LOGINETHAN COLEShe needed an explanation. Of course she needed one. I had never seen her so visibly annoyed to the extent of showing so much emotion. I took in a sharp breath, then it rushed out my lungs carelessly.“Here's dangerous. Let's head home,” I said bluntly, cursing myself for my terrible communication skills. Unlike Winnie, I couldn't communicate without throwing a punch or putting a bullet through someone's head. That was one of the reasons VAR liked me. Because I was a mess. Ava's eyes hardened, her back turning away from me.“I'm your employer, so I can easily fire you. Tell me why you dragged me out here.”Steam might as well have poured from her head. It felt as though we were trapped in an enclosed room with no window for air.Confessing about the note would set her into panic mode, and most especially blow up my cover. In other words, I had to lie.“Someone was following you,” I muttered, loud enough for her to hear. Ava's back suddenly stiffened. Slowly
ETHAN COLE-You bastard, answer my calls!-I promise to flay you if you keep up with this nonsense. I read the irritation mixed with sheer rage in her messages, and I knew exactly how her face would be scrunched up when sending this to me. Winnie called. She texted, and for a week, I didn't respond to either means of communication. Part of me wanted to call her, and scold her for her persistence. But this… this was for the better. VAR, still in a way thought I was searching for the documents, and this protected them for some time, until they found out… .I scrolled through our chat. The endless complaint about how the customers in the bar were fighting over her even though she made it clear she wasn't single. Or how one threw a fit, decided it was best to break the tables. My finger hovered around the call button while my mind struggled to accept this new decision. It felt like I was running from everything I'd ever cared about. One day, that cowardice would finally catch
ETHAN COLEHer fingers elegantly held the brush as she made strokes after stroke. Sometimes, her body arched forward, and in three minutes she had changed brushes. My eyes observed her clearly, my focus entirely on the painting… and the artist.Mostly the artist. She wore an apron, and light gloves. Her hair swayed with her while she worked. The line that ran along her back had never been this satisfying to watch. Suddenly, her brush hung in the air. “You're making me nervous,” she said, letting her hand drop beside her. “How?” I asked. I changed from my duck-like squat, and crawled closer to her to get a better view of her face. The only bright thing in the room. Ava turned to me, her brush sliding across my face smearing light pink colour onto my face. “You're staring.” She chuckled as her eyes met my face. I shrugged. “I'll stop staring then.” She bent over to where I crouched like a puppy. “But I want you to keep watching me,” she muttered. Swiftly, I re
ETHAN COLE Ava lay in bed, her body heating up. She sneezed with her eyes tightly shut.“You have a fever,” I said, my hand grazing her temple. She shook her head, pouting her lips. “You should stay in bed, princess. I'll call in the doctor.”“I wanted to be productive today,” she murmured, adjusting her posture. A small smile tugged at my lips. Of course she did. Our conversations last night must have lifted her spirit. “That's sad. But you still need to rest. Don't be stubborn, and listen to the doctor.” I sounded just like Nina when I would fall sick, and run away immediately after the doctor left.That was years ago.It didn't matter again since she was gone. I patted her hair, then pressed my lips against her temple. Ava closed her eyes, lashes fluttering as the golden rays of the sun seeped into the room. Closing the door quietly, I dragged my feet to the kitchen, rubbing the side of my neck. As sleep deprived as I was, my mind still raced with conflicting thoug
ETHAN COLE“Do you want something to drink?” “Maybe, something to get high on?” Ava said in a muffled voice. She lay on the bed, bare-backed, our legs intertwined beneath the scattered sheets.“Maybe,” I answered. The night seemed to be hanging onto the sky because after so many conversations to pass time, it was still 1:00 am. I turned to stare at her pretty face; hair scattered all over the pillow, a new scar imprinted behind her ear. I sucked in my cheeks, knowing full well who had done that. Ava looked at the ticking clock and sat up, hair falling to her shoulders. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “It's still 1:00 am? I still don't feel sleepy. Drinking should help,” she murmured, pouting her lips. I chuckled. She looked cute whenever she acted that way.“One minute,” I said, rising to my feet. Before leaving, I turned to her, about to say something, but decided against it. As my feet trudged down to the winery, my line of thoughts seemed jumbled, each one conflicting
AVA DUVAL I could hear my own heartbeat, and as Ethan inched closer to me, I took in a sharp breath a bit too quickly, almost choking. What was wrong with me? Our noses touched, and as cowardly as I was, my head turned away from him. Sometimes I regretted taking him as my bodyguard and this — this was part of the reason.“Is that why you like staring at me? To ease the tension bottled up in you?” Clearing my throat, I turned to him with a straight face, praying… hoping I wouldn't falter. “There is no tension to ease.” Silence dragged for a while. The clock ticked and the leaves fluttered. The curtain swayed, fresh air washing my face.“What if I told you I was that man, would it ease your worries?”His words took me by surprise. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. This was it! He was mocking me, probably aching to see my shocked expression. My lips bent into a frown.“Cut it out, Nikolai, you already said you weren't the one.” The man who saved me co







