Ava's POVThe next few days passed, and Fernando took the best care of me. He stayed by my side all day, playing games and racing each other across the ranch. We fed the cattle together, and he even made me ride a horse, sitting behind me. It was fun, and I was really having the best time of my life. Fernando bought some baby stuff and set up a room in the house for the baby. He spent all day up there, decorating the room. He was so excited and loving, almost like the baby growing inside me was his. He was really acting like a father, and I was surprised at how amazing he was.“What do you think?” He asked when he brought me to the room later in the evening, “I haven't settled for a colour yet since we don't know its gender yet, but we can sort that out later. For now, we settle for white.”The room was beautiful, and I walked over to the baby's cradle, feeling the smooth material.“It's beautiful,” I said, “Thank you,” I mumbled.“No. Don't thank me.” He came up beside me, faci
Ava's POV Fernando poured me a glass of wine and gently passed it to me. “Thanks.” I picked up the glass and took a long sip before digging into breakfast, “Wow! It's delicious,” I mumbled, stuffing myself while he watched me.We finished our food a while later, and Fernando took out two rolled pieces of paper, “Pick one,” he said.“What's in it?” I asked, raising a brow.“You’ll see. Just pick one,” he urged, resting his head on his hands as he watched me closely.“Okay,” I reached a hand to the pieces, moving my hand from left to right.“Just pick one,” he urged, laughing after waiting for a few minutes.I took a deep breath and finally settled for the paper on the left. Fernando took the other and tucked it in his pocket while I unwrapped the paper, and read it.“What does it say?” Fernando asked.“A picnic date,” I answered, nibbling my lips, “That sounds fun.”“Should I take that as a yes?” he questioned and I nodded.“Yes. Let's do it!” I exclaimed.“Great. Let me get things r
Ava's POVA thousand thoughts were running through my mind as Fernando leaned closer, slowly killing the distance between our lips. The warmth from his breath, grew even closer, yet my head paused time.The panic in my heart became erratic in my chest, but not out of excitement. I didn't really feel excited. Instead, I was uneasy. I felt sick.Things between Fernando and I felt good and natural. We felt like great friends. It didn't feel like more which I knew was what he wanted and I wanted to give him that. I wanted it to but it didn't feel right.The last few days with Fernando have been great. He had treated me with so much care, compassion, and love. He had been so sweet to me and my unborn child, acting like the baby was his own.I appreciated it, and I truly wanted to return the same amount of love he had been giving me. I wanted to give things between us another chance no matter how unsettled I felt deep down.I wanted to treat him kindly, take care of him, and love him agai
Ava's POVMiguel? Short, and not exactly blessed with looks? Was Penelope joking? I couldn't believe my ears. I glanced at her, and she appeared dead serious but I was sure she was only teasing me. It had to be a joke.It sounded like one —and obviously, it was a terrible joke so I laughed it off. If anyone knew how handsome Miguel was it had to be her after all she was his mother.“You tell a really terrible joke, Penelope,” I laughed it off, filling my mouth with more almonds.“Terrible joke?” She repeated, acting clueless, and honestly, she sounded believable like she meant every word she had said to me. Her poker face game was solid, and the only reason I wasn't the least convinced was because she was his mother.She knew what Miguel looked like and knowing that, there was no way she could say he was unattractive but hammering on the fact that he was short and unattractive didn't just make any sense to me.“Yeah, terrible joke,” I repeated, “You surely cannot mean that about Mi
Ava's POVI jolted awake, covered in cold sweat, and filled with longings. My heart was pounding aggressively in my chest and my heavy breath sliced through the silence in my room. I leaned back on the headboard and suddenly felt the wetness pooling between my legs.Oh shit! This couldn't be happening right now. My panties were cold and the sudden realization of how drenched I was down there made my skin crawl. It had been just a dream but apparently, it had also felt more than that.Gross. I couldn't believe that I had a sex dream about Miguel, and worse I was wet because of it. The thought of that alone was enough to weird me out. I was beyond irked.Why Miguel? Why was I still thinking about him —dreaming about him? After everything that I had learned about him, everything that he had done to me and my family? Why was my heart still hesitant to let go of him? It was sickening.I groaned, getting out of bed and hurrying to the bathroom to clean myself up. My emotions were everyw
Ava's POVTime passed by like the wind, and before I knew it seven months had gone by already, and my day of delivery was quickly approaching. The doctor had informed us that any moment from now the baby would come. I was excited, and with each day that went by I was growing more and more excited to meet my baby. The excitement was contagious, even Penelope was hasty and sometimes it felt like Fernando was even more excited than both of us which was also easing.He had been a big help to me in the last few months, and I couldn't deny how much I adored him for it. I didn't know what I would have done without him.As promised, the last few months with him were peaceful and calm. He didn't put any pressure on me just as he said and we were doing pretty well.We were like best friends but I knew deep down that he was still waiting for me but somehow he didn't let it get in the way of us.Our friendship had grown to be my biggest support throughout the months that passed.There had been a
