135

Ava found Spencer standing guard with another of their men outside the bedroom the woman had been placed in.
“Hi, Spencer. It feels like it was way to long ago since I saw you. How are you?” Ava asked.
“Mrs. A, it’s always a pleasure seeing you. I hear congratulations are in order,” he said, glancing at her belly. “I have been good. And you?”
“Thank you, that’s sweet of you. I’m just fine. I hear you have been running around again, doing good work.”
“I do my best.”
“How is she and what is her name?” Ava asked.
“Her name is Kiana, she is very upset it seems. She has spent most of the time crying,” he told her and Ava felt her heart ache for the woman.
“Did you have any issues getting her here?” Zane asked.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle. Two men were guarding her, but they were not hard to get around. I think they relied more on no one finding out about her existence,” Spencer told them.
“Thank you, Spencer. Why don’t you go down to the kitchen and get some food and then take a nap? I have a suspicion you have had very little of either the past days. We have some rooms made up and ready, just ask Anna which are available,” Ava told him.
“Don’t mind if I do, Mrs. A. Is that girl Maya still working here?” he asked. Ava giggled.
“She is,” she told him. He grinned and stalked off.
“Are you still insisting on doing this?” Zane asked.
“I am,” she confirmed. Ava knocked on the door and opened it. She wished she could convince Zane to wait outside, but she knew there was no way he would agree to it. She walked into the room and stopped. Ava had expected a woman a couple of years older than herself, maybe even a little older than that. But next to the bed with the bedspread covered in pink roses stood… a child? “Kiana?” she asked as her mind was too busy trying to adapt.
“Y-yes,” the girl in front of her answered. She had big, brown, eyes that was filled with fears. They were read and swollen from crying and Ava felt her maternal instincts kick in with full force.
“How old are you?” Ava asked, she felt the increased pressure from Zane’s hand holding hers.
“Nineteen, ma’am,” the girl said. Ava hoped that was true. She had expected being face to face with a grown woman that knew what she was in the middle of. But here she was with a young girl. Ava reminded herself not to underestimate Kiana. She may look innocent, but appearance weren’t always correct.
“I’m sorry, you have me so surprised I have forgotten my manners. My name is Ava, this is my husband Zane,” she told the girl.
“Z-Zane?” Kiana asked. She knew who he was.
“Yes. He’s Amon’s son,” Ava confirmed. Kiana looked even more scared. Ava wondered if it was due to her being intelligent enough to conclude the situation she was in, had good instincts, or if Amon had warned her about his son. Ava’s gaze moved over Kiana. She was short, curvy and had lush wavy black hair and a deep tanned skin. She looked tired and scared. The slight curve of her belly had Ava believing she was probably a month or so ahead of Ava in her pregnancy. “I’m here to talk about some things. Is that alright? Or do you want something to eat and then rest for a bit and then we can talk later this afternoon?” Ava asked. Kiana looked from Ava to Zane and then back to Ava.
“Just you and me?” she asked. Ava smiled at her.
“I’m sorry, but Zane won’t leave the room as long as I’m here. He is a little protective over me and our baby,” Ava said, placing her hand on her stomach. Kiana’s eyes were drawn to Ava’s hand and her eyes grew bigger as she understood. “I’m thinking you know all about that,” Ava said with a smile.
“Not really. But I think I understand,” Kiana told her.
“Would it be okay if we sit down at the table? Zane will remain by the door, won’t you honey?” Ava said. Zane grunted and earned himself a poke by Avas elbow in his side.
“Sure,” he said. Ava looked at Kiana for permission. She nodded and they both moved to the small table by the window that had two chairs. Ava sat down on one. “That’s much better. I am already beginning to get tired in my hips when I stand a long time. I can’t imagine how I will feel at the end of this pregnancy,” she told Kiana.
“Yes, I get that as well,” she agreed. There was a little pause. “How far along are you?” Kiana asked.
“Nine weeks. How about you?”
“Fourteen weeks,” Kiana said, placing a hand on her belly.
