Chapter Sixty-One - Ava

Fletcher didn’t speak about quitting the rest of the night.

We ate the food he ordered and spent most of the night catching up on sleep. Fletcher was more tired than I was by far.

He’d slept in until almost 10 the next morning. I hated waking him up but his phone had been buzzing for hours and considering the circumstances I figured it was important.

When I looked the number up and realized it was the hospital, I woke him. Levi had been calling wanting to go home the entire time. Apparently, his father was asking for him as well.

Fletcher didn’t rush getting ready and had breakfast brought to us before we left. As if our talk the night before had changed everything. He didn’t seem as rushed as he usually would.

It was a nice feeling of ease which was something we hadn’t experienced recently.

Fletcher and I drove to the hospital to find Levi’s arm in a cast, and an irritated look on his face. “I’ve been calling you for hours. I want to go home. Hire some home health nurse and let’s be finished with this. I hate the hospital.”

Fletcher rolled his eyes. “You’re just mad you’re alone. Where did Duke go?”

“Went home to shower and take a nap,” he grumbled. “Dad’s been calling my phone, too. We need to go see him before we check out.”

Fletcher looked down at his watch. “I’ll be right back. I’ll get the nurse to discharge you.”

He left me with Levi who seemed highly agitated. “Has the pain medication worn off? You’re not asking for the nurse.”

He looked at me confusingly. “I asked for the nurse?”

I chuckled. “You asked her out.”

“Was she cute?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, she was, but she wasn’t having it.”

Levi smiled. “She doesn’t realize what she’s missing.”

A different nurse came back with Fletcher ten minutes later. She went over a clipboard full of information and had some pain medication delivered from the pharmacy located next door.

After they discharged Levi, we walked down to Mr. Hines’s room. My nerves bounced around inside of me as he opened his eyes at our arrival. “About damn time. I thought my sons abandoned me.”

Fletcher stopped beside the bed with his hands shoved down into his pockets. “How are you feeling…”

“What happened to you?” Mr. Hines asked Levi. “What’s going on?”

Fletcher cleared his throat. “Heidi Capello broke into the house, tried to hurt Ava and set fire to the second story. Then shot Levi. The fire department got it under control before it hit the first floor.”

Mr. Hines closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. “You’ve got to be kidding me, right? That little brat tried all of that? I can’t wait to get on my two feet again, because I’m going to…”

“Do nothing,” Fletcher said. “You’re going to do nothing. I already spoke to the Capellos. They didn’t know Heidi was going to do this…”

“…horse crap!” Mr. Hines shouted, slamming his fist against the railing of the hospital bed. “I don’t believe that for a second. They burned my wife’s library? Her home and her restaurant?”

Fletcher swallowed. “Dad…this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t retaliated the way you did. I had it under control. You’re making bad decisions. And frankly, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I don’t want to take over anymore. I’m tired. I’m in love. I’ve never been more scared than I was yesterday getting to my house because I was afraid my wife was dead. I can’t keep doing this. You need to find someone else to take over, let Levi do it, or move on.”

His dad blinked at him.

I waited for him to turn to me and shoot daggers from his eyes but he didn’t. He glared at Fletcher. “You’re going to give up our family's business because you got married?”

He shrugged. “No, because I’m in love. There is a definite difference between the two. I can’t keep Ava safe this way. The Capellos got into my house with guards at every corner. I can’t trust people enough to keep her safe, and I want her safe. I need her safe."

His dad began to shake his head back and forth. “You can’t just leave. You’re the person I’ve always wanted to take over, son. Levi can’t do it.”

Levi snorted. “I’m not that bad.”

Mr. Hines didn’t look over. “Do you know what you’re doing? What you’ll be losing? The money…”

“I want to run the restaurants,” he said, lifting his head. “I want to expand and take care of all of it. I can’t do this to Ava or myself. Neither of us deserve it. I’m

sorry if you don’t agree, but I didn’t sign a pact with you. I didn’t bind myself in blood, Dad. I love you, but I don’t love this lifestyle. Look what it’s gotten us.”

His dad turned his head and closed his eyes. I could physically see the hurt resting in his features but I didn’t dare move from my place at the door.

“You’ll change your mind,” he said more to himself.

Fletcher didn’t respond. He looked over at Levi and then at me. “Dad, I’m going to get Levi home. We’ll be back tonight to check on you. I’ll get home health ready for when you are released. I will take care of everything until you’re back on your feet. I can promise that.”

When he didn’t respond, Fletcher walked toward the door and wrapped his arm around my waist. I felt two inches tall walking out of his father’s bedroom. I knew this was the best idea for all of us, but I wasn’t sure if it was the best thing for his Dad.

Fletcher seemed to think he would get over it. I wasn't too sure about that.

We dropped Levi off at home with a few guards to take care of him while we drove toward the hotel. Fletcher didn’t want to see the house, so he asked Jones to gather some clothes and bring them over.

I didn’t blame him. The fire had taken most of the second story and could take up to two months to fumigate and rebuild. His mother’s library was ruined.

I prayed there was at least something salvageable amongst all the ashes. When we got to the lobby, I noticed Charlotte and Jamie in the lobby first.

They looked like they were bickering about something which was believable. Jamie raced over first and tossed her arms around me. “Dear God, when I saw it on the news I didn’t believe it. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I told you she was,” Char said, pushing her out of the way with her hip. She placed her palms on my face and sighed. “Is all the drama over?" she asked.

I nodded. “I think so.”

“Good,” she said, stepping back. “I have to get back to work in an hour. Can I take you out to lunch?”

Jamie gave her a look. “I want to come.”

“You’re always intruding,” Char said.

“Don’t be mean,” I hissed. “Yes, you can come Jamie.” I looked over my shoulder at Fletcher watching the three of us. “Want to join?”

Fletcher smiled. “I think you three can manage without me. I have some things to take care of for my dad.”

I turned to him and he kissed me swiftly. The feeling swarmed me with butterflies. “I’ll have Jones trail you,” he whispered where they couldn’t hear. “Just until we make sure all of this has died down.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

Fletcher walked toward the elevators.

“Where do you want to go?” I asked.

“Mexican,” Jamie said.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “You always want Mexican. Let’s get Italian.”

“You both get on my nerves. Why don’t we go to a buffet so you can get what you want.”

“Ugh,” Charlotte said. “You both are cramping my style. I hate buffets.”

I groaned. “I’m about to say forget it.”

“Fine, Mexican,” Charlotte said.

Jamie gave me a secret smile and looped her arm through mine. “So, tell us exactly what happened. Duke told Charlotte that you were pretty stealthy and used some kind of self-defense kick on the bad guy. Where on earth did you learn that?”

I laughed. “TikTok.”

Charlotte laughed. “God, Ava. You would.”

“It worked, didn’t it?” I said.

Charlotte looked over my shoulder and smiled. “Yeah, apparently, it did.”

"So, Duke told you about it, huh?"

"God, Jamie. You have such a big mouth," Char mumbled.