible,” he tacked on.

Ava took her time answering. Several long moments crawled by. “All right,” she finally said. “But only if you show due respect to Harley. He is her father.”

Edgar nodded, and even though Harley figured the man would have some trouble with that respect thing, he still saw this as a start in the right direction. Ava didn’t need Edgar to be part of her life. Their daughter wouldn’t, either, but a grandparent was good for a child to have. Added to that, it could perhaps end up mending some of the old wounds between Ava and him.

“Goodbye,” Edgar muttered, but it didn’t have his usual impatient snarl to it. “Keep them safe,” he added to Harley.

Edgar and Duran again seemed to be on the verge of walking away, but the exam room door opened and Caleb came out. He stopped when he spotted them, giving each a glance, maybe to see if there’d been some kind of argument in progress. Obviously, he didn’t see signs of that and started toward them.

“Are you okay?” Ava asked, directing her question both at Caleb and the doctor who stayed in the exam room door. The doctor gave her a thumbs-up.

“I’m fine,” Caleb assured her. “How about you and Harley?”

They both echoed Caleb’s response, but Ava placed her hand on Caleb’s jaw, turning him so she could do her own exam. Like them, Caleb had his share of small cuts, and the bruise on his head from where Marnie had hit him with the gun, but it didn’t look that serious. Harley was glad to see that someone had cleaned the blood off his neck and face. Not Caleb’s, but rather the spatter from Marnie’s head wound.

“Thank you,” Caleb said, also extending his appreciation to both of them. “Trust me, I’m very thankful you’re both good shots.”

Harley was thankful for that, too. Both Ava and he had put bullets in a killer, and they’d had only small windows for those shots.

“Sir,” Caleb greeted Edgar when he finally turned his attention to the man. He nodded an acknowledgment to Duran as well. There was no anger in Caleb’s expression or tone, though he had to know by now the part Edgar and Duran had played in his being put up for adoption.

“Caleb,” Edgar said back. “I was just telling Ava that I hoped I’d be able to see my granddaughter when she’s born.” He paused, cleared his throat. “Maybe you’ll be there for that so I can see both of you.”

Caleb looked at Ava, no doubt to get her take, and when she only nodded, Caleb smiled. “Sounds good.”

That seemed to cause Edgar to relax a little and he offered Caleb his hand. Caleb shook it, and then Duran and Edgar left with Duran already muttering something about Edgar needing to schedule a press conference.

Caleb’s phone dinged with a text and he glanced down at the screen. “That’s Quentin. He’s out front in a borrowed cruiser and said he’d give me a lift home. Is it all right if I go?” he asked Theo.

“Sure. You can give your statement tomorrow morning. If you can’t come here for that, I can send Ava and Harley to Austin to take it.”

Caleb smiled again. “Either way is fine. Call me and let me know what works best for you,” he told Harley and Ava.

“One more thing,” Ava said when Caleb started to leave. “The press will soon pick up on you being my son. There could be reporters.”

Caleb made a dismissive sound. “I’ll handle it,” he assured her, and then the young man did something that had Harley silently cheering. Caleb hugged Ava. “See you tomorrow,” he added in a whisper, and his smile widened when she brushed a kiss on his cheek.

Apparently, that was another part of Ava’s life—a huge one—that just might have a happy resolution. Of course, they’d need to keep an eye on Caleb, and it was possible he’d require counseling for what he’d gone through. If so, they’d make sure he got it and anything else he needed. Caleb wasn’t his bio-son, but he was a brother to Harley’s daughter, and that made him kin in Harley’s book.

Caleb walked toward the exit and turned back to wave at them. “I love you,” Ava blurted out to him, causing Caleb to flash her an even bigger smile.

“Love you, too,” Caleb said. He was still smiling as he walked out the door.

The tears immediately sprang to Ava’s eyes. Happy ones. But she quickly wiped them away. No way would she want her boss to see her crying.

“I’ll go have a word with Quentin,” Theo muttered. “To see if he has any updates from the CSIs.”

That was a ploy on Theo’s part to give them some time alone, since Quentin would have already texted any updates before he’d left those woods. Harley was glad, though, that Theo had played the ploy card because he really did want time alone with Ava.

Since the ER wasn’t exactly a private place, Harley took Ava by the hand and led her back into the exam room. He shut the door and pulled her into his arms. She practically melted against him, and he steeled himself in case she broke down into a full sob.

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