Innocence & Betrayal

by Brittney Sahin

  Oh God. Oh God. She watched in horror as the man reached for his gun.

  Ava looked around for a weapon. She couldn’t just run away and let Aiden die for her. Her body trembled, but adrenaline pumped through her like lightning, compelling her to act.

  She moved toward the lamp by the bed and grabbed it, ripping the cord from the wall, and snuck up behind Aiden and the masked man. She crouched down, shut her eyes, and swung as hard as she could.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw Aiden pushing the man off of him. As he scrambled to his feet, Ava noticed blood splattered across Aiden’s chest. She started to open her mouth, but he grabbed her hand and directed her to the window. “Are you okay?”

  She forced a nod.

  “Then jump,” he ordered.

  She glanced over at the man on the floor, who was now beginning to kneel. No! She ducked out the window and darted through it without hesitation. The landing rattled beneath her Nikes. Her legs were shaky, and she thought she might puke. But Aiden was by her side and helping her down the ladder before she had time to realize what she’d done.

  “Run!” He reached for her arm and guided her down the alley and out onto the street. The rush of cars and the crowd of people plodding by on their way to work reassured her. If they didn’t have a care in the world, maybe she was safe.

  They hurried down a few more streets, and Aiden hailed a taxi. He gave an address—she didn’t recognize it—and turned to face her. “Are you sure you’re okay? You should’ve jumped when I told you the first time. What in the hell were you thinking!”

  She blinked a few times, trying to regain her focus. “You’re bleeding,” she said while observing the cut by his eye, just next to the scar he already sported on his brow. “Oh. And your arm.” She gasped.

  He cupped his hand over his arm, covering the blood. “Just a flesh wound. No big deal.”

  “No big deal?” Who are you? She lowered her voice to avoid the notice of the cabbie. “You were shot, Aiden. Oh God, I’m so sorry.” Her body trembled.

  He shook his head and pulled her closer to him with his good arm. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad you’re okay. But that stunt was dangerous. You should’ve jumped.”

  “And you could have died,” she whispered.

  “I had him.”

  God, you’re stubborn.

  After ten more minutes of driving, the cab pulled in front of a brownstone building across from the Charles River. “Where are we?”

  “Somewhere safe.”

  “This looks likes someone’s house.”

  “That’s because it is.” He reached into his pocket, and she heard him grunt with pain as he retrieved a twenty. “Come on.” He reached for her hand and guided her from the taxi to the door like she was the one who was injured.

  “I just can’t believe someone attacked us. And in broad daylight. How’d they find us?” She ran her hands through her hair before rubbing her face as he rang the bell.

  Before he could respond, the door swung open.

  “Oh God. Aiden, are you okay?” A gorgeous blonde opened the door wider and motioned for their entrance. “Come in, please.” The woman’s voice was laced with concern. “Michael,” she hollered.

  Ava looked over to see a man coming down the stairs and into the foyer. It was Michael Maddox. The Michael Maddox.

  “Lily?” Michael cocked his head at her. He looked at Aiden and back at Ava. “I thought you said she was—”

  “You two know each other?” Aiden glanced at Ava.

  Michael Maddox. Who didn’t know the ex-Marine millionaire genius? Homeland Security and the military used his intelligence inventions to catch terrorists, and he’d been in the news on several occasions for his heroic activities. Just last year he’d helped to save—Oh, this must be Kate Adams.

  “You must know my sister, Lily. I’m Ava,” she explained, clearing her voice. Although Ava had never met Michael, she remembered that her sister had gone on one or two dates with him a few years back. Her sister was drawn to elusive, non-attachable millionaires . . . although it had turned out that Michael was all too willing to attach himself to Kate.

  Michael’s brow furrowed and he glanced at Kate in silent apology.

  “Lily’s my twin. She’s the model,” Ava explained. She had hoped that Aiden would never know about her sister. Oh well.

  Michael thrust his hands into the pockets of his black slacks. “Oh.”

