Temptation (39 page)

“I guess he did.” He shakes his head, no doubt thinking of the past. “I’ve been so angry at him for so long about him sleeping with Misty. I never even thought of letting him explain. I never gave him the chance. Looks like I’m the one that needs to apologize.”

“It’s not too late to make amends with him. I’m sure he’ll listen, or be stubborn about it, but he’ll listen.” I give him a peck on the lips and I pull away. I stop before I get to the living room and say, “By the way, I have tonight off. And next weekend too. I don’t know if Margo had a chance to tell you. I thought it would be best to take a break from the club.”

“No, she didn’t tell me but I think it’s a good idea.” Viktor makes his way to me and we both lay down on the couch. His front faces mine and he lays his head on my chest. “Should we go pick up Gabbie from your parents?” I run my hands through his hair and he sighs in content. His arms wrap around my waist tightly, then he looks up and smiles. I lean down and kiss him, but it’s sort of awkward to do so. We both end up laughing and he lays his head back down.

“We can go get her tomorrow. She’s used to staying the whole weekend anyways.” I want to talk more about what happened last night, and talk to him about why I feel the way I do, but when I hear him breathing deeply, I know he’s fallen asleep. I knew he would as soon as he got comfortable. Especially if he hadn’t slept at all last night. I try not to laugh when I hear him start to snore.

I continue to run my hands through his hair, loving how it feels on my skin. I can’t help but stare at Viktor as he sleeps. He looks so peaceful and stress free. It’s not often I get this opportunity and I’m taking full advantage. He starts to mumble something, but I can’t understand him. Partly because he’s mumbling and partly because it’s in Russian. I think for the thousandth time maybe I should start taking lessons. It would make things easier if I knew some of the things he says to me at times.

Viktor continues to sleep as my boredom grows. I reach over careful not to wake him, and grab my phone off the coffee table. I play some games, and check my email. I notice it’s getting super late and I don’t know how much longer I can lay on the couch like this. My back is starting to cramp from Viktor’s arm being under me and he’s getting heavy on my chest.

I’m about to wake him and tell him to go get in the bed when my phone starts to ring. I silence it quickly, but Viktor stirs. When I see it’s mom calling, I immediately answer it. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I know something wrong as soon as hear Gabbie screaming in the background, and knowing it’s too late for her to be calling to talk. While she tries to pacify Gabbie, I move Viktor off me and I get up.

“I’m sorry, Ava, but I can’t get Gabbie to stop crying. She’s been upset for over an hour, wanting you.”

I hang onto mom’s every word, trying not to think the worst. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I laid her down for bed and she just woke up screaming.” I hear Gabbie calling for me and I look over to see Viktor waking up. I grab my shoes and start to put them on as I tell her, “Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I just didn’t know what else to do.”

“It’s fine, mom. Can I talk to her? Maybe that’ll help.” I motion for Viktor to get up and I walk to the door as my mom tells Gabbie I’m coming to get her and that I want to talk to her. Gabbie seems to calm down a bit but I know she’s still crying when she comes on the phone.

“Mommy?”

“Hey, baby. Tell me what’s wrong?” I get to the passenger side of my SUV as Viktor gets in the driver’s seat. He doesn’t ask or say anything as we pull out of the driveway.

“Mommy, peas, mommy.” I hate I can’t understand a word she’s saying after that. I hate something has upset her so much.

“I’m coming, baby. Put Gammie back on the phone.”

I hear Gabbie scream again as my mom takes the phone from her. “We’re on our way. We’ll be there as soon as we can.” I have to yell so she can hear me over Gabbie.

“Be safe and I’ll see if I can’t figure out why she’s so upset.”

“Okay, mom. Bye.”

I hang up and rub my eyes. Viktor places a hand on my leg and asks, “What happened? Is Gabbie hurt?”

“I have no idea. Mom said she woke up screaming for me. I don’t think she’s hurt. I’m guessing she had a nightmare.”