“Kiana, I need to ask you some questions. I’m sorry but some of them might be personal. If you feel uncomfortable with Zane bing here, we will make him put his fingers in his ears so he can’t hear,” Ava started.
“Angel,” Zane warned her, making Kiana flinch. Ava glared at him, but then ignored him.
“He won’t listen if we don’t want him to. After you have answered the questions, you and I will have a talk about what the options are going forward. But, first I will ask for some breakfast to be brought up to us. Is there something you would like, some cravings? Or something you don’t eat?”
“I have been craving pancakes,” Kiana said, looking shy. Ava sent a text to Anna and then smiled at her guest.
“I haven’t had any specific cravings yet. But my mother used to tell me that she was crazy about chives when she was pregnant with me. My dad used to joke she looked like a horse, always chewing on grass,” Ava said and smiled at the memory. Zane walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. Ava knew he did it because he knew that memories like that were bitter sweet and he needed to show his support. Kiana’s eyes switched focus to him. Ava could see she was still afraid of him. But he placed a kiss on top of Ava’s head and then returned to his place by the door. “Protective,” Ava told Kiana. “It has got worse since we did the first ultrasound and he could see the baby. I’m sure he would prefer to wrap me in bubble wrap and put me in a chair with twenty blankets. Fortunately for me, I won’t put up with it,” Ava continued.
“Does he get angry when you refuse?” Kiana asked.
“He get’s irritated sometimes, and frustrated, I’m sure. But he knows I have a mind of my own. We but heads over it, but he would never hurt me, or the baby,” Ava told her. there was a knock on the door and a maid entered as Zane opened the door. She had a tray full with food. There were pancakes, syrup, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, and pitchers with juice. “Thank you,” Ava told her and waited until she left the room. “Please eat as much as you like,” she then told Kiana. As Kiana loaded her plate, Ava was happy to put some bacon and fruit on hers. She had just had breakfast, but the bacon smelled divine and fruit was always nice to snack on. She let Kiana eat in peace. Kiana started by almost shovelling food in her mouth. Ava recognised the behavior and her heart sank. She remembered how it was when you were offered food after being starved. It took almost twenty minutes before Kiana seemed to be happy and was sipping on the juice.
“Thank you,” Kiana said.
“I’m happy you liked it. Are you ready for some questions?” Ava asked. Kiana nodded. “Kiana, is Amon the father of your baby?”
“Yes. I- I haven’t been been with anyone else like that,” Kiana said. Ava nodded, she had no idea how to ask the next part.
“Was your… relationship with him voluntary?” Kiana looked at her and then slowly shook her head. Ava took a deep breath as she heard Zane curse. “Thank you for telling me. I know this is hard to belive, but you are safe here. No one will force you to do anything you don’t want to do here. Can you tell me how you ended up with him?” Kiana shrugged.
“I grew up in foster care. Then I turned eighteen and aged out of it. I tried to get work and a place to live. But there is not a lot of work for someone like me on the islands. Not if you don’t have any contacts or family to help you. Then I met Will. He was a couple of years older and so nice. He took me to a restaurant and let me order what ever I wanted. He got me a phone and when he found out I didn’t have a place to stay, he let me stay in his hotel room. He even slept on the couch. We started dating and he told me that he worked for this rich business man, Will said I could probably work for him too, he always needed cleaners and things like that. I was so excited and we travelled to the man’s private island. Will introduced me to Amon. Then Amon gave Will a lot of money and Will just left me there. Amon… did things to me,” Kiana told her. Her voice was unsteady and tears rolled down her cheeks. Ava reached out her hand and took Kiana’s hand in hers.
“It’s okay. I understand. When you didn’t do as he wanted he would starve you as it doesn’t leave bruises the same way as hitting does. You try to fight at first, but at some point your body is so weak that you just do what he asks of you,” Ava said. Kiana looked up at her with surprise and nodded. Then she looked at Zane. “No, Zane would never, never ever, do something like that. But there was another man that did. I was lucky. Zane rescued me before he could do something truly terrifying to me. But I still remember what it is like to starve,” she said. Ava saw Zane taking a step towards her, but she shook her head. Now was not the time. They still had other ground to cover.