Miguel's POVDays had turned into weeks, weeks into months, and still, Ava was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere for her but there was no trace of her. It was like she just vanished off the surface of the earth.I had utilized every source in my reach and explored every option to find her, but none had yielded any news in the past months. I still couldn't find her, and it was most devastating. I felt suffocated. It was like I was underwater, and I was dying slowly. I swirled the glass in my hand, took a long sip from the glass, and gazed out the window at the beautiful city of Chicago. I had been here for longer than I planned to, and from the looks of things I'd probably still be here for a lot longer. I had made a promise to myself that I wouldn't leave until she was found.The lack of progress was breaking my heart, and after searching the entire city without any sign of her. I didn't even know where else to look for her. The relentless search for Ava had drained me of
Miguel's POVA scoff left my lips at his words. I knew Ava. She was stubborn. A couple of staged interviews wouldn't make her run back to me."Come on, you need to have an idea. Once we set the plan rolling, she will come," Mason insisted but I shrugged it off.“I doubt that, but thanks for trying,” I emptied my glass and poured another glass of wine, taking a long sip from my cup.I spent the rest of the evening, emoting the bottle of bourbon and after Mason left, my mind drifted back to the words he said about me doing something for Ava, and how maybe she might eventually return to me. That hope sprang into my mind and thinking about it again I figured it was worth a try. "What she wants," I pondered about it for a while, thinking back on all our conversations and the moments we have had together. The moments flashed through my mind and it suddenly hit me. There was one thing that has always made Ava happy. Something she loved and wanted —to help the children at the orphanage. A
Ava's POVIt had been a week since the Jet incident, and Mason's death.The cops had done their part with the investigation and had managed to connect the hospital explosion, and the van explosion together linking it to Lino.They had also traced some of his illegal businesses to Naples among other crimes and shut it down but since there was no one to punish that was all they could do.Angela, on the other hand, was arrested, and sentenced to ten years in prison for impersonation, fraud, and for being Fernando's accomplice which was a lot less than she deserved.Miguel and I had stuck around for the investigation, and I was pretty glad when it was finally over and done with. There was nothing more that I wanted in my life than to put the hellish past behind us and focus on the promise of the future.Whatever was in store for Miguel and me was something I was dying to see.The days after the incident at the Jet
Ava's POV Miguel was there, sleeping peacefully with Mary Grace cuddled into his side.My heart felt hurt and I wished for just one second I could turn back the hands of time —just to make myself worthy again.But all of those were just wishes.I couldn't risk another moment around them for fear of causing them more problems. It was clear that I was the secret ingredient for trouble. And for the people I loved to be safe, I had to be far from them.I scooped Mary Grace from her bed quietly not wanting to wake Miguel. I kissed her forehead, tears gathering in my eyes as I whispered. “I love you, sweetie, and I'll always be here. I'll always be watching you like a hawk but for now, mama has to go,” I pressed my lips to her head again, and again.“I'm going to miss you, darling, but don't worry you're in safe hands. Your dad will take good care of you,” I squeezed her in my arms and then finally laid her in the crib, not wanting to risk waking Miguel up by dropping her by his side as s
Ava's POV A gun rolled to the entrance of the cockpit and I only hesitated for a second before handing Mary Grace to Gracie. I knew what I had to do.I walked over to the door and picked it up as Lino stretched out his gun to Miguel. I stood behind them but none of them noticed my appearance in the room.The weapon was heavy but that didn't matter much. It was now or never, and I had to make a quick choice —a scary one but I didn't have much of a choice. I had never fired a gun in my life until this moment. But I had to do it, our lives depended on it.I focused my vision on him and the gun went off in my trembling hands.Lino's body dropped to the ground with a loud thud.If I had been just a second late he would have killed Miguel. I saved him. I saved the man I loved. Something about that numbed the guilt that came with taking a life.The gun slipped out of my hands to the ground as tears rolled down my face. Miguel's eyes met mine.I saw the worry etched on his features as I rush
