I hear a blood-curdling scream, followed by, “Daddy!”
I push up from my chair. “Ryan, we’ll talk when either of us knows more,” I say, hurrying to the stairs as I hear Ava sobbing. “I think Ava just found out.” I end the call as I take the stairs two at a time and run to Ava’s room.
When I enter, she has her suitcase and is throwing clothes in from her closet.
“Daddy! Collin is dead, and Harper—oh God, Harper—was taken, and he tried to save her, and now he’s dead, and—”
I grab her and hold her as she sobs. “Harper, CJ, Matthew, and Tessa are fine. I just talked to Ryan, and he—”
“What is going on?”
I look to the door and see both Logan and Ashley walking into Ava’s room.
“Collin was killed.”
Ashley’s first reaction will haunt me for the rest of my life. She looks at me as if she has no soul at all. She’s pissed, and then a smug look crosses her face that makes me want to throw her the fuck out.
Ava’s face is plastered against my chest, so I know she’s not seeing it, but Logan … he is studying her face, and my boy is seriously fucking confused by her reaction.
“You okay, Mom?”
Ashley nods and swallows as she pulls him into a hug and looks over at me with a look that is cold and unfeeling.
TWO
MEMORIES
When Ava walks down the stairs, I look up.
“I need to see Harper.”
I walk over and pull her into a hug. She looks like she hasn’t slept at all. “Okay. When they get home, I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
She looks up at me, anger in her eyes, “Mom wants me to go to Jersey.”
I shake my head, but then I see Ashley and Logan walk down the stairs and notice they both have overnight bags.
Pissed, but used to hiding it, I ask, “You going somewhere?”
“To visit my sister.”
“Logan, you want to stay here, or go with Mom?”
Ashely wheels her case toward the door. “I know you’re busy with work, or I would’ve asked you to come along. The kids are going with me.”
Ava steps back and shakes her head. “I’m not going. I’m staying here so I can see Harper as soon as she gets home.”
“Logan, you can stay, too,” I tell him.
He lifts a shoulder and looks between us. “Nah, I’ll go with Mom.”
I see a smug, cold look in Ash’s eyes, but I keep my shit together and give an Oscar-winning performance a-fucking-gain.
“Thought we were hitting the gym during your break? Lifting weights, keeping in top physical shape. You have colleges interested and—”
“Leave him alone, Lucas. He’s on vacation.” Ashley laughs … fucking laughs, as Ava is falling apart. “Ava, you sure you won’t come?”
“I’m sure. She’s my best friend, Mom.” I see my little girl’s temper flare as she snipes, “I thought you’d want to be here for Tessa.”