Chapter Fifty-Nine - Ava

Smoke flowed into the sky from the windows of the second story of our home. The fire department worked on putting out the flames while the police arrested Heidi and her henchman.

Fletcher wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side. I watched in awe at the scene unfolding in front of me.

I blinked when I felt Fletcher’s warm breath against my ear. “Why didn’t you call the police?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I was afraid of what would come of you and your family if I did.”

Fletcher’s dark eyes shifted over my face slowly, and he rested his forehead against mine. “Sweetie. Your safety is more important than that any day of the week. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Is Levi going to be okay?” I asked absently.

“He’ll be fine. It’s a shoulder wound but over his right side.”

Tears built in my eyes. We knew the Capellos wouldn’t give up, but I never imagined they would get into our home. I turned and looked up at him. “How on earth did they get inside? There were so many guards around us.”

Fletcher pressed his lips into a thin line. “I’m not sure about that yet.”

“A mole?” I asked.

“Perhaps,” he said, sliding his palm over his face. "Or good luck? Maybe they were watching our shift changes and were able to sneak past us..."

"I noticed one of the beds felt warm and looked slept in upstairs." Fletcher sighed but didn't speak on it. I imagined he was dealing with a ton of frustration. “What about Lucinda?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “I couldn’t get to her before they found me. I ran for my life…”

Fletcher put both hands on my shoulders and rubbed circles into my skin. “The police confirmed that she is out back. They are asking her questions about the break-in.”

“Are they going to ask me questions?” I asked.

“They’ll ask us both questions.”

I nervously interlaced my fingers in front of me. “What if they ask about your job?”

Fletcher cleared his throat. “Then you kindly tell them I own a chain of restaurants. If they start to push, you ask if you should get a lawyer.”

I nodded as the paramedics brought Levi out on a stretcher. Fletcher walked over with me on his heels. Duke came out behind them looking as if he’d been in a cage fight.

He looked me up and down to make sure I hadn’t been hurt. “He’s going to be fine,” he told Fletcher.

Fletcher nodded. “I need to go with him. Only one person can ride in the back of the ambulance. Duke, can you drive Ava to the hospital? I don’t want her to be alone right now.”

“Sure, I can.”

Fletcher tossed him his car keys before climbing into the back of the ambulance. Duke nudged me toward Fletcher’s car and I hurried over to the passenger seat. The ambulance sped out of the driveway and Duke followed along behind them. “What a day,” he said with a laugh.

I tossed him a look. “Yeah. I’m just…hopefully it’s over. Do you think Heidi is going to prison?”

Duke nodded. “She’ll get out on bail, but I don’t know one lawyer who can get her out of burglary and arson.”

“Do you think it’s over?” I asked, trying to keep the hope out of my voice. “Or do you think they’ll come after us harder?”

Duke looked over with dried blood on his forehead and a lopsided smile. “I think they’ll take this as a loss, and if they are smart, leave it be.”

Which didn’t necessarily mean they were smart.

Duke drove us to the hospital and we were guided to the waiting room with Fletcher. He seemed stressed but in good spirits mostly.

The police asked us all questions but nothing about his family restaurant, only our opinion on why Heidi did what she did. Which I was truthful about. Heidi was a scorned woman who had her eyes set on Fletcher.

They took their notes and left.

I hoped it was the last time we saw them, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

We spent hours in the waiting room, only leaving to eat in the cafeteria, and then came straight back.

Fletcher ventured into his dad’s hospital room a few times but came back more irritated than when he came. Apparently, his pain medicine still had him angry.

When the doctor came out, Fletcher was the first one up out of his seat. “How is he?” he asked.

The doctor smiled. “The surgery went well. Your brother is a lucky guy. You can go back there but he’s pretty out of it.”

Fletcher offered me his hand. I took it and we all walked back to check on Levi. A nurse stood over him, checking his IV when we walked inside.

“What time do you get off?” he asked.

The nurse gave him a look but smiled when she turned her head. “He’s okay, a little loopy, but fine.”

She left much to Levi’s dismay. “Hey, come back! I’ll be out of here soon. I’ll take you out to eat.”

Duke scoffed. “Dude, not going to happen. How are you feeling? Get your head out of the gutter."

Levi ruffled his hair with his good arm and shrugged. “I’m doped up, so good. Ask me again when the medicine wears off.”

I sat in a corner chair and watched Fletcher lean over the hospital bed. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be an ass. You know this wasn’t your fault. It was no one’s fault. No one blames you for everything that happened.”

Fletcher nodded though he didn’t seem convinced. He stepped back and ran his fingers into his hair. “At least you’re going to heal and Heidi had bad aim.”

Duke plopped down in the recliner in the other corner. “She’ll most likely get charged with attempted murder,” he said.

Levi leaned his head back and chuckled at the ceiling. “Can you see if that nurse is married?”

Fletcher sighed heavily before looking over at me. “We need to figure out a living situation until we get the house ready,” he said. “Duke, are you okay to stay here until we can get back? I need to see about renting out a place for a few weeks.”

Duke raised his hand. “You got it. I can keep Levi in line. But after, I’m ready to relax. I need a break from all the Hines drama.”

“You and me both,” Fletcher said, offering me his hand. Duke tossed him the keys to his car. “I’ll be back soon. I’ll bring some food when I come. That cafeteria food sucks.”

Fletcher led me into the hallway and down toward the lobby. His strides were wide and I struggled to keep up. When we made it to the car, I slipped into the passenger seat and glanced over at him.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m…I’m so glad you’re okay, Ava.” He picked up my hand and kissed it.

“Me, too. What made you come home so soon? Did you see my missed calls?”

He pulled out of the parking spot. “No, Dad shoved me and I broke my phone. We tried to call the house and no one was answering. It worried me.”

“I’m glad you came.”

“Me, too,” he said. “Let’s go to Four Seasons and see if we can rent a suite for an extended stay. I want us to be comfortable.”

I watched the traffic as he weaved in and out of it. I relaxed into the warm leather seat and closed my eyes. I hadn’t realized how tired I was until that moment.

Several minutes later, Fletcher nudged me awake. “Come on, Ava. I called on the way. They have a room ready. You need to rest.”

I walked like a zombie through the hotel, up the elevators, and toward one of the top floors. The suite was giant, like the one in Vegas we stayed at before, but this time, I didn’t look around. I went to the bed and laid down. A warm blanket covered me seconds later and my eyes fluttered.

“You’re safe now, Ava. Rest. We only have a few things to take care of before we have our forever.”

I wanted to ask him what that meant, but I was too tired. I let sleep take me over until everything went black and still.