She turned back to the television, her nose wrinkling. Had they just lost their only ally in the fight against The Board?
CHAPTER 17
ALEX
Alex shifted in his seat, his features scrunching as he stared at the screen. “I mean, he’s a big boy, so…”
“Alex,” Ava said, her voice insistent.
“Ava,” he answered, slamming closed the lid of the laptop and rising to his feet, his voice a mix of anger and fear, “this guy could be responsible for your almost-death!”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head, muting the volume on the television. “He’s responsible for me being alive right now. And now he’s hurt. We need to help him.”
She crossed her arms and frowned as she stared expectantly at him.
He clicked his tongue. “Okay, well…I…”
Alex’s shoulders slumped as he puffed his cheeks out. “I don’t know where to look, Ava. I mean, he’s pretty good at hiding. Maybe we should just let him hide and come back when he’s ready.”
“Alex!” Ava’s eyes widened as she curled her fingers into fists. “We have to do something.”
“Yeah, I’m more in the camp of waiting for a bit to see how this plays out.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed, a spark of frustration flaring in them “Are you seriously suggesting we do nothing?”
Alex’s gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders sagging as he sighed. “I just…I don’t want to risk losing you again, not for him.”
When he raised his eyes again, he found her hip cocked, arms crossed, and one eyebrow arching dangerously toward her hairline.
He grimaced. “Don’t give me that scary look.”
The eyebrow arched a little higher, making her look even more frightening.
“Ava! Come on. I don’t love this guy. He’s kind of a jerk. And the fact that he’s Sebastian–”
“Makes you jealous.”
Alex lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Cards on the table, yes. He kind of does. Also, this newfound fondness you have for him makes me like him even less.”
“He saved my life, Alex–”
“Noted, and that is definitely a point in his favor.” Alex bobbed his head.
“Fine,” Ava said with a shake of her head. “I’ll find him myself.”
“Ava! You can’t leave this cabin. You said you had to stay dead while we got rid of Chris. Which, by the way, I’m totally on board with. Let’s work on that plan, instead.”
She strode toward him and thrust out her hand. “Keys.”
“No way, uh-uh. I’m not letting you out of my sight after your near-death experience.”
“We have to find Sebastian,” she said, her voice firm. “Weneed him to finish this with The Board. And besides, we owe it to him. He’s saved both of us.”
Alex raised his eyes to the ceiling, sucking in a deep breath. “Fine. Okay, you’re right. I just…don’t want to admit it because suddenly, you’re BFFs with Shadow, and I don’t like it.”
“I’m not. I’myourBFF first.”
“Actually, you’re my wife.”