  “So what happened to you?” Kate asked, turning her focus on Aiden, whose blood was beginning to drip onto the hardwood floor.

  “Shit. Let’s get you taken care of,” Michael said and motioned for them to follow.

  Ava listened to a few muffled words between Michael and Kate as they led the way. She caught a glimpse of Aiden out of the corner of her eye, and a sheepish grin was on his face, despite the pain in his arm. What did he find so funny? Ava had the urge to check him with her hip because she had the feeling that he’d held out on her—he probably knew about her twin.

  “Have a seat. I’m going to grab some bandages and stuff. Be right back.” Kate pulled out a chair for Aiden at the farm-style table in the massive kitchen.

  Aiden sat down and directed his attention to Michael. “Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice. I didn’t expect this.” He gestured to his arm.

  “Jeez, Aiden.” Michael leaned against the nearby counter and focused on Ava. “I’m sorry I confused you for Lily. I forgot she has a twin, and it has been years since I’ve seen her.”

  She could see the embarrassment on his face. “No problem. It happens a lot.” She took a seat next to Aiden and was thankful when Kate came in, bearing medical supplies.

  “It’s just a flesh wound. The gunshot grazed my arm.”

  Kate shook her head at him and set the supplies down on the table. “Well, this will still burn,” she warned before dabbing his wound with a cotton swab that she had doused in alcohol.

  Aiden didn’t flinch.

  “So, you’re Kate?” Ava reached for a bandage and handed it to her.

  “Yeah. I’m Michael’s fiancée.”

  Ava nodded and forced a smile. She wasn’t exactly sure what else to say. “Thank you for helping us.” She laced her fingers together, resisting her nail-biting urge.

  “Of course. Any friend of Aiden’s is a friend of mine,” Kate responded as she finished patching up the wound. She examined the cut near his brow and dabbed it with gauze as well.

  “So, what the hell happened?” Michael asked as Kate finished taking care of Aiden.

  “Some guy busted into the motel this morning. I’d say he was professionally trained, judging by how he handled me.”

  “This is all my fault,” Ava chimed in, and she could feel all eyes on her. “I went to Aiden for help. I’m looking for my boss. My mentor. He went missing. And I guess whoever took him is now after me.” She wasn’t sure whether she was asking a question or making a statement. It was hard to be sure of anything.

  “Wow. I’m so sorry.” Kate ran a hand through her long blonde hair and her intense blue eyes focused on Aiden. “What can we do to help?”

  Michael shook his head at Kate. “You won’t be doing anything. You’ve been out of danger’s way for about a year now, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “I agree. The fewer people involved, the better,” Aiden said, rising to his feet.

  “There is one thing that you could do,” Ava found herself saying. “I would love to get out of these clothes.”

  Kate shot her a warm smile. “Come with me.”

  Aiden nodded to Ava, offering his approval. She followed Kate down the hall and to the master bedroom. “You have a lovely home.”

  “Thanks, but it’s temporary. We’re having a house built outside the city. Construction is taking a little longer than I hoped, but I think it’ll be ready in time for the wedding.”

  “Which is when?” Ava needed a distraction from her near-death incident this morning.

  �
��May,” she said while pushing open French doors. Her closet was about the size of Ava’s living room back in Maryland. “It’s your lucky day.” Kate grimaced and turned toward Ava. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I meant, I just went lingerie shopping and bought a ton of new undergarments—washed, but never worn. C cup okay?” She handed her a few lacy items, which Ava didn’t normally wear, but she was thankful to have clean panties.

  Ava nodded. “This is actually the brand my sister models.” Ava saw a look of distaste shoot to Kate’s face.

  “Then I think they’re better suited for you. I try not to think about Michael’s, um, past relationships if you know what I mean.”

  She didn’t blame Kate at all. She also had a hard enough time dating because of Lily. It was a bit hard to be with a man who already knew what she’d look like in a bra. “I completely understand.”

  Kate was in the middle of retrieving clothes from a few hangers when she turned toward her. “Aiden’s a good guy. He must be, or Michael wouldn’t have invested in his bar. He’s a little rough around the edges, though.”

