Page 64 of Revenge
“You know what else?”
“What’s that?”
“Ava is pregnant,” I confess.
“Are you sure?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. She wasn’t even going to tell me. Everyone is keeping shit from me. She said it was best if I forgot about her and our son like that would ever be possible. Ava fails to realize I’m no one without her, and now my son…”
“What can I do?” She puts her hand on my arm.
“I don’t know anymore. I can’t lose them. I need Ava beside me.”
“I’ll talk with her. She’ll listen to me.” My mother says, trying to comfort me.
We both know it’s not the only problem. Ava’s life is in more danger now. I want to tell my mother my son is a threat to whatever plan my father or Cillian might have. My son is my heir, and as such, he has a claim to the Manarch Clan if he chooses so. But I don’t need to tell my mother. She knows it as well as I do.
“She’s having my grandchild, and she needs her family. I won’t let anything happen to either of them.”
I turn and look at her.
“Do you really feel she’s family?”
“From the moment I met her.”
Knowing my mother is on my side comforts me.
We stand silently, watching as the nurses examine my daughter. I feel so helpless. Once they’re done, I walk back inside and stand by her incubator. I watch as she struggles to take each breath. I’ll do everything in my power to protect her. Then I think of Ava and my son. They need me too. I take my cell out and dial Oliver.
“Where are you?” I ask Oliver on the cell.
“Waiting area.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Sir, you can’t use your cell here. You need to go outside,” a nurse tells me.
“I’m not leaving my daughter.”
“You can go to the waiting area if you need to use your cell.” I don’t move. “Please, sir.”
“Fine.” I start walking. “I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell Oliver. I end the call. “Mom, go home,” I say as I approach them in the waiting area.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Yes. I’ll call you if anything changes,” I promise.
“Ok.” She kisses my cheek. “It doesn’t matter how late. You call me,” she adds.
“I will.” I give her a hug. “How long have you known?” I ask Oliver once my mother is out of earshot.
“Long enough.”
“Fuck, Oliver.” I step closer to him. My fists are clenched at my sides.
“It was safer for her if you didn’t know. You know it was.”
“That wasn’t your call.”
