Chapter 28

"She had twins?" Avril squealed into the phone as Trish updated her on her sister's condition. She couldn't stop pacing, the surge of adrenaline giving her more energy than she knew what to do with.

"Yes! And they are fraternal." Trish informed her, the joy she felt evident in her voice.

"So a boy and a girl?" Avril thought about it for a second just to make sure she wasn't spouting the wrong thing. "That's so adorable. A lot of extra work but worth it, I am sure." Avril giggled. Trish's happiness infectious.

"A lot of work, but I have decided to stay with her for a few weeks to help her out until she gets accustomed to the change." Trish's voice lowered, a tinge of sadness emanating from her words. She felt sad at being away from Avril and Thomas, happy to be with her sister and her niece and nephew, and yet guilty that she was deserting her job. The range of emotions pulling her from point A to C and C to B.

"That's a wonderful idea, although I will miss you." Avril pouted and Trish laughed.

"Not to worry, I am popping in later today to collect some of my things, I will get to see you and Thomas then." Trish truly felt happy to see their faces. That reminded her Thomas' condition. She inhaled sharply.

"Great!" Avril responded.

"How is Thomas?" Trish's voice went softer.

" He is fine, taking another nap," Avril said cheerily. She didn't want Trish to worry especially since she had no reason to. Thomas was fine. Not to mention that her cheeks flared crimson heat at the mention of him.

"That's a relief." Trish let out the air she'd been holding in, "I was so worried."

"I know you would be, but there is no reason to be now," Avril assured her.

The call ended and Avril continued to have a one-track mind. A track that leads straight to Thomas Lynne. She felt blushy, she could hardly stay still or concentrate.

She mentally scolded herself. She had work to do. She pooled all of her materials into the living room. She placed her laptop on the center table, while she folded her legs and sank down onto the floor. This way she wouldn't have to hunch down to the center table had she been on the sofa.

She pulled up her hair in a messy bun...not the attractive kind... and set to work. She had a paper to write and was only halfway done. This was for one of her foundational classes. It wasn't a course within her psychology degree but it was a mandatory English-based course that all year one's had to complete. She despised it to the point that part of her refused to believe that those courses were teaching her anything useful.

She pulled out her notes on the book she had read for the report and started her analysis.

Over an hour had passed when the doorbell rang. She placed her things down and rushed over to the front door. She pulled it open and smiled.

"Good morning." His voice dark and husky.

"Austin. Come in." She pulled the door wider for him to make his way in. She closed the door behind them and they went into the living room.

"What brings you over?" She gestured to him to take a seat on one of the sofas. He unbuttoned his jacket as he eased into the seat.

"Thought I would give Thomas a check, after his mishaps. How is he?"

"He is better. He is asleep right now." She said slowly. Not sure which would be proper, either to tell Austin to return later or to wake the sleeping invalid. The latter didn't sound like that better of the two.

"Don't wake him." Austin drawled as if reading her mind.


"Let him have his rest. If it's alright with you I can wait until he awakens... I have some questions about his injury that his father wishes I ask." Austin's voice was almost a lazy drawl.

Avril smiled. "Of course. Do you want me to get you a snack? A drink perhaps?" She offered.

He shook his head in the negative. "You seem to have been busy." He nodded at the laptop and books he saw in the middle of the Sofas.

"I was just doing a report." She admitted.

"Well don't let me bother you. You can carry on." He advised as he pulled his cell out of his pocket and seemed to be occupied by it.

Avril stared at the work she left on the center table, her fingers entwined.

"Wouldn't that be rude, you're a guest." She wasn't sure of the protocol in these situations. She'd never had to be the entertainer.

"Don't be absurd. I am the one who is being rude by imposing on you while you are busy. Please feel free to do what you have to, I also have tons of emails I need to responds to." He gave her an encouraging smile and received an appreciative one in return.