Viktor rubs my leg in an attempt to relax. This is why I hate being so far away from home. It’s going to take way too long for my liking to get to my parent’s and I hate knowing I can’t do a thing to help Gabbie. I’m glad I wasn’t at work. I usually keep my phone off or in my locker. I would’ve missed mom’s call and never known it until I had gotten off work.

“She’s going to be fine. As soon as she sees you she’ll be alright.”

Viktor’s words give me some comfort, but at the same time, they make me feel guilty. I know Gabbie doesn’t have nightmares very often but I can’t help to feel this way. She should’ve been home with me. I shouldn’t have to rush to go pick her up from my parent’s because they have to watch her while I go take my clothes off for strangers. I lean back in my seat and look out the window. Maybe I should stop working four nights a week and spend more time with her. I only wanted to work to take care of her, but I hate knowing she’s so upset and I’m not there.

Then knowing Malcolm’s back. Not knowing what will happen with him is driving me crazy with worry. Not to mention I still don’t know why I feel as though Viktor lied to me earlier. I sigh, turning in my seat. “Viktor?”

He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. “What is it,
moya lyubov'
?”

“Were you lying to me earlier? About Malcolm, I mean.”

He sighs loudly and pulls his hand away from mine. “I don’t know why you would think that. Have I ever lied to you before?”

“No, but.”

“No, buts about it Ava. I get he screwed you over, but that doesn’t mean I’m like him.”

“Vik, I …” My eyes start to fill with tears. Why he’s being so defensive about it, makes me question it even more. I turn back around in my seat when he starts to clench his jaw. I know something more is going on, and I’ll drop it. For now at least.

Viktor and I don’t speak again as he drives to my parent’s. He knows I’m lost into my thoughts and I hope he realizes what a dick he’s being about nothing. All I want is the truth. Is that so fucking hard? I just want to hold Gabbie in my arms. I hate that it feels like it’s taking more than an hour to get there. Every few seconds I glance at the clock hoping time will hurry up.

Finally, I can I see my parent’s house. I can see the living room light is on and I don’t wait for Viktor to park before I’m out of the car. I run up to my parent’s door and I go inside. The first thing I hear is Gabbie crying. It breaks my heart knowing I wasn’t there for her. I see my mom in the rocking chair, trying her best to calm Gabbie down. I make my way over to them and then Gabbie sees me. She cries for me and I reach for her. I pick her up and she instantly wraps her little arms and legs around me. I rub her back as she continues to cry and I whisper in her ear that everything’s fine now. Mom looks exhausted, and she slowly gets out of the chair.

“I still don’t know what happened,” Mom tells me as she bends down to pick up Gabbie’s bag. She smiles at Viktor and hands it to him.

“Maybe she had a nightmare? It’s happened, but it’s never been this bad before.” I continue to rub Gabbie’s back and her hair. Her cries slowly start to stop.

“I really don’t know, Ava. I just know I’ve never seen her so upset before.”

I try to hand Gabbie to Viktor so I can hug mom bye, but she starts yelling again. I sigh and say, “I’m sorry, mom. I hate she kept you up half the night. We’re going to go so you can get some rest. We’ll be back tomorrow hopefully and maybe Gabbie will be better. I just hope she isn’t getting sick.”

“Okay, honey. I checked her forehead and she didn’t feel hot. I think she’ll be fine soon. She just wanted her mom.” I smile at mom as she touches my shoulder and Viktor and I turn to leave. Gabbie has not let up on her grip on me and when I try to put her in her car seat, she screams right into my ear. Viktor gives me a sympathetic look as he gets in the SUV, and I get into the back so I can hold her. It’s probably not the best idea, but at this point anything to get her to stop crying I’ll try. I awkwardly pull the seat belt around us, and I rub her back some more.

All the way back home I rock her in my lap, and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Ten minutes before we pull up at the house, Gabbie finally passes out. I lean my head against the head rest and sigh loudly.

“Is she finally out?” Viktor asks.

“Yes. Thank goodness. I’ve never seen her cry this much or so upset before. And it’s very surprising she didn’t want to go to you. She’s never done that.”

