The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) (14 page)

“I beg your pardon? You will not speak to me in that tone!”

“You see, I just can’t win, can I?”

“None of this is about winning, Hope. It’s about attempting to sort out the mess you created because you’re a spoiled bloody brat!”

Hope dipped her head at Aviva’s words, which caused Aviva to flop back down in her chair with a sigh of exasperation, unsure how this long legged woman always made her feel as though she had just kicked the cat. Sucking her teeth, Aviva told Hope to order her a cappuccino and a chicken salad sandwich then she might just stay to hear her out.

As she tucked into her sandwich, Aviva had been surreptitiously keeping an eye on Hope. Half way through her sandwich she realized she was at the end of her patience watching Hope crumble bread she had no intention of eating, while waiting for her to get to the point of this luncheon.

“Why am I hear, Hope?”

Hope’s noticeable swallow immediately worried Aviva. She just knew she wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear. “I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you about a long time ago.”

Aviva’s stomach began to churn up the food she had just consumed. “What?”

“There’s no easy way to say this... it’s past time that you knew the truth. It’s not fair that you seem to be the only one who doesn’t know. I kept the truth to myself because I didn’t see how your knowing would help any of us.”

Aviva realized she was scared. Scared of what Hope would say next. Pulling her hands from the table, she placed them in her lap and interlocked her fingers, subconsciously making a sign of prayer that her heart wasn’t about to be shattered. She wanted Hope to just say whatever she had to say. Yet, at the same time she wanted whatever truth she was about to impart to remain locked behind her lips.

**********

 “Aviva, what happened to you?” Jason asked.

Aviva had almost made it to the top of the stairs when he spotted her. All she needed was some time alone before she had to face him, talk to him and tell him what she had found out.

“I’m fine, Jason. I got caught in the rain. I just need to get out of these wet clothes then I’ll come down.” Aviva held her breath as she stood sideways on the stairs partially turned away from him.

“Have you been crying?”

“I just need some space. Please, thirty minutes. That’s all I need.” On the verge of tears yet again, Aviva saturated her voice with a plea that she hoped he would hear and heed. She should have known better, Jason being Jason, he just kept coming.

Stretching out her hand, Aviva stopped him from coming too close to her. She needed some time alone, and somehow she would have to make him understand and respect her wishes.

“Please, just give me a little while by myself... please.”

“Why do you keep pushing me away? I know something happened. Was it Hope? Did she say something to upset you?”

“I just need some time... please.”

“What did she say to you, Aviva?” Jason asked with a concerned expression.

Giving him one last look, Aviva turned and continued up the stairs. His barrage of questions indicated that he wasn’t about to grant her request for some time alone.

“I’m going to take a shower.” Aviva could feel his presence behind her, and did her best to ignore him while she attempted to gather her thoughts.

Jason followed Aviva to their bedroom and to her surprise stopped at the door while she continued on. Thankful that he was finally respecting her wish for some time alone, she felt the penetration of his stare boring into her back. Unable to resist, she turned and looked over at him.

“You have thirty minutes. If you’re not down by then, I’m coming back up.”

Aviva understood just how difficult this was for Jason. She could see his reluctance to give her what she requested. His eyes had now turned so deep a green they were like dark coals piercing through her. With a nod of understanding, Aviva turned away.

**********

It had been raining for the past few hours and Jason could feel the chill that permeated the air. It was for this reason and to give his restlessness an outlet that he decided to light a fire in the over large fireplace.

Once he had the fire going to his satisfaction, he selected throws and cushions and placed them before the roaring flames. Looking around and considering what more he could do while he waited, Jason poured himself a drink and began to pace.

With his mind running in numerous directions in an attempt to figure out what had taken place at Aviva’s meeting with Hope, Jason was unable to shake the thought that Hope had concocted another lie. Knowing the futility of the way his mind was working, Jason sat down to continue his wait.

With his eyes trained on the clock, he waited exactly thirty minutes. Setting down his glass, Jason rose to his feet. As he pulled open the door, Aviva stood facing him. Standing back, he allowed her to enter the room that was lit by the golden glow of the fire.

