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TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 31
ALEX POV:I paid and left the restaurant immediately after Ava. She hadn’t gotten far, and I followed discreetly to make sure she got home safe before I drove back to D.C.I hated seeing her upset, especially on a night when we should’ve been celebrating instead of fighting. I wanted to run after her and apologize for being an ass, but the clock was ticking, and I needed to finish what I’d started.Only then could I put the past behind me, once and for all.I stared at my computer screen, watching the minutes tick by. 11:55 p.m. I’d given the man a midnight deadline.11:56 p.m.I hadn’t told Ava the truth…about many things. I didn’t have urgent business to take care of before dinner, at least none relevant to Archer Group. Instead, I’d been talking to my family’s killers’ killer.The police had ruled my parents’ and sister’s murders as a home invasion gone wrong, but I knew better. The men had said it was a job and mentioned a “he,” someone who knew
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 32
ALEX POV:I made pancakes.I rarely cooked—why waste my time doing something I didn’t enjoy and which I could pay other people to do? But I made an exception today. I was waiting for a visitor, and I didn’t want to miss them by eating out.The doorbell rang.9:07 a.m., according to the clock on my microwave. Earlier than I’d expected, which meant he was eager.I shut off the stove and sipped my tea as I answered the door. When I did, I had to mask my surprise.Not who I was expecting.“What are you doing here, Sunshine?”Not the warmest greeting, but she needed to leave before he arrived.Mild panic shot through me at the thought of them meeting.Ava frowned. She looked exhausted, and I wondered if she was having nightmares again. They’d eased since she recovered her memories, but they still popped up from time to time.Worry and guilt washed over me. We hadn’t spoken in days. She was still angry with me, and I’d been caught up in my plans. It wa
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 33
ALEX POV:My world crasheddown two weeks after my uncle’s visit.I was driving to work when I received a call from Ivan “requesting” I visit him ASAP. He’d been suspiciously quiet since he was dethroned as CEO, but I knew why. I also knew why he’d asked for a visit—I’d been expecting it.I called my assistant and told her to cancel the rest of my meetings for the day and made it to Philadelphia in two hours flat.I slowed my steps as I walked up the stairs to my uncle’s office, sure he had cameras monitoring my every move since I pulled up to the estate’s gates.I found him sitting behind his desk, watching his beloved Russian drama on the TV.“Hello, uncle.” I leaned against the wall and stuffed my hands in my pockets, the picture of casual indifference.Ivan’s eye twitched. “So you finally made it, you little shit.”I suppressed a smile. My uncle rarely cursed; he must have been out of his mind with anger. I could see why; he looked horrible. I spott
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 34
AVA POV:The next hourpassed in a blur. The police and paramedics arrived, peppering me with questions and medical checkups and lots of somber-looking faces. I endured them all, my answers flat and robotic.By the time they finished, I wanted to crawl into my bed and never get out—if I could bring myself to move.“Ava?” Bridget placed a tentative hand on my arm. “The police said we can go. Rhys will drive us back.”The massive bodyguard hovered so close he was practically on top of us, his usual stoic mask replaced with pure fury.I didn’t blame him. We’d gotten ourselves into this mess.Bridget and I had wanted to see one of our favorite bands perform in D.C. last night. Cool indie bands didn’t visit the city often, and when they did, we took advantage. Except…Rhys had flat-out forbidden Bridget from going because it wasn’t safe, and instead of arguing with him—which we all knew by now was useless—Bridget snuck out in the middle of the night. Everyth
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 35
ALEX POV:I watched Ava leave,my chest hollow, my eyes burning with a foreign, pent-up emotion.I wanted to run after her and snatch her out of Bridget’s arms. To fall to my knees and beg her forgiveness for the unforgivable. To keep her by my side for the rest of our days so nothing and no one could hurt her again.Except I couldn’t, because I was the one who’d hurt her. I was the one who’d lied and manipulated. I was the one who’d endangered her with my thirst for vengeance and twisted plans against my uncle.The only way to protect Ava was to let her go, even if that meant destroying myself.The car taking Ava back to Maryland and away from me disappeared from sight, and I released a shuddering breath, trying to make sense of the pain clawing at my insides. It felt like someone was ripping out pieces of my heart and soul and grinding them beneath their feet. I had never felt so acutely, so much.I hated it. I longed for the icy indifference of
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 36
ALEX POV:Josh’s fist slammed into my face, and I heard an ominous crack before I stumbled back. Blood dripped from my nose and lip, and judging by the pain radiating from the right side of my face, I was going to wake up with one hell of a shiner tomorrow.Still, I made no move to defend myself while Josh pummeled me. “You fucking bastard,” he hissed, his eyes wild as he kneed my stomach. I doubled over, the breath stolen from my lungs in a wet, crimson-stained gasp. “You. Motherfucking. Bastard. I trusted you!” Another punch, this time to the side of my rib. “You were my. Best. Friend!”The hits continued until I dropped to my knees, my body a mess of cuts and bruises.But I welcomed the pain. Reveled in it.It was what I deserved.“I always knew you had bad taste,” I rasped. Note to self: work from home until the injuries heal. I didn’t need the office running wild with rumors. Everyone was still whispering about my uncle’s death, which was o
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 𝟏
𝐀𝐕𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐕:There were worsethings than being stranded in the middle of nowhere during a rainstorm.For example, I could be running from a rabid bear intent on mauling me into the next century. Or I could be tied to a chair in a dark basement and forced to listen to Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” on repeat until I’d rather gnaw off my arm than hear the song’s eponymous phrase again.But just because things could be worse didn’t mean they didn’t suck.Stop. Think positive thoughts.“An Uber will show up…now.” I stared at my phone, biting back my frustration when the app reassured me it was “finding my ride”, the way it had been for the past half hour.Normally, I’d be less stressed about the situation because hey, at least I had a working phone and a bus shelter to keep me mostly dry from the pounding rain. But Josh’s farewell party was starting in an hour, I had yet to pick up his surprise cake from the bakery, and it would be dark soon. I may be a glass ha
TWISTED STUBBORN LOVE 𝟐
𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗 𝐏𝐎𝐕:“We should takethis somewhere more…private.” The blonde trailed her fingers down my arm, her hazel eyes bright with invitation as she swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. “Or not. Whatever you’re into.”My lips curved—not enough to classify as a smile, but enough to broadcast my thoughts. You can’t handle what I’m into.Despite her short, tight dress and suggestive words, she looked like the type who expected sweet nothings and lovemaking in bed.I didn’t do sweet nothings or lovemaking.I fucked a certain way, and only a specific type of woman was into that shit. Not hardcore BDSM, but not soft. No kissing, no face-to-face contact. Women agreed, then tried to change it up halfway through, after which I’d stop and show them the door. I have no tolerance for people who can’t keep to a simple agreement.That was why I stuck to a roster of familiar rotating names when I needed a release; both sides knew what to expect.The blonde w
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