138

Ava tried to do some actual work the next morning. She and Gabriel worked together in the library and made sure to take frequent trips to the kitchen.
“This is hopeless,” she told him as she tried to get thought the reports of new potential clients for the third time.
“It’s okay, darling. There are a lot of things happening around you. No one expects you to be able to focus,” he comforted her.
“I know. I keep thinking about Kiana, and the detectives, and then there is the baby and…” she started.
“Okay, okay. You need to take it easy as well. The detectives will do what they will do. Ryder is making some calls to his contacts in the police force to see how probable it is that we get another visit. So stop thinking about them. Kiana, well she will let you know when she has made up her mind. I would focus on the baby and on you. And on our amazing business, but that goes without saying,” he told her.
“You are right. I can’t obsess over things I can’t do anything about. And we have a plan. I did tell you I have a meeting with Olga to get the work started on my office and the nursery?” she said.
“I know, you have reminded me three times today,” he told her with a chuckle.
“I have? Sure, I knew that. I blame pregnancy brain.” They both laughed. She had an easier time focusing after Gabriel’s pep-talk. At lunchtime, Zane and Ryder joined them.
“How are you?” Zane asked as he kissed her head.
“I’m fine. We have actually got a decent amount of work done,” she told him. “Any news?” she asked.
“My sources at the department told me that the likelihood your detective friends will visit with a warrant is very low, almost unlikely. Apparently you sold the picture of the boss as a wannabe bad boy so convincing that the only person not believing it is detective Brown. Even his own partner thinks he is doing it as the arrest would look good on his CV. I don’t know what you have been saying to them, but everyone is convinced the boss is straight as an arrow,” Ryder told her. The thought amused him and she could see he was doing his best not to laugh. Zane snorted.
“I don’t know if I should be offended or relieved,” Zane said.
“I think relieved is the best option. Your pride will have to survive,” she said as he helped her up from the chair. After they had their lunch, Ava greeted Olga and showed her the two rooms. They talked about what Ava wanted and discussed colour options, trimmings, and everything else. They decided on the colours, floor material and trimmings. That left the furniture. Olga quickly drew up a few suggestion on how to furnish the rooms, she was good at what she did. She also promised to send Ava some links to furniture sites online that had quality items. Ava also got Olga’s business card and was told to call her anytime she had questions. When they parted ways, Ava was happy with what they had accomplished. She couldn’t wait to see the finished result. At first she had been reluctant to tell Olga about her idea for the nursery. Ava thought she had a good idea, but it seemed to complicated. But Olga had sensed her holding back and finally she had coxed it out of Ava. Once Olga heard the idea she seemed almost as excited about it as Ava and she had reassured Ava that her uncle and his men could make the vision come to life. Ava stood looking into the room she and Zane had decided would be the nursery and saw the beige wallpapers and the generic looking guest room. In a couple of weeks the floor would be a light hardwood. The walls would be painted in a gradient where a warm purple would be at the floor and ceiling and slowly fade in to a soft blue in the middle. On top of the gradient there would be trees painted in a darker purple with bare branches. From the branches there would be clusters of flowers hanging in different shades of purple and blue, like a fairy version of Wisteria. The clusters of flowers would have small lights inserted into them so they would look to be glistening in the dark. Ava hoped Zane would be happy with her idea, that he would get his soft fairytale room.
“Did the meeting go well?” Zane asked as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“It did. They start working tomorrow on the office. I hope it won’t be too loud so it bothers you,” she said. Ava felt him shrug.
“I can always join Jax in his office, or go down to the library,” he told her and placed a kiss on her neck.
“Do you have anything planned tomorrow?” she asked him.
“No. Is there something you need me for?”
“I was thinking we could have an early dinner and then go up to our room. I still haven’t given you your punishment,” Ava told him. She felt his exhale against her neck and he pulled her flush with his body.
“I will make sure we have time for that,” he whispered in her ear and then kissed her neck. “Maybe we should do a trial run right now? There is still about forty minutes before dinner is served,” he suggested. Ava laughed and turned around in his arms. She kissed him.
“I think we should wait, I want you as needy as possible. You can survive twenty-four hours without sex, can’t you?” she said.