“You did this for me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you, it looks beautiful.”

Taking her hand in his, Jason pulled her towards the repose he had made before the fire. He knew she had only been aware of the fire from her vantage point by the door, and hoped she would like the seating he had made for her. He wasn’t disappointed.

Watching her closely, Jason was aware of the moment she saw the arrangement for the first time. Her eyes flashed up, and her lips made an O of delight.

“I have no idea why you are so nice to me. I was an absolute witch to you this morning, and you do this for me.”

“Doing this was my pleasure, Angel, because I love you and I only want to make you happy.”

Raising her hand, Jason placed a soft kiss against the scar in the middle of her palm. To his surprise, Aviva threw herself into his arms and held on as though she were afraid he was going to vanish into thin air.

Disturbed by the turn of events, Jason bent his legs and swung her into his arms. Striding over to the fire, he maneuvered his body until he had lowered them both to the throws. Placing her between his legs, Jason wrapped his arms around his woman and placed soft kisses against her temple. He wouldn’t rush her, when she was ready to talk, he would listen.

“Hope and I have the same father.”

“What?” Jason asked, confused at what she had just said. “What are you talking about? You told me Nixon was your biological father.”

“Nixon is our father. Hope and I are sisters, and Nixon is our father.”

Jason didn’t know what to say to this current revelation, so he remained quiet in his support.

“This whole situation is so disgusting, when she told me I nearly threw up.”

“The thought of having Hope as a sister is disgusting to you?” Jason asked in surprise.

“No, not that. Do you know that Hope and I are the same age?”

“I suppose somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that, yes.”

“That’s not the worst part, there’s another child out there who is only a few months older than Hope and I. That’s what’s so disgusting!”

“Wow, he’s quite the prolific procreator.” Jason said with a snort.

“This is not funny, Jason!”

“I know, Angel, I just couldn’t resist.”

“Disgusting man, I hope his willy shrivels up and drops off!”

That was it, Jason lost it. Knowing better than to make a sound, he ran his fingers across his lips to hold in his laughter.

“I know you’re laughing at me, but this is not funny!”

“I know it’s not, Angel.”

“Hope’s known about this for years.”

The sudden change of direction threw Jason. “Why didn’t she tell you about it before now?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t even think she knows why. Hope has so many demons I don’t know where this registers on her emotional scale. Did you know that Nixon and Mason are cousins?”

“No, I didn’t know that.”

Aviva then went on to tell him about the type of man Nixon truly was. How he had manipulated, and used the people around him, so he didn’t lose his rich wife.

This was a new twist to the story, and all through their conversation, Jason’s mind was churning as to what he could do to get Nixon totally out of their lives. He was the last obstacle in his way. However, he knew he had to tread carefully. Aviva’s emotions where her father was concerned were too jumbled. On the one hand, she attempted an air of nonchalance whenever he was mentioned, but on the other hand, he knew this issue with Nixon was unfinished business.

“I want you to try not to worry. I’ll take care of this.”

Turning to a kneeling position before him, Aviva cupped both of Jason’s cheeks and looked deeply into his eyes.

“Thank you for saying that. But I don’t want you to do anything. I’ll take care of this.”

Everything in Jason protested. But he knew her well enough to know that pushing the issue would get him nowhere. In circumstances such as these, when dealing with Aviva, the best course of action was to let her have her way. Or at least to give the impression that he was allowing her to have her way.

“Okay, I’ll leave this to you to deal with. But I want your promise that you will be careful and that you won’t get yourself into something you don’t know how to get out of.”

“I promise, and thank you for being so understanding.”

Jason’s visage remained serious, he had another question. “Why were you so upset when you arrived home?” Jason held his breath at Aviva’s hesitation, her gaze falling away from his.

“I got very angry.”

“What did you do?”

“I told Hope I was going over there to cuss his backside. She got scared and started wringing her hands, pleading with me not to do it. She was nearly hysterical, so I compromised. I got her to call him instead.”

