Alex’s cheeks burned as heat rose into them. “You killed her. You killed Ava with your big mouth.”
Chris stared blankly at him, his face morphing with shock. His eyes darted nervously, his mouth opening and closing like he was trying to form words but couldn’t quitefind the ones that would absolve him. It was as if the reality of what Alex was saying started to sink in, the weight of it pressing down on his shoulders. “No, I…I just…”
Alex threw Kyle’s hand off of him, striding forward to come within inches of Chris. “You killed her. Whether you did it for your new pals or because you’re still angry she didn’t pick you, I don’t care. You killed Ava, and I hope the guilt eats you alive.”
He stepped past him, knocking into Chris’s shoulder as he grabbed the door handle and whipped it open. “Doc, let’s go. We have a funeral to plan.”
He stormed into the hall with Kyle hurrying to catch him. Alex glanced over his shoulder, his heart still hammering as he rounded the corner and headed for the elevators.
“Well?” Kyle asked once they were inside.
“I don’t know,” Alex said with a shake of his head. “I don’t know him well enough to say for sure, but I’d say the seed has been planted.”
“You were impressive, Mav. I think this will work.”
“Time will tell,” Alex said with a sigh as the doors whooshed open in front of them.
They strolled from inside, heading across the lobby. “Now, let’s go plan that funeral so he can break down at it.”
“I’m dreading this. Something about it feels so wrong.” The very idea of planning Ava’s funeral made his stomach churn, as if by doing so, he was accepting her death as real. But if it brought her back, he’d do it—he’d do anything.
“Yeah,” Kyle said, clapping him on the shoulder. “But think about how right it’s going to feel the moment she comes back.”
Alex tried to imagine her triumphant return to life, the shock from everyone else, the surprise. But all he could dwell on was having her back in his life and not having to worry about losing her every time he had to leave her in hiding.
Chris’s exit couldn’t come soon enough.
He hoped the confrontation he’d just had would help, but deep down, he worried he’d never see Ava again.
CHAPTER 26
AVA
Ava stared out the window of their home, her arms wrapped around herself, as waves crashed against the shore. The past few days had been a whirlwind, and her mind struggled to keep up with the latest twists in the ongoing saga.
From her near death to the assault at the cabin, her frayed nerves couldn’t take much more.
According to Alex, his discussion with Chris had been successful. She hoped he was correct because she wasn’t certain how much more she could take being cut off from everything she knew.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she twisted to find Sebastian entering the room. Her eyes fell to his abdomen. “How’s the wound?”
“Tender, but much better. With any luck, I’ll be able to return to the public eye tomorrow.”
She heaved a sigh, twisting back to face the rocky sea as gray clouds raced up the coast. “Lucky you.”
“No progress with Chris?” he asked as he joined her.
“Alex said the conversation was a success. They hope he’ll break down at the funeral. I’m not entirely comfortable with them holding a funeral for me, but…”
“Sounds like a good plan,” he said with a shrug.
She twisted to face him. “Speaking of plans, what is ours? After I make my return from the dead, I mean.”
“With the distraction of your former…wait, what was Chris to you, anyway? He claims he was your fiancé.”
Ava slid her eyes closed. “It’s complicated.”
“I kind of have the time right now.”
