I try not to let Ava see my face as I glare at Marcus. How could he let it slip in front of her? He mouths ‘sorry’ at me as Ava goes to let the dogs in. It was going to have to come out eventually, may as well be now. I sit on the couch, my plans to walk the dogs through the property with Ava fading with each passing minute. “Oh, no. You stay here,” I tell Marcus as he tries to sneak off to his room. In typical Marcus fashion, he sulks like a child over to the couch before joining me with a huff. Ava follows with both dogs hot on her heels. They try to start roughhousing and Ava quickly calls it to a stop. Goldie isn’t allowed to play rough until she’s healed. “Okay, so what were you saying about the Ambrose family?” Ava asks calmly while sitting next to me. I sigh. “Do you know who the Ambrose family is and what they do?” I question, needing to know how well she knows the people involved.“No,” Ava replies. “But now is your chance to educate me. If I’m going to help,

*Seymore’s POV*The last few days were touch and go with my mental health as I bounced between Ava’s and the Hospital. Doc is improving every day, and it doesn’t appear that he will be suffering any long-term effects from his beating. Ava had been depressed for two days, refusing to get out of bed.Today has been better, as I woke her up with a smile and a kiss. I haven’t left her side, leaving the dogs in Marcus’ capable hands. He’s been going to the hospital every day as well, but Ava refused to see him. She hadn’t wanted him to see her in her state. We talk when we see one another, and we both agree that Conner and Corbin must be dealt with. Ava doesn’t deserve to live in fear, and Corbin needs to pay for what he did. I had feared Doc would die and I would lose someone I consider family. Now that I know he’s going to be okay, I just want revenge. At first, I was confused by Sophia’s call. I didn’t receive any notification that Conner was near the condo. But then I remember

*Ava’s POV*The guys fall silent as I jokingly suggest killing Corbin. I thought I had been sarcastic when I said it, but I guess not. “I was just joking,” I mumble, hoping to ease the tension in the room. It’s been a stressful week. Seymore’s been great, in every way possible, but I just want to move on and put all this behind us. Corbin and Conner have been constantly present, and all I want to do is enjoy my new relationship with a man who truly knows how to treat me.Marcus chuckles as I clarify, killing the thick atmosphere. “You went really dark on us for a second,” he says with a smile. I’m happy Seymore has decided to let me in on the conversation regarding the Ambrose family, but I’m a little preoccupied with trying to figure out how I’m going to deal with Conner. Breaking into my place for the second time had been the last straw. I also need to talk with Sophia and find out why she had been so against staying when Seymore was on his way. I only half listen

I whip into Doc’s driveway and jump out of the SUV. Marcus meets me at the door before I even reach it.“What’s going on? Is Ava okay?” he starts to question as I hurry past him.“Ava’s fine, we fought, and I dropped her off at Ellie’s,” I answer angrily as I pull out my phone and pull up the news video about Conner.I hand my cell over to Doc, who is now standing next to Marcus. They both freeze in place, eyes glued to the screen of my device. The reporter sounds unbothered as she reads the teleprompter, adding how it’s so sad that people can’t feel safe in their own homes anymore.Doc looks up at me slowly, followed by Marcus. “So, you were right about the leg belonging to him,” Marcus says, still very confused as to what this has to do with Ava.“Ava thinks I did it. That’s why we fought. Everything I did to try and make Conner’s life miserable came back to bite me in the end,” I reply, dropping into one of Doc’s chairs. “How did she find out about everything?” Marcu

*Seymore’s POV*As Ava falls asleep next to me I think about what just happened. Was it the talk of marriage and children that made me act so impulsively, or a darker part of me acting on its own? Either way, something told me to stay tucked into her pulsing womanhood to spill my seed. I’ve never been so careless. Every time I’ve been with someone, I’ve pulled out. I wonder if she noticed. Either way, it felt amazing. Strangely enough, I would love for her to have my baby. Children with her would be a dream come true. I’d given up on ever having children, deciding that life just wasn’t for me. Being with Ava has changed all that. After pulling her in close, I manage to close my eyes and drift off.***The Next MorningWe wake up to Ava’s phone ringing. She answers it and hurries out of the room, trying not to wake me up. While we were asleep, I must have slipped off of her.I hear her talking in the other room, but can’t make out what she’s saying. I climb out of the bed a