Jason could see that her anger had returned and almost wished he hadn’t asked the question. But he wanted to know everything that had transpired. “Go on.”

“He’s not a nice man, Jason. I haven’t seen or spoken with him since I was seventeen years old, and he’s still a shit. Although I was spitting nails, I was extremely polite. I asked him if he would be willing to meet me so that we could have a well overdue talk. Do you know what he said to me?”

Jason had to hold her in place, so strong was her agitation. “No, what did he say to you?”

“He said, he didn’t have anything to say to me, and that he wasn’t even sure if I was his kid. That if I came anywhere near his house, or his family he would see to it that it was the last thing I ever did. Can you believe his bloody cheek?”

Jason went still, and he knew Aviva wished she could recall her words.

“You will stay away from that man. Do I make myself clear, Aviva?”

“It’s not as bad as it sounds, honestly. I can deal with this, with him. I need to do this for myself, Jason.” Aviva pleaded.

“I’m afraid that’s out of the question. I’ll repeat, you will stay away from him.”

“Let me go!” Aviva demanded, attempting to pull away from Jason’s grip.

Not wanting to have to use force against her he released his hold. Aviva sprang to her feet and stood with her bare legs braced apart, her hands on her hips in indignation. Jason looked up at her with a blank expression. She looked beautiful standing in front of him, her white shirt picking up the hues of the fire that back dropped her. But it didn’t matter how beautiful he thought she was at this moment; she would do as he said.

“Did you hear me, Aviva?”

“Of course I heard you, I’m not deaf! But the real question here is, did you hear me, Jason?” Folding her arms over her ample breasts, Aviva tipped her head to one side and waited for his reply.

Rising to his feet, Jason took back the advantage of height. “I have no intention of discussing this subject any further. You will do as I say.” Jason instantly regretted his words.
Oh Lord
, he thought, all hell is about to break loose. Aviva looked as though she was going to combust, but he refused to back down. The man had threatened her, what the hell did she expect him to say.

“Then it would seem that we’re at an impasse. You think you have some divine right to tell me what I can and cannot do, and I’m telling you right now that you don’t.”

Jason couldn’t help himself, he laughed. Not because there was any humor in the situation, but because his angel was so puffed up with indignation. It took the space of one heartbeat for Jason to know that he had just made mistake number two.

“I’m sorry, Angel, I didn’t mean to laugh.”

“It doesn’t matter. Good night, Jason.”

Jason watched her go, knowing that he would be doing some serious groveling before he got back into her good graces. He would leave her to calm down for a while because he had a phone call to make. Then he was going to get her. He couldn’t wait to see how the flames reflected against her dark skin as he made love to her.

Picking up his phone, Jason dialed a number.

“Hello.”

“This is Jason King. I have a job for you.”

“Yes sir, what can I do for you?”

“I need you to run a check on a, Nixon Vernon Clement.” Jason gave him all the information he could think of, kicking himself that he hadn’t had the man checked out before now. “One more thing, I want the information by tomorrow.” Jason didn’t wait for a reply, as he disconnected his mind was already on the woman upstairs.

**********

It was barely seven-thirty, yet Aviva felt as though she hadn’t slept in days. Pulling the comforter up to her chin, she closed her eyes, needing some time to process all that had taken place.

Thinking of Jason she shook her head against the pillow and smiled. Although she was more than a little put out with him, she knew he meant well. It was just his approach to getting his way that she found difficult to deal with. But she loved the big oaf, she just couldn’t deal with him tonight. From one thought to the next, Aviva was fast asleep.

Chapter 16

Jason was frantic. He had been searching for Aviva for the last twenty minutes and she was nowhere to be found. He had even checked outside of the house, and there was still no sign of her.

Going back into the house, he mounted the stairs three at a time in his haste to begin his search all over again. Bellowing her name at the top of his voice, Jason went from room to room flinging back each door so that it ricocheted against the wall. Still nothing. Doing the same to the room she had occupied when she first arrived, Jason saw her jack-knife into a sitting position