“I don’t know, angel. That might be to much to ask,” he told her and kissed her.
“See it as good practice for when the baby comes and you need to go with out it for weeks,” she reminded him.
“That’s different. Knowing you need the rest and knowing that you are right here, just as needy as I am, are two different things,” he pointed out and pulled her closer.
“I guess so. Then you can see it as part of your punishment,” she insisted. He sighed and put his head on her shoulder.
“I will do my best.”
“I know you will,” she said and kissed him on his temple. They walked down to the diningroom and were soon joined by Gabriel and Ryder. While they waited for the food they talked bout the repairs on their apartment.
“Everything is done. We are just waiting for the apartment to air out and for Ryder to add the new security measurements he had been obsessing over,” Gabriel told them, then he leaned into Ryder and placed a kiss on his cheek. Ava smiled at them.
“I think we can move back at the end of next week,” Ryder confirmed. They were then joined by Linda and Jax and not long after Tom and his family came as well. Dinner was served and Ava enjoyed both the food and the company. As Tom’s wife and daughter were present, the conversation was kept light and far away from work. They were almost done when Anna walked into the room.
“Miss Kiana asked if you could make some time to speak with her, Mrs. Ava,” she said. Ava smiled at her.
“Tell her Zane and I will be up as soon as we have finished eating. Thank you, Anna,” Ava said. Anna nodded approvingly and walked away. Ava hoped Kiana had made her decision, it would be the final piece that needed to be put in place. According to Zane, his father’s little rebellion had mostly gone unnoticed by the other organisations. The few that had taken note, had also seen how swiftly it had been squashed. All suspicious activity had died alongside his father. As soon as both Ava and Zane were done, they excused themselves and walked to Kiana’s room. They knocked and were asked to enter. She was already sitting by the table and gestured that they both could join her.
“How have you been?” Ava asked as they had sat down.
“I know I’m a prisoner of sorts. But it has been a long time since I felt as good as I have felt these past days. Everyone is so kind to me. I have free access to a functioning bathroom and they keep bringing me food to eat. I’m thankful for all of it,” Kiana said.
“Good. I’m happy to hear it. I’m going to be blunt with you, I hope you forgive me. Have you made a decision?” Ava then asked. Kiana had a smile on her lips, even though there was no real joy in her eyes.
“I have. I can’t raise this child. I know it’s not their fault, but they would be a constant reminder of what I went through, of who their father is. I don’t think that would be healthy for me, or for the baby. I want your help to find someone who can adopt it,” she said. Ava nodded.
“You are brave and it sounds like you know what you need. We will help you,” Ava told Kiana.
“I have arranged a safe house for you. You will have one of the maids with you to help you and there will always be some of our men there as well. We will make sure to only use women so it will be easier for you,” Zane explained. Ava looked at her husband, he hadn’t told her any of this. “We will make sure you have everything you need. Our doctor will be doing regular checkups to make sure both you and the baby is doing good. I will personally make sure that the family that adopts the baby is vetted and we will keep an eye on them to make sure the baby is doing well. When you give birth, the baby will be handed over to the new family. You will not be told who they are. You can spend as long as you need to recoup in the safe house after. When you are ready, you will get a new identity, a good sum of mony that will last you a long time and we will arrange for you to go anywhere in the world to start your new life,” he continued. Kiana looked at him with big eyes.
“I accept,” she said.
“Good. You will be moving after breakfast tomorrow. I am sorry for everything my father put you through. I wished I had been able to stop him. If it’s any consolation, he is dead,” Zane told her.
“Thank you, and it does make me feel better,” she said.
“If there is anything you need, just let us know,” Ava said. They said good bye and despite it being early, Zane took Ava back to their room.
“You moved her out because of me,” Ava said when they were alone.
“I did. I love you, angel, but you have a big heart and your hormones are all over the place and will be so for quite some time. I’m not going to let you get attached to her baby. The best thing for both the baby and us is that they will adopted by someone that has no affiliation with our organisation. My sibling can have a normal childhood,” he told her and kissed her.
“I guess it would be easy for me to get attached,” she agreed.
“I love your big heart. But this time we need to make sure we protect it,” Zane said.