Chapter 35

Thomas grabbed hold of Avril's arm and interlocked his fingers with hers to stop her from taking hold of Lilith's outstretched arm.

Avril gazed at Thomas, stunned. She didn't know why he was acting so rude.

Lilith retracted her arm. A grin spreading across her face.

"You have been ignoring my calls." Lilith turned her attention to Thomas.

"A very strong hint, my fault for thinking you were sane enough to actually take it." His tongue dripped acid.

She closed the distance. "When have you ever known me to heed hints?" She raised one hand to touch his face.

Avril's eyes widened at the audacity of this female. Thomas's hand instantly caught hold of Lilth's hand before she touched his skin. He let it go and it fell at her side.

"I am not giving you anymore hints...consider this a warning," Thomas replied."Leave me alone."
Lilith grinned sinisterly as Thomas led Avril away.

Avril was dumbstruck. She wasn't sure what had just happened. She had questions, but judging from Thomas's mood she thought she would give him some time to cool off.

She couldn't help thinking that these past days weren't exactly agreeing with Thomas. There seemed to be one thing after the next and Thomas wasn't exactly an expert in dealing gracefully with his issues. She didn't know what she expected from a man who hid his feelings. No wonder he exploded with emotions after bottling everything in.

They went over to the bar. Before they had the chance to order their drinks, Thomas was called away by Charlie. He looked at Avril, asking for permission. She guessed because he didn't want to leave her alone.

"I will be fine." She assured him. He flashed her his brightest smile, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I won't let them keep me away from you too long." he promised.

"Ahh, so you do have common sense." she teased as he walked away.
Lilith couldn't help but observe Thomas. She had been trying for months to get into contact with him. It was a no-brainer, she wanted him back. She'd thought that a year without contact would make him get rid of his anger...not only did that fail, but he was also parading around with another woman. She envied the tenderness she saw in his eyes towards that woman. He'd never looked at her in that way, nor had he ever entangled his fingers with hers or placed longing kisses on her in public.
She felt her knuckles losing their color from her clenching them. She had made up her mind. She would do anything to get rid of that girl. After all, she and Thomas had history, and Thomas's interest in women before was fleeting, perhaps it was the same with this girl.
Lilith made her way over to the bar. Her prey in sight.

"Hello again." She purred as she sat next to Avril.
Avril was stunned. She did not know what tragedies had passed between this woman and Thomas, and she dared not make any assumptions. But her mind was racing.
She knew she may not hear any details from Thomas and that drove her curiosity.

"Hi." Avril responded politely. She fidgeted, her hands curling around her drink.

"We didn't have a proper introduction." Lilith observed. "I am Lilith." She said, her gestures friendly, but her eyes cold and devoid any true emotion. It made Avril feel sceptical.

She shock it off. She didn't want to jump to conclusions. She had to learn to remain unbiased.

"I am Avril." She responded.

"So how do you know the bride and groom?" She leaned against a chair next to Avril, making an attempt at small talk.

"I don't." Avril admitted. " I believe Thomas is the one with the connection to the bride and groom, I was just invited along," she responded honestly.

"I see." The words a hiss.

"How do you know them?" Avril repeated the question, bringing her glass to her lips.

"The bride and I are acquainted." She responded.

"I see." Avril echoed after she swallowed the wine.

"Has Thomas never mentioned me?" Lilith has turned silent and the peer gazed around the room uncomfortably until she questioned out of the blue.

Avril was taken aback at the question. She wondered why would it matter if Thomas had or hadn't mentioned her.

"Not that I can recall." Avril replied she didn't want to sound rude by giving a definite 'no'.

"Strange." Lilith muttered to herself, but loud enough for Avril to hear the word.

"Sorry?" Avril pretended not to hear the muttering but she did, and it seeded her with annoyance. She was trying hard to understand Lilith but as time went by, it was obvious she had an agenda.

"Oh, it's nothing, its just that I was a major part of his life I don't understand why he hid it." Lilith said slyly.
Avril parted her lips to respond, however her words were drowned out.

"Avril?" She spun around, her eyes made four with a very familiar face.

"Austin?"

He gave her his signature smile as he pushed his hands into pockets. His smile faltered when his eyes fell on the person occupying the seat next to Avril.
His eyes turned just as cold as Thomas's had. The change wasn't lost on Avril and the color drained from her face. She's never seen Austin so serious before.

"Austin. Its been to long." Lilith slid out of her seat and made her way next to him.

"You're mistaken." His voice causing Avril to flinch. "A lifetime would have too soon."
Lilith scoffed. "So much for civility." She shot back. She turned her attention back to Avril. "I will see you around...Avril." She walked off.

Avril kept feeling more and more confused at all of the hostilities surrounding this woman.

"Stay away from her, Avril." Austin was still serious.

"Excuse me?" Avril found it strange that the easy going Austin Cyner had turned this serious.

"She is trouble." He looked intensely at her.

" What's the deal with her, Thomas and you? " Avril questioned, her curiosity kept growing.

" That's not for me to say." He held out his arm for her. She took it and slid out from her chair.

Avril nodded, accepting that he was not in a position to divulge the circumstances.

"Are you friends with Charlie as well?" Avril switched the question as they made their way threw the crowd and onto the balcony.

"Yes." Austin replied, happy for the distraction from Lilith. He felt tense, wherever she was trouble was sure to follow.

"I met him through Thomas. The both of them went to school together, but when Thomas foresaked his educational pursuits to become an assassin, I was assigned to keep and eye on him."

"Aren't you the same age?" Avril questioned.

Austin laughed. " Yes, but I started off in my younger years. "
Avril smiled, thinking what it was like for Thomas Lynne to be following orders. She was sure there were countless arguments seeing that both Thomas and Austin were undoubtedly alpha males.

"Continue on how you met Charlie." She advised.

"Not much more, but Thomas tried to maintain a balance with his friendships, they would always met up and I ended up tagging along to keep my eye on him and the rest is history. "
Avril smiled. She finally felt herself relaxing after wondering what was going on with Thomas.

"I am glad you're here." She said to Austin.
He gazed at her. His expression blank.

"It might sound strange, but its refreshing to talk to someone where I don't have to hide or conceal certain things from. I mean with Thomas, there are obvious things I can't mention about him to my friend... So its just..."

"Like you're walking on eggshells?" He finished.
Avril nodded.

There it was. His signature smile. She thought about how different he seemed when he saw Lilith. She came to the conclusion that these men had opposing sides to them.

" Its not strange. In fact that's how I felt when I started working with Thomas's dad and believe it or not, thats how Thomas felt as well, thats what made us close."

"I am glad to know that." She sighed.

"Where is you're cell?" He questioned.
She fished it out of her purse. He took it from her fingers.

"I like you, Avril." He said as he handed her cell back to her. " You remind me so much of my sister."
It was Avril's turn to smile. She didn't know how it happened but just like that, she and Austin had bonded. She didn't have any siblings, Sarah and Sam being the closest

she ever thought she had, but now she knew there was another person she could count on.

"If there is anything you need, give me a call. Even if its just to talk." He said to her right before Thomas walked out to join them.