"Me?" I take another huge sip of the margarita and hiccough. Oops. I scowl up at her. "For now, I am not doing anything. Except staying clear of men."
"What if Baron changes his mind and wants you back?"
"He can go fuck himself," I mutter. "After the way he walked out on me, it’s going to take more than just apologies for me to be with him." But damn, if I don’t still want to fuck him… Only, my emotions are already involved here… If I slept with him again, it would become something I couldn’t walk away from.
"And Edward?" Karina asks. "What about him?"
"What about him?" I glance at her. "He left me; end of story."
"He’ll be back."
"So, everyone keeps saying."
"As their security consultant, I am privy to the affairs of all the Seven" she murmurs, "and based on what I know, I can tell you the Seven don’t like loose ends. Not that you are a loose end...." She hastens to add, "But you know what I mean?"
"No," I place the glass on the table, "I don’t, actually. What are you trying to say?"
"Just that, chances are, Edward will return, and sooner, rather than later. What are you going to do then?"
I contemplate the depths of my glass. "I have no idea." I stare around the faces of my friends, before settling on Karina, "What would you do?"
She shakes her head. "Oh, no, no. You are putting me on the spot."
"No, I really want to know." I lean forward, "I am so confused; it will help me to get another perspective."
"I am probably the wrong person to ask," she mutters. "I am not the conventional, roll over and submit to a guy kind of gal… Well, none of us are, actually." She looks around the room. "And one thing I have learned is that, fuck society. No one knows your situation and what you are facing, so no one needs to understand your decisions. It’s you who needs to follow your instincts."
"And what if my instincts are muddled? What if I can’t figure out what to do?"
"Then it means you are not ready to decide. It means," she smiles gently, "that you wait."
"For how long, though?" Not that I am in any hurry, but hell, if it wouldn’t help to figure out where I stand in this sorry mess.
"Until you’re ready."
"When will I be ready?"
She chuckles. "You’ll know when you know."
Julia’s phone buzzes, she glances at it, and a smile tugs her lips. "On that note... And not that I want to break this up, guys, and don’t think I am leaving because hubby texted me…but—"
"Oh, please." Isla scoffs, "Just go, already. I mean, all you guys are so in love that it’s making me sick." She makes a gagging noise.
I laugh. "Don’t worry, I am right there with you, Iz."
"But... I do have to go, too." Isla looks over at me with regret. "I have a ton of things to prep for my upcoming weddings. Best I get home, so I can get an early start tomorrow."
“Okay,” I rise to my feet, "I’d better get going too."
26
Baron
I pause in front of Saint’s townhouse at Primrose Hill.
After I’d briefed Archer on Ava’s schedule, I’d made it to my loft—which I hadn’t been to since I’d met Ava—showered and shaved. Then made a few more calls, this time to my contacts to find out who could have been behind the men who’d attacked Ava. The information hadn’t looked good.
It had confirmed to me what I’d already suspected. I need the help of the rest of the Seven. The situation is more serious than I’d imagined and I need my friends to back me up on my plan. I hate to ask them for help, but if this is the only way to keep Ava safe, I’ll do it. I’d gladly sacrifice my life for her if it came to it… Only, this is harder. Meeting my friends face-to-face, asking them to back me up. Sweat beads my palm. I shift the folder I am carrying to my other hand, rub my palm on my pants, then raise it to knock on the door, when it swings open.
