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“Thank you, Mr. Manarch. Ava, if you need anything, please let me know.”
“I will,” I add.
“This place isn’t set up for the kids,” Viktor tells me.
“We will make do. All I care about is us being together and safe,” I murmur, since Niko is sleeping in my arms and Aisling seems to be asleep in Viktor’s.
I follow him as he guides us to the bedroom door. There’s a huge California king-size bed. It will be more than adequate for tonight.
“Lay Aisling in the center. Use some of the pillows as walls to keep her in place,” I tell him.
I do the same with Niko.
When he’s done, he walks toward me. “Ava…” He kisses me. It is animalistic and urgent. He doesn’t stop until we’re both panting, then he presses his forehead to mine. “I thought I lost you.” His voice sounds tired and pained.
“You can’t get rid of me that easy,” I whisper.
“Hey.” Oliver knocks on the bedroom door, interrupting our intimate moment.
“What’s up?” Viktor scolds as quietly as his mood permits.
“Surveillance is up, and the coast is clear. If you guys want a moment to yourself, I can stay with the kids.”
He’s in one piece and alive, but I don’t think babysitting should be on his agenda anytime soon.
“That would be great,” Viktor surprises me.
When I stare at him, we have an unspoken conversation.
We both need the same thing.
Each other.
“Here.” Oliver hands him a burner cell. “I’ll call you if anything happens. Upstairs is set up.”
When Viktor takes my hand and leads us out of the bedroom, I ask, “What is upstairs?”
“Rest.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Viktor
As I lead us upstairs, I can’t stop thinking about how today could have played out differently. I pride myself on being a tough man, capable of withstanding anything, but today I learned there’s a flaw in my thinking.
A life without Ava is no life at all. The attacks today shouldn’t have happened.
“Viktor, what is this place?” Ava asks when we reach the third floor, distracting me from my dangerous thoughts.
“I bought this building a few weeks ago when I realized you don’t like going to the city for work anymore. I thought this could be the new headquarters for House of Beauty because it’s closer to home.”
“I never said I don’t want to work in the city.”
“You didn’t have to say it out loud. I know you.”
She smiles before shifting her focus back to our new location, “This place is huge for a headquarters.”
“I thought we could keep the lofts as they are and sneak out from time to time.”