  “Michael invested in his bar?” Ava double-checked the barrage of facts her brain had collected about Michael Maddox. “I thought he only invested in veterans.” Perhaps that’s how Aiden met Michael—in the military.

  “How much do you know about Aiden? I thought you two were, um . . .”

  “Oh.” Ava waved a dismissive hand in front of her. “No, it’s not like that. We hardly know each other.”

  Kate smirked. “Yeah, well, that’s how Michael and I started out.”

  Ava shook her head, feeling warmth flood to her cheeks. “Aiden’s just helping me,” she insisted.

  “Sure, but . . . well, in any case, he’s the right man for the job.”

  Ava nodded thoughtfully, wondering what Kate had been about to say. “So, was Aiden military?”

  Kate turned her back, perusing her closet. “You should probably talk to Aiden about all of that.”

  All of that? What is all of that?

  “I think we’re about the same height? Five-seven? Maybe you’re a bit taller than me, but my clothes should work. Size four, right?”

  Clearly Kate had no intention of divulging any more information about the mysterious Irishman.

  “Yeah. Four is fine,” Ava responded after a few moments. She stared down at the pile of clothes that Kate had now stacked on the posh bench that sat in the middle of the closet.

  “Help yourself to whatever you like. I really don’t mind. Whatever I can do to help. I’ll give you some privacy.”

  “Thank you for being so kind.” Ava swallowed back her emotion, still trying to process the events of the last few days.

  “I’ve stared danger in the face on a few occasions now, and all I can say is that it helps when you have a savior in your corner.” She patted Ava on the shoulder before slipping out of the closet, leaving Ava alone with her thoughts and the mound of clothes.

  She slouched forward and covered her face with her hands. That jittery feeling of having way too much espresso worked its way through her body; she wished it was from caffeine and not because a man had tried to kill her that morning.

  ***

  Aiden sat across the table from Michael; they both had laptops in front of them. “I know what you’re thinking,” Aiden said, looking up from the screen.

  “I’m not thinking anything. I just don’t want to see you get in trouble. Or hurt.”

  Aiden studied his friend. “The man she’s looking for is my Goddamn uncle.”

  Michael stopped typing and shut the laptop. “Your dad has a brother?”

  “No.”

  “Then . . . but you don’t know your—” Michael scrubbed a hand through his dark hair and dragged his palms down the sides of his cheeks.

  “And I don’t want to know her.” He shook his head, grimacing. “But apparently she has a brother, and her brother is in danger. I just can’t believe he worked for Homeland Security. Kind of crazy, right?” He scratched his neck and leaned back in his chair. “And I can’t believe a woman like Ava is involved in it. I mean, she works in a lab, for God’s sake. And now she’s being hunted by some nasty people, not to mention the Feds are tracking her.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to sit this one out?” Michael reached for his coffee and took a sip.

  “I tried turning her down, but . . . I don’t know.” He paused for a moment. “I’m pretty sure you’re no one to talk. Look at what you did for Kate.”

  Michael nodded and flipped the laptop back open.

  “Any luck?”

  Aiden looked up to see Ava. She had changed into Kate’s snug black jeans and a scoop-necked gray top that hugged her curves in just the right way. An image of her standing in his office in her bra shot into his head, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Like she didn’t have enough going on without some lascivious prick imagining her naked. “I’d like to focus on who else worked in the lab with you.”

  Ava’s eyes widened as she cupped a hand over her mouth and mumbled something incoherent. “Oh God. Kat. Eddie. Do you think something happened to them?” She took a few deep breaths.

  Michael looked over at Ava and motioned for her to take a seat. Kate had entered the kitchen and was making two cups of coffee, probably for her and Ava.

  “They’re either in danger or behind whatever happened to Henry,” Aiden responded.

  Ava sat down at the table next to Aiden and rubbed her arms. Aiden tried to remain focused as Ava told him Kat and Eddie’s full names, but he found himself distracted by Ava’s full and pouty lips.