Miguel's POVI raked a hand through my hair, listening to Perez fill me in about what happened at the hospital, and the men he had lost in the van explosion on their way here.Bastardo! My blood stirred.“Those were good men,” I mumbled, reeling in the loss as I ground my teeth and clenched my fist, “Lino. That scumbag,” I cursed, fuming inside.“I have everyone looking for him, and Mason. Perhaps he could lead us to him—”The sudden sound of the engine roaring to life echoed from behind us, and my head swirled to the Jet which was getting ready to take off.What the hell? I thought. Stunned.I creased a brow at the unbelievable sight before me. I could hardly believe it. I had no clue what was going on but that Jet was definitely not supposed to take off without an order from me.I couldn't understand it but Ava and my kids were in there, and that was all that mattered.Instantly, I sprinted towards the Jet, and Perez joined me as we raced to the aircraft. I grabbed the entry door be
Ava's POV“It's you. You're the traitor,” I mumbled as the realization hit me. This was why Perez couldn't tell me. It was Mason.How could this be? Even I couldn't believe it.It suddenly felt like my brain was processing in slow motion.My eyes darted to the injection in his hand, then to my daughter, and my eyes widened in shock.Panic washed over me and my hands began to tremble.“What were you trying to do to her?” I flared, clenching my fist tightly, “Were you going to hurt her—”“No, Ava—” he tried to cut me off but I didn't want to hear anything right now.“Get away from her!” I raised my voice. “Mi—” I opened my mouth to scream for Miguel but before I could make a sound Mason grabbed me quickly, pressing his palm to my lips tightly as he pushed me against the wall behind me.He sandwiched me to the wall, “Quiet,” he said, “Don’t scream, please,” he whispered against my ear, “Please,” he repeated, staring me in the eyes for over a minute.I tried to shove him off me but I fail
Ava's POVI bolted upright, my heart pounding against my chest as though it was trying to rip itself out of my body. I was anxious. No. More than that I felt unsettled and for no reason too. I just had this bad feeling in my gut that I couldn't quite shake. Something felt very wrong but I didn't know what it was.I sat up in bed, staring into the darkness with the only source of light being the moonlight spilling in through the window. The air in the room felt heavy, suffocating, as if laden with an ominous foreboding that I couldn't quite place, and the uneasiness tightened in the pit of my stomach. I suddenly felt stuffy and needed some air.I slipped out of bed and glanced over my baby’s crib to see if I had woken her. I hadn't. Mary Grace was still sound asleep.I sighed with relief and made my way to the door. I stumbled towards the door, but my heart jumped again as I heard the sudden sounds of hurried footsteps.My stomach tightened and I pushed the door open gently, peeking
Miguel's POVLino was alive? That couldn't be.I had set the place on fire. I had watched it burn. It had to be a lie. Nando was definitely lying. I glanced at him, “You're lying,” I said.“I'm not!” He yelled with desperation in his voice and words, “I swear it. Mason is involved. I can prove it. Where is he?” I hesitated and turned to one of my men, “Where is Mason?” I asked, right in front of Nando.The man shook his head, “I haven't seen him all day. None of us have,” he responded.The words echoed in my head, and Nando's voice echoed beside me, “He knows... he knows you're onto him, and he's made a run for it.”Nando’s words made sense, and my mind was starting to churn with all sorts of thoughts. There had been something off about Mason since we caught Nando— maybe even since Lino.He hadn't come down to the cell for once, and I had barely seen him. It was almost like he had been hiding away all this time, and I just never really noticed.Everything was starting to align in my
Ava’s POVIt was midday, and Gracie helped me with a napkin to wipe the breast milk that spilled down Mary Grace’s clothes while I was breastfeeding her. I wiped it, cleaned her face too, before lowering my shirt.I pulled her to my chest and cradled my precious baby in my arms as I began to hum a gentle lullaby. Miguel’s favourite one and I hoped it would one day be her favourite one too.The melody flowed from my lips like a soothing river, wrapping us in its tender embrace like a blanket and its effect was tremendous on my baby. Mary Grace fell straight to sleep with her palm clutched tightly around my finger. I noticed she loved to do that, and I loved the feel of her palm around my finger. It was warm, and it made me feel a tremendous amount of peace. I rocked her back and forth, with the rhythm of the lullaby, and Gracie grinned beside me, wrapping one hand around my arm while caressing Mary Grace with the other, although she let her be the minute she was asleep so she wouldn't
Miguel’s POVI walked out of the underground cell, making my way up to the ground floor. Perez spun around the second I entered the room, “I was just coming to see you,” he said as he slid his phone in his pocket.“I spoke with the doctor, he will be here shortly,” He reported, and I regarded him with a nod. “How’s he holding up?”“He’s still a long way from hell but I'll make sure he gets there,” I replied. Perez smiled, “He's more than earned it,” he remarked, “Care for a drink?” he gestured, raising the bottle for a second before going on to pour himself a glass.“Sure. I haven't had one in a while,” I motioned towards him, taking notice of the room. “Where's Mason?” I asked after a minute of not spotting him anywhere around the room. “I’m not sure but he should be outside,” he said, and offered me a glass of scotch. I gulped it all at once and lowered the glass to the table.“Any lead for the antidote yet?” He asked.I shook my head, “Not yet,” I paused, “But I was thinking, per