He dragged a dining chair over the tiled floor, placing it right in front of me. His movements were slow and certain as he sat down, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers between his spread legs. Another switch. Another sudden change in his emotions, now radiating a lethal confidence as he observed me.
“That means she still loves me.”
I stayed quiet, not wanting to give him any more ammunition.
“But she loves Becket too.”
Clearly lying wasn’t an option. So I tried another approach. “What about you, Mister Varon? Do you love Ava?”
He studied me for what felt like hours, contemplating if he should entertain my question. Then his shoulders dropped, and his eyes softened into an utter sadness. “More than life.”
Another switch. Like an actor dropping his character. Was the sociopath just an act? Was Varon not the monster he portrayed?
I understood now how Ava had been so utterly conflicted about him when she landed in my office. EvenIam finding it hard to read this man, to pinpoint his true nature.
“Don’t just stare at me, Aspen. Tell me what to do!” The pure desperation in his voice had me reeling.
I had no idea what to say or what to feel as the pain contorted his face. Was this man playing games with me? I couldn’t tell. I had no idea what was real and what was an act. “If you love her as much as you say, then let her go, Mister Varon.”
“Why? Give me a reason and I’ll do it.”
I blinked. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he wanted me to talk him out of it, to talk sense into him. I tried to rally my thoughts into coherence. I expected to be killed, notthis. “When Ava was first placed under my care, she was a shell of a person. She was so consumed by losing you she did not speak. She did not move. Hell, she did not even blink. We had to feed her through a tube for two weeks because she did not eat. Even when we forced her, it would come right back out.”
Varon flinched, and I swore there were tears glistening in his eyes. Was this real?
“Do you understand the amount of grief a person has to feel for their bodies to react in such a manner?”
He was quiet, staring at the moon outside the window.
“She finally moved on. She had picked up her broken pieces and found her will to live again. And it is true—there is still a part of her that loves you, but she does not deserve the pain you’ve caused her. And she sure doesn’t deserve for you to bulldozeover her life again. So let her go, Mister Varon. If you truly love her, let her be.”
He brought a shaking hand to his mouth, contemplating my words. “You’re right.” He stared off at the moon for a few minutes longer before shifting his gaze to me. “It killed me too, you know.” He closed his eyes, his jaw going tense. “In those first few months I would hallucinate her in the room with me. I have Hyperthymesia. And the memories of her were coming to life, so vivid, so clear. I knew what was happening, but I would let it. I would lock myself in a room for days, not eating, not sleeping, so I could be with her. Where people couldn’t remind me I was talking to air. When she got out… I had people filming her every move so I could see her. See what her life was like. Keep an eye on how she was doing. If she was sleeping, laughing, talking to the damn trees.” He gave a depressing chuckle and stood from the chair. “That’s howIsurvived it.” His eyes were on me as he towered over me, but they were vacant, as if he was somewhere else. “I’m glad she had you, Doctor. Don’t tell her about my visit. But if you must, tell her…” He looked at the floor, his jaw clenching hard as he worked to keep his emotions in check. “Tell her—For her, I would fall over toys in the driveway and paint the fences white.”
He took a few steps towards the door, then stopped. “No. Don’t tell her that. I shouldn’t leave her messages anymore. Sorry, doc.”
I sat stunned as he turned away. “Why?” I heard myself ask as he reached the front door. “Why did you leave her then?”
What was I doing? I should have just let him walk out and call the police.
He paused and looked back at me. “Did she tell you about Anderson?”
I nodded, not sure what else to do.
“I was sitting outside his house, sick with worry, while she was in there, seducing that twisted son of a bitch. Because ofme. I knew what he was capable of. I knew how depraved the man was, but I could do nothing to stop Ava from going into his house. She would not listen to reason. She could not be dissuaded. And then I got the call. The head of the Bratva had put a bounty on everyone I loved. They were to be handed over alive, so he could inflict on them the type of pain that turns a person mad. After that, the choice was simple, really. Her safety at all costs. So I did unspeakable things. I did what I had to do to remove her from my fucked-up life. Before it was too late for her.”
“That’s why you killed Rurik at the auction?”
Varon gave a slight nod.
“Why was he going after your loved ones? What did you do to him?”
“I stole from him. I humiliated him in front of the world’s underground criminals. It was the heist that got me crowned. He tried to kill me multiple times before switching tactics. Going after my family. Then he found Ava.”
I swallowed. “Then the men who tried to kill her in the park, it was not Volkov who sent them, was it?”
“It was Rurik. He wouldn’t have stopped coming for her. The auction was to lure him out of his hiding place with a piece he could not resist. Ava is safe now. You can tell her that.”
“I don’t understand. The Bratva won’t be okay with you killing their leader. You and Ava must be in more danger,” I questioned, worry tightening my chest.
