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Fedor rubbed his temple and gripped the wheel with two hands. “Shit.” It was a low grumble under his breath, but I heard it anyway.
“What?”
“Boss, I think you should let her go. Stop the chase.”
A tiny bomb went off at the back of my head and, if the bloody bastard wasn't the one in the driver's seat, I might just have punched his fucking head.
“Well, what do you know? Your thoughts are fucking invalid, Fedor.”
“You're not going to like this…” He pulled out a piece of paper from inside his jacket and handed it to me. While I went through it, he gave me the breakdown. “You already know, Ivan tails her. Two days ago, he was keeping an eye on her, and the trail led to a hospital. He gave me the heads up and I told him to get the information, by force, if necessary, we had to know what we were up against. The nurses were stubborn at first until the lad took out a gun.”
Briefly, he pointed to the paper in my hand.
“That is a copy of her pregnancy report confirmed.” I looked back at the document. Surely, it was a pregnancy report, and it had her name on it. “I'm just saying, she's with the blonde now…”
“…and there are chances that he knocked her up and that might be the reason they're getting married. You know the code, boss: Declan has a right to his child. It's absolute; everyone follows it. So, it won't make any sense if you keep going after her. In my opinion, and I know it's none of my fucking business, I think you should respect it and let her be.”
I stared at the report in my hands, perusing through every detail till I found what I was searching for; and when I found it, an uncontrollable smile grew on my face.
“She's eight weeks pregnant,” I said without looking at him.
Eight weeks ago, I had her.
Eight weeks ago, I fucked her.
Before me, there was no one else. She didn't have to tell me; I could differentiate between a woman who had experience and the one who didn't.
“The child in her womb is mine.” I folded up the report and our it in my jacket. “So, yes, the code will be respected and honored.”
I almost laughed out loud. I couldn't believe I went all the way to see Benjamin for nothing. All this time, I had a rightful claim to her without even knowing it. I faced the driver on the seat, feeling sudden excitement rush through me.
“Thank you, Fedor. You just made this a whole lot easier.”
Chapter 14 - Ava
Whispers, hums, and cheers started the second I walked into the church with my arm draped over my father’s. “She's so beautiful,” I heard on the left. “Her dress is lovely. Do you think it's Monique?” I heard from the right.
Many more comments came pouring in about my stark resemblance to my father, and how good Declan and I looked together as a couple. Struggling to keep my concentration, I focused on the tall blonde standing by the officiating minister. He was truly handsome. I’d told him once; if he hadn’t been sucked into this world, he’d have a great shot as a sought-after model.
Maybe the murmurs were right; maybe Declan and I did look good together. But it didn’t feel that way. The more steps I took forward, the more my heart jerked back as if it were attached to a string someone else pulled. I looked around. Colorful rays of sunlight poured in through the stained-glass windows and the glow made everything else ethereal. A dull ache resided in my chest; today was my wedding day. Mine and no one else’s. Yet, it did not feel like it. It felt like I wore someone else’s beautiful dress and shoes to walk down the aisle to be wed to another’s husband. I had an out-of-body experience.
All I could think about was him. Everything Viktor infiltrated my thoughts in a rush. He wasn’t even here but I could smell him; perfume and man. I could taste him; cherry and vodka. Intoxicating. Suffocating. Satisfying. Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I didn’t dare blink. I didn’t want to ruin the makeup. The same man had hurt me. I remembered the jacket draped over my shoulder and the night he promised to be gentle. What was wrong with me? Why did it feel like, with him, I was never free? Like the chains on my wrist and feet were bound to him for eternity?
When we got to the podium, Dad left my arm and kissed my forehead. “You are doing the right thing, my precious. I’m proud of you.” I watched his back as he moved to his reserved seat. I was like a knife twisted in my gut. He’d said it with a lot of conviction, but I wasn’t convinced.
I met Declan on the lower steps and forced a smile on my face while he looked genuinely pleased to see me. “You are beautiful, Ava,” he whispered.
Guilt pricked my insides. He deserved much more than a half-hearted bride. A life with an arm candy that was smitten by his charm, would have been a better choice. If Viktor wasn’t in the picture, there was a possibility of a future with Declan. He’d always been nice to me, friendly, and reasonable. Granted, he was attractive. I’d caught a few female's eye him much longer than they should have, and any bride should have been happy with having a husband with an advert-worthy smile.
The minister commenced, and the rest of the processions blurred until it got to the part of exchanging vows. Declan went first. He cleared his throat and held my fingers like he feared they would break if he gripped them too hard.
“I, Declan O’Malley, take you, Ava O’Sullivan, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is my solemn vow.”
He gave me a look, asking if he got it right. We spent hours together the night before, rehearsing the lines over and over until we perfected it. He wanted something dramatic, and I preferred classic lines—not because I liked it. My heart couldn’t stomach heartfelt vows from a man I wasn’t giving myself wholly to. But the question in his eyes spurred bubbles and I heard myself laugh hard. Suddenly, I wished I didn’t. It drove the wedge deeper. Why did he have to be funny?
“Ava?”
The minister encouraged me softly with a warm smile and kind eyes. Oh. It was my turn to seal my destiny with this man’s; to tie our fates together, until death did us part.