She sank back onto the floor and continued her report. While typing her fingers moved slower and slower and eventually stopped altogether as curiosity hit her. She leaned her back flat against the sofa behind her and stared at Austin. Her eyes shrinking to slits as she studied him as if contorting her eyes would provide her with a different sight.

His legs crossed, one over the other, ankle to knee. His focus on the screen of his cell.

"Don't tell me that you're bored of my company already." He teased as his gaze swiftly moved to match hers.

" You work with Thomas right?" She questioned.

"I do." He answered non-committedly his gaze returning to his cell.

Avril considered this for a second, wondering if she should abandon her current train of intended conversation.

"So do you kill people as well?" She cringed as she said the words. She should have put more thought into phrasing that question but no matter, it would never be a good question to ask even with a smoother string of words.

This seemed to gain his attention. He placed his cell back into his pocket and leaned further into the cushions.

"Thomas told you?" He said amusingly, a huge smirk spreading across his face as if he's just heard the world's greatest secret.

Avril swallowed....hard.

"I do kill people." He admitted. His eyes studying her every move for a reaction.

"Ahhh...I see." She responded. She didn't have any questions other than the one.

Damn! She really should have thought this through.

"We don't kill willy nilly... If that's what you're worried about. There is a code. " Austin tried to reassure her.

"So I have been told." She managed a weak smile.

"If it's Thomas you're worried about, don't be. He is one of the best. We are trained to survive Avril. " Austin gave her a soft smile. The first one she ever saw that wasn't tainted by amusement, one that was genuine.

"So how does that training work?" His sentence sparking her interest.

"There are foundations that all must know. But then we can choose our methods." He informed her.

"Methods? Of what?" She questioned.

"For instance, I am verse in the chemical aspect, namely poisonous substances. Thomas specializes in physical combat. There is also weapons specialization, which may have its own set of sub-categories for instances bombs fall under that as well. There are also those trained in how to make deaths seem like accidents. These are just a few."

"That's a mouthful." She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She didn't know what to really make of it. Or even if she should be so concerned about it.

"I thought I heard voices."

Avril and Austin gazed at Thomas as he walked into the room.

"Austin what are you doing here?" Thomas looked back and forth between the pair. He wasn't sure if he felt comfortable with both of them having any secret conversations.

"Partly because I wanted to check up and partly because your father wanted to know what had happened," Austin responded, noting the suspicion on Thomas's face.

Avril gazed at both men. It seemed as if there were hidden messages passing between them.

"I should get back to work, now that Thomas is awake." She complied her things in her arms and got up.

"It was nice seeing you again, Austin." she said goodbye to their guest.

"Always a pleasure, Avril." Austin used the opportunity to continue goading Thomas.

As she was walking off, Thomas excused himself and pulled her out of sight.

Her heart thudded, she couldn't feel any part of her body. She had gone numb.

"Do you have free time today?" He questioned hopefully.

"Maybe tonight." She answered.

"Good. I want to see you when you're done." He placed a kiss on her forehead and walked away.

It took Avril a few seconds to unfreeze herself. Her heart ready to give up. Her nerves taking hold of her. The gravity of it all hitting her. Not only was she having a relationship with a guy who was about nine years older than she was, but she was also staying under the same roof as him. Her mouth went dry again.

*********
"How were you so injured? You said you could easily handle the situation." Austin reminded Thomas of his assurances, "single-handedly too." Austin questioned as Thomas slowly eased into the adjacent sofa, his body cringing as awareness spread through his injured abdomen.

"The information was faulty. There were many surprises I encountered that were never mentioned by the reports." Thomas responded.

"This information was put together by the new recruits. Looks like they still need to be supervised." Austin considered this seriously.

"Someone needs to review and check all the reports made then, just to be safe." Thomas offered, knowing that Austin would know he meant for his father to ensure that it happens.

"Speaking of your dad, he is ready to blow a gasket. You need to call him." Austin grinned.