Chapter 16

Vivian

My brain was on the edge of exploding. It seemed like would explode at any moment if I didn’t fuck one of my whores. I rang the bell and one of my men came in quickly. “Bring Layla here.” I tapped my fingers impatiently. He didn’t even move from his place as watching me. “What is it, Brett?” I was fucking frustrated.

“But Boss, you’ve never...”

Before he could complete his word, I cut him off, “Where I fuck who I fuck this is none of your goddamn business. I pay you fat, that’s all that matters to you. Now get the fuck out of here and bring Layla before I fuck your life.” I ran my fingers through my hair.

Kiara. Who the hell was she? How could I let her go harmlessly? She killed three men. Three fucking men all alone. How did she kill three men? She was not only feisty, but she also had a goddamn brain. Beauty with a brain. How skillfully she seduced the man and sliced his neck. For sure, she wasn’t an innocent woman. She was someone. And it was fucking my brain.

“Hello, Mr. Miller, long time no see,” I recognized her seductive voice. Layla. She was standing in the doorway with a sexy smile on her face. She was in her skin-tight dress that pushed out her breast and was too short for her long legs. Her face was done with heavy makeup. She stepped in slowly and my eyes were fixed on her big ass. “It has been two weeks since you didn’t call me.”

It had been over two weeks since I had fucked someone. I didn’t fuck any woman after Kiara. But it didn’t mean I swear to her I didn’t get time from my business deals. She came around, touching me and trailing her manicured hands over my tattooed chest. I was still in my chair, eyeing her every move. She bent down, fluttering her fake eyelashes, “Turn around, Layla. You know my rules.”

Her eyes showed a hint of disappointment. “Why don’t you kiss me?” I gave her my sharp look. She quickly turned around after seeing my expression and began to undress. “Why do you always fuck me from behind?”

“Can’t you shut your fucking mouth, or do you want me to stop?” I hissed.

“No, please,” she pleaded, and I unzipped my pants.

***********

“Happy birthday to you, sweetheart,” I whispered. She clutched her pink blanket tightly and was looking adorable in her fairy dreams. I bent down and pressed my lips against her forehead. “I love you.”

She fluttered her sleepy eyes. “Daddy. Is it you?”

“It’s me,” I said and leaned down and nuzzled my nose against her little nose and she giggled.

“You scared me. You’re sitting here like a ghost.” she sat up, her eyes were still sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and made her view clear.

“Did I scare you?” I stayed on the chair because her little bed was too small for my size.

“Little bit.” her blonde hair was messy, and her eyes were slightly puffy.

“Come here,” I said, and she obeyed me as coming near me. I brushed her hair with my fingers. “Are you sleepy?”

She shook her head. “Not now. I was dreaming of Ashton.”

I raised my brows. “Your prince charming, right? Does he know today is your birthday?”

She jumped and sat on my lap and locked her both arms around my neck, “I don’t know. I’ll tell him later. Okay. Today is my birthday, right?”

I nodded, “You turn six. What do you want?”

“Ok let me think,” after a few seconds “I want to spend my whole day with you. I won’t let you go to work today. Today is my day and you’ll do it.”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to do, and I will not go to work today,” I smiled and stroked her cheeks, “Then where do you want to go?”

“First, we go to the central park, then a children’s museum and I also want to watch a Puppet Show, then we will go to Brooklyn and Ride. I have planned everything,” her eyes filled with excitement, “I hope you will not be getting bored.”

“I’ll never get bored as long as I have such an entertaining daughter.”

“No, I know your taste in enjoyment. I have no problem if you bring one of your bimbos with us.”

I quickly looked at her in shock. “Where did you learn this word? Bimbos??”

She shrugged. “I’ve heard it somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Caleb, I heard him. He was talking about you when we were on the way to my school. I was wearing my headphones but didn’t play the song. He was talking to David.”

Caleb and David were Harley’s bodyguards. “What were they talking about?”

