Miguel's POVAva stood before me, and her presence ignited a whirlwind of emotions within me. Despite my anger and bitterness towards her over everything she had put me through.I still couldn't ignore that there was an undeniable warmth in my heart at the sight of her. Oh! How I had missed her.Her beauty had remained unchanged since the last time and the sight of her struck me like a bolt of lightning, leaving me momentarily breathless.It took everything in me to suppress the urge to rush toward her and embrace her. I wanted to so badly but I couldn't act on my feelings. I clenched my jaw tightly, my fists trembling with pent-up frustration and rage directed at her. I couldn't let her see how much she still affected me, and how much I longed to hold her in my arms and never let go.I blinked away all that emotion, composing myself, "What the hell is she doing here?" I repeated, my voice low and tingling with venom as I turned my gaze back to Perez. My eyes bore into him, questi
Ava's POVThe world seemed to have stopped in its turn as Miguel pushed me and I fell into Perez's arms —who held me up, keeping me from falling to my knees. Lightweight, destroyed, broken —my body felt like a broken shell unable to hold anything. I was falling apart, I was crumbling from within, and all the joys of the world were beyond reach.My heart was in my legs, in my arms, in my bones, everywhere but my chest and it was heavy. My body was heavy and impossible to lift. It was almost like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulder. And perhaps I was. It had been hours since Perez brought me from the ranch but I didn't feel like myself. How could I? With Mary-Grace being missing and all, It felt like every inch of my soul was damaged and set loose to the wind. I was lost, and Irreparable with no one to blame for everything that had gone wrong than myself.Perez dragged me out of the mansion, and I crumbled before him, refusing to move another inch. I couldn't le
Miguel's POVWe pulled away from the mansion, and my gaze involuntarily drifted to the rearview mirror watching Ava as she ran after the car and then fell to the ground. Her tear-streaked face was etched with pain and desperation.The image burned in my mind as the car drifted further away from her. My heart cramped as I focused on her, and clenched my fist tightly. Abandoning her wasn't anything easy, and it fucking hurt but it had to be done. “Do you want us to stop?” Perez leaned toward me as he whispered, noticing my struggle, and I caught his gaze and shook my head.“No,” I mumbled, “We have somewhere to be.”Each glance at her through the rearview mirror felt like a punch to the gut, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me that I couldn't help or process at the moment.I wanted to reach out, to offer some comfort, but the wounds she had inflicted on me ran too deep. The betrayal, the lies, they were like a dagger lodged in my heart, refusing to budge no matt
Ava's POV“My baby was kidnapped!” I wailed as the officer helped me to a seat, “You need to find her, please,” I pleaded, sliding off the seat and getting to my knees.His forehead squeezed in worry as he looked at me. His eyes scanned me almost like he was assessing me but I didn't care.All I wanted was to find my child. And as the seconds trickled by, I became impatient.Like a mad dog, I jumped to my feet, “What are you waiting for? Find her!” I yelled at the man when he didn't move, drawing the attention of the other officers to myself.I was a mess, a desperate mess who would do anything to find her child. I was losing time and thinking of what Fernando might be doing to my baby was driving me crazy.My boobs still hurt, and the breast milk seeping out of it wasn't helping me relax either. My baby was hungry, and here I was standing before this officer who wasn't doing anything. It was vexing.“Go find my child! Please, isn't that your job?” I tugged at the officer's clothes
Ava's POVI could feel my heart in my legs as I ran with all I had in me —every fibre of my being was out here.I ran through the chaos, and the wailing sound that followed the echoes of gunshots.Bullets flew in all directions as I neared the burning ranch, and charged in on what looked like a war front. The sight was what you could only expect to see at a war front.I could feel fear coursing through me at the chaos but I had to keep going because my baby needed me. I had to stay strong and focused for her. It didn't matter if I was running into war.The closer I got to the burning ranch the more I could feel the heat lick my skin and sweat rolled down my back. As I reached the chaotic scene, my heart hammered in my chest with dread, and fear tightened into a knot in the pit of my stomach. My body trembled aggressively, and the intense pressure in my abdomen was growing more and more pressing.Through the chaos I could barely make out allies or foes. Both sides were locked in a f
Miguel's POVThe beeping sound reverberated through my consciousness, pulling me back from the depths of unconsciousness. Slowly, I became aware of my surroundings and the sterile scent of the hospital invading my nostrils. I opened my eyes, blinking away the haze of sleep.The harsh glare of fluorescent lights assaulted my vision, casting everything in a clinical glow. I squinted my eyes, shying away from the brightness as I turned, taking in the sight of the hospital room.The walls were a dull shade of white, devoid of any warmth or personality. By my bed were rows of monitors, their screens flickering with vital signs and numbers, which meant little to nothing to me.I shifted into the hospital bed, feeling the stiffness in my muscles protesting against my movements. Pain shot through my body, and my eyes glimpsed the burns on my skin, which served as a reminder of the ordeal I had endured. As far as I was concerned, they were like trophies, a small price to pay to save my child
Miguel's POV“There you are,” Gracie's voice echoed through the corridor, cutting off my thoughts. I glanced in her direction and smiled, grateful for her presence. Her face morphed into a frown, “Weren't you going to come see me?”“Who says I didn't,” I confronted, “I have visited you twice now, and both times you were on a sedative, so I had to go back to my room.”“Oh!” She mouths, “I didn't know that,” she confessed.I looked at her closely. She looked like she had seen hell. Her eyes were bagged, and her face was pale like death. Perez said they were keeping her in the hospital because she had been traumatized by the entire event and had been unable to sleep, which was why they kept her on a sedative.“What?” She quizzed as she met my gaze. Her eyes were hollow and devoid of their usual light, and it broke my heart.“Nothing,” I mumbled, looking away and squeezing the baby to my chest. I didn't know what to say to her, but I couldn't shake the guilt I felt about the whole thing.
Miguel's POV“Lino’s been caught. We have him,” Mason informed, “What should we do?”I glanced at him. Finally, I thought.My eyes shot to Ava through the window, and I gazed at her for over a minute. Watching her partially lifeless body on that bed made me mad. I wanted to hurt someone. I wanted to do damage and make Nando suffer, as well as Lino.“What should we do?” he asked again, “Shall I go over there and find out if he knows anything about where Nando could be?”“No. I'll handle it myself. Get the chopper ready. It's time for me to go home,” I said without taking my eyes off Ava. I had to leave, and I had to do it now. It was time I personally dealt with the issue at hand and put an end to this menace once and for all. No more hide and seek. I have had enough of Lino and Nando’s games. They have handled the ball for far too long and now it was my turn.I needed my enemies beneath my feet where they should rightly be, and I was going to make sure of that. This Ended Now.Ma
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