  Michael typed something into the computer and spun it around to show Aiden and Ava. “Is this Katarina?” Michael’s voice slipped into the conversation, which interrupted Aiden’s distracted thoughts about what it would feel like to kiss Ava . . .

  Ava stared at the pretty, petite blonde on the screen. “Yes, that’s Kat.”

  “Her family owns a restaurant in Charlotte. I actually know them,” Michael announced.

  Aiden arched his shoulders back a little. “Really?” He shook his head. “Why am I surprised? You know everyone, Michael. Especially in Charlotte.”

  “It’s a Russian restaurant on the outskirts of town.”

  “Russian?” Aiden leaned forward and looked at the photo of the restaurant that Michael had pulled up on the screen.

  “Her parents are Russian. Moved here thirty years ago. They seem nice enough. Normal. I’ve spoken with them a few times when I’ve been to the restaurant. Their son, Alex, runs the place now.”

  “Do you think that’s where she went?” Ava asked.

  Michael was quiet for a few moments as he punched keys. “There’s no record of flight. Maybe she drove?”

  “How’d you . . .?” Ava stared at Michael.

  “I have my ways.” Michael shot her a smile. “As for Eddie,” he began while punching at the keys again. “He booked a flight to Barbados out of Baltimore yesterday afternoon.” He rubbed the nape of his neck as he leaned back in his chair. “Whether he was actually on the flight or not, that will take a little more digging.”

  “So, should we go to Charlotte?” Ava thanked Kate for the cup of coffee as she handed it to her.

  “I think so. We don’t have much else to go on,” Aiden responded.

  “Michael, you haven’t sold your place in Charlotte yet. They should stay there. It’s bulletproof,” Kate said before glancing back at Ava. “Literally—windows are made of bulletproof glass. What do you think, Aiden?” She placed her hand on Michael’s shoulder, standing behind him.

  “I don’t want to impose,” Ava responded before Aiden could answer.

  “No, please. I would feel much better knowing you were there and not at some shitty motel.” Michael stood up and went over to the built-in desk in the kitchen. He opened a drawer and retrieved something. “Here.” He flung a set of keys at Aiden. “One is for my house, and the other is for the SUV.”

  “Thanks, m
an. I owe you.” Aiden stood up.

  Michael gestured to the hall. “Come with me. You might need a few other things to take with you.”

  “We’ll leave soon.” Aiden glanced over his shoulder at Ava.

  “Okay,” she responded with a small voice.

  “Let’s pack some stuff for you.” Kate motioned for Ava to follow.

  “You sure you want to handle this situation on your own?” Michael asked once they were in his office. He shut the door and walked over to a closet in the room. He punched in a combination to the safe, before resting his palm on a scanner.

  Michael turned toward Aiden and tossed a banded stack of cash. “I assume you don’t have a weapon on hand?” He turned back to his safe.

  “No.” Aiden sat on the leather sofa.

  “This should work.” Michael handed him a package of ammo and a 9mm.

  “Hopefully I won’t need it.”

  “I’ll call you when I get some more information on that lab assistant, Eddie, and if I find anything out about your uncle . . .”

  Aiden shrugged. “I could care less about him, to be honest, but Ava is so hell-bent on finding him that she wouldn’t leave me alone. And it’s a good thing I caved, otherwise, who knows what would have happened to her this morning. Or even last night . . .” He shook his head and tried not to think about Ava being snatched up by the guy who had shot his way into their motel room.

  “Just think, if Henry weren’t your uncle, she could be dead right now. Maybe it’s fate that brought you two together.”

  “Since when do you believe in fate?”

  Michael smiled. “Since Kate.”

  Aiden exhaled lightly through his nose. “She’s not my responsibility. I know that. But for some damn reason, I feel like I got to protect her, you know?”

  “And that’s all it is?” Michael cocked his head and stared at Aiden, studying him.

  He hesitated. “Yeah.”

  But Aiden got the distinct feeling that Michael didn’t believe him.