“Are you going to hurt them?” She narrowed her eyes. “I won’t tell you,” she crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, I won’t hurt them. I need to know what things my men say behind my back?”

“They said that you’re dating one of your bimbos, that’s it. I saw her at the wedding ceremony. She was wearing a red gown. Do you like her, Viv?”

I frowned. Liking Kiara was the last thing in my mind. I don’t like her.

“I don’t like her. Do you like her?”

She let out a sigh of relief. “No, never. I hated seeing her with you. She looked like a witch. She was wearing a dark-colored dress and lots of makeup. God.”

I let out a small laugh. My six-year-old daughter was behaving like a teenage girl. Kiara was indeed a witch. She was feisty. She was scared of nothing, not even me. I hated her guts, but somewhere I respected her. She had never tried to throw herself at me like other women usually do. And she was not a bimbo! “I need to talk to Caleb and David,” I said and placed her on the bed. “You should sleep a few more hours before we start our tour.”

**********

“Did you enjoy the day?” I asked while starting the car.

She crossed her little arms over her chest, looking out of the window, “I enjoyed it, but you shouldn’t have scolded that server. I don’t understand why they are people afraid of you wherever you go? It’s not that you look like a ghost.” Harley scanned my face. “You know you’re gorgeous, Dad.”

One of my hands went into my hair while another kept on the wheel, “Maybe they are afraid of you,” how could I explain to her? I was not the one she thought of me. I didn’t know her future. I didn’t know mine either. But maybe she would hate me when she grew up. Because I caused her mother’s death. I was the reason for her nightmare and loneliness. I was a selfish asshole.

“You’re going to break the wheel!” Harley shouted. I quickly loosened my grip around the wheel and stared at my white knuckle.

“I’m sorry I was lost in my thoughts.” I focused on my driving.

“What were you thinking?” She asked with her puppy eyes.

“About your mother,” I said honestly.

Her eyes fell to sadness. “Have you ever seen her after her death? Because I’ve heard my classmates were talking about angels and they said kind souls always showed up to their loved ones. And I think you were very close to her. Do you still love her?”

My lips curl into a sad smile. “Yes. I still love her. I’ll never stop loving you and your mother, sweetheart.”

“I’m not sure about her because I barely remember her face, but I’m sure about you. I’ll never stop loving you too, Dad. You’re my Ironman.” She punched my bicep. “Thank you for everything you’ve given me.”

I pressed the security code before pulling the car through the giant gate. “I’m missing Aunt Ava. She didn’t even wish me on my birthday.”

I was missing her, too. She had not called me even once since she went to California. Probably she was expecting me to call her, but I was too proud to call my sister. I parked the car. “I’ll call her later,” I said to Harley, but I wasn’t sure if I would ever call her.

She climbed off the car, and I did the same. I checked my watch; it was seven. I had enough time for a video conference. I had done nothing today except please my daughter. The door swung open and...

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear Harley.

Happy birthday to you.

The children’s voices erupted in the hall. And the next moment they ran to Harley, gathering around her and wishing her.

“Happy birthday, little queen,” Ava appeared. I didn’t notice her between the children. She had been hiding between them. So that’s all arranged by my sister.

“Aunt” Harley jumped in excitement and hugged her. “You know I was missing you a lot. Where have you been?? You didn’t even call me at midnight!”

Ava kissed each of her cheeks, “I have been busy in my work, little queen. Sorry”

“Don’t apologize,” Harley glanced around the decoration of the birthday party. “You’ve arranged all this?”

Ava nodded. “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” she said and looked around one more time. “It’s beautiful.”

“Harley, let’s give some time to your friends, or do you prefer your aunt’s entire time?” I said, and she looked at the group of her schoolmates.

“Let’s party,” she announced and joined her friends. I smiled at her, seeing her happiness. She didn’t even enjoy this with me.

“Hey bro,” Ava hugged me, “I don’t know if you missed me or not, but I missed you a lot,” she murmured and pulled herself back and looked at me. After seven months, I saw her. I didn’t contact her because I was angry at her for what she had fucked up with Alice and I hadn’t forgiven her yet. She became paler than before. Dark shadows under her eyes were visible. She was looking different. Something changed in her. I studied her face. Her skin looked dull, and her eyes were slightly red. I didn’t take the time to understand what was that.

I quickly grabbed her forearm, “We need to talk,” I said and glanced at Harley. She was busy with her friends laughing and enjoying the party. I returned to Ava and dragged her into my office and closed the door behind us.

“What is it?” She couldn’t even speak two words properly.

“How long, Ava?” I asked coldly. My eyes were burning with anger.

She frowned, and didn’t understand my question, “How long, what?!”

I tightened my grip around her forearm, and she winced due to pain. “You’re hurting me, Vivian!”

Vivian! She never called me by name.

“How long have you been taking drugs?” I gritted my teeth, and my eyes were fixed on her bloodshot eyes.

She shuddered under my gaze, and her eyes grew wide. “W. What!” She dropped her eyes. She was trying her best not to meet my burning gaze because she had better know what she would find. The hollow of her collarbone became even deeper. She was in a knee-length olive dress that hung her skinny body. She was looking awful. I couldn’t believe she was my beautiful sister.

“I’m talking to you, Ava,” she flinched, her body tensing even more.

“You’re scaring me,” she breathed. “It is just promethazine I have been taking for my allergies.”

“Promethazine? Don’t fucking lie to me, Ava!!” I grabbed both her shoulders and made her look at me, “Look at me,” I said, and she obeyed, looking into my eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears. My grip loosened after seeing her moist eyes. I couldn’t see her crying.

I couldn’t see her in extreme pain. I hugged her tightly. “Don’t do this. Don’t lose yourself, Ava,” I whispered and closed my eyes, hearing her silent sob.

“I can’t forget him, bro. I can’t,” she hugged me even tighter and sobbed silently, “What I have done with Alice and Henry. It always haunted me. Our childhood friendship, Alice’s innocent face, and that accident. How can I escape from all this nightmare? I almost killed them. I can’t get through this. Sometimes I feel like I should have died that day. I should have died in that accident. Why did God save me? To see the person who I loved most fall into another woman!”

I shook her, “Don’t fucking talk like that Ava!” I hate Henry as he spoiled my sister’s life. I cupped the back of her head, “Sometimes our conditions make us villain Ava. You did not want to hurt Alice and Henry, but you still wanted him at the same time. You fell for him, but he fell for another woman. Some things in life are not in our hands and not in our control. And you have to live with that exception whether you want it or not. You can’t change the past. Your mind was fucked-up at that time. You were not wrong, but your method was wrong. You’re a grown-up and beautiful woman. There are lots of men around there who want you, Ava. You should move on. How long will you stick with him? I’m certain a day will come when someone in your life will want to be with you.”

She sobbed even louder, “No one wants me.”

“Shut up, Ava. Don’t cry like a three-year-old child. Where is my strong sister? And don’t fucking use drugs.”

She sniffed, “I thought after mother and father, it was me you blacklisted me in your life. You didn’t even call me.”

I met her gaze. “You know I have too much pride, Ava. I was angry at you. I’d never thought you would ever do this,” she stared at me with regret in her eyes, “I know I’m a criminal, but I have never harmed innocent, harming Henry was ok but Alice,” I sighed, “She was innocent.”

I wiped away her tears. “I’ll die for you if you ask me. But I never tolerate wrong things. I never tolerate injustice, whether you’re my sister or my enemy.”

She nodded. “I should apologize to Alice. Not today, not tomorrow, but eventually she will forgive me.” She gave me a genuine smile. “I heard you’re dating a girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s all fake. Do you think I’ll ever do this after Bella?”

My phone rang, and an unknown number appeared on the screen. I excused Ava and walked out.

“Boss,” I heard him breathing hard, “Boss, it’s me, Max”

“Max!”

He was groaning, “Kiara. They took her.”

“Who???..” The phone disconnected before I could ask anything else.

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