Viktor chuckles as he says, “She just wanted her mother.”

His mood seems to have gotten better on the way home. “I guess so. I just hope she stays asleep.” Viktor pulls into the driveway, parks, and gets out of the SUV. He opens my door and I carefully slide out making sure not to wake Gabbie. I hear Viktor shut the door, and I wait for him to open the front door to let us in. I walk up the stairs and go in Gabbie’s room. I don’t turn on the light worried it might wake Gabbie and I cringe when I kick her toys and one goes off. I wait a second before I move again, hearing her whimper. When she doesn’t move or wake up, I slowly put her down in her bed. She curls up in a ball as I cover her, and I move her hair out of her face and kiss her on the forehead. I watch her for a minute making sure she doesn’t wake up.

I feel Viktor’s hands on my shoulder, and then his lips on my cheek. “She’s fine. Come, let’s go get some rest,” he tells me softly. I follow him out, and leave Gabbie’s door cracked. I want to be angry with him for acting the way he had, but at this point, I’m too tired to care right now. Viktor and I climb into bed but I sigh loudly. I still feel guilty about not being there for Gabbie, but Viktor pulls me into his arms and runs his hands through my hair, it relaxes me. He kisses me on my forehead and I finally let myself drift off.

“Gabbie! Please stop!”

“No!”

I feel as if I’m losing my mind. I’ve been fighting with Gabbie all day. I jerk the remote out her hand and sit her down on the couch. Of course this makes her kick and scream as if I’m hurting her. She’s hit me with the stupid remote twice now. I’ve no clue why she’s being such a brat today. We didn’t even go to my parents on Monday since she’s been so horrible for the past three days.

“Gabbie, if you don’t sit down you’re going to take a nap.”

“No!” she yells.

I sit her down again and this time she stays. I turn the TV on for her, hoping it will catch her attention. Ever since I had to go pick her up at my parents three days ago, she has been acting out. Nothing I do pleases her and I want to pull my hair out. Viktor has been pretty much absent since Monday, working at the club. I just know he comes home in a pissed off mood every day and I’m ready to just give up. Three days of Gabbie being a terror and Viktor acting like a dick is really starting to wear me down. I honestly don’t know how much more attitude I can take from Gabbie, or the cold shoulder from Viktor.

Gabbie starts to jump on the couch and I don’t even care to try and stop her. I just let her be, thanking the sweet heavens she’s not screaming anymore. I sit down hard on the floor and of course, Gabbie decides to kick me on the back of my head.

“Gabbie! I’m going to spank you if you hit me one more time!” I tell her sternly.

“No, mommy! Peas, mommy!”

“Be good for mommy, okay?”

“Okay,” she says in the sweetest voice. I sigh hoping she doesn’t hit me again. I’m sure I’ll have a few bruises on my arm from that stupid remote.

I walk into the kitchen, thinking I need to start lunch when the doorbell goes off. Gabbie squeals loudly and runs to the door.

“Gabbie, do not open that door,” but it’s too late. She already opened the front door. I roll my eyes getting annoyed that Gabbie’s being such a menace today. I see the local sheriff standing on the porch as I approach, and my heart sinks. This can’t be good.

“Ms. Ava Walker?”

“Yes? What’s this about?” I grab Gabbie from running out the door and pick her up. She pulls my hair, and I sigh waiting for the sheriff to tell me why he’s at my house. I hope nothing serious happened.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’ve been served,” he tells me as he hands me an envelope.

“What? This can’t be right.”

He nods and says, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it is. Take a look at the papers and contact your lawyer if you need any help.” He nods and turns to leave. I watch him go, stunned that I just got freaking papers. What the fuck? I shut the door and set Gabbie down. She takes off running while yelling, and throws a toy at the TV. I sigh deeply, trying not to lose my temper with her. She’s testing me today. I lay the envelope on the bar. Gabbie throws a toy and it hits me on the leg.

“That’s it! Come here, right now!”

“No, no, no!” She yells while running away from me.

I catch her by her arm and pick her up again. I take her to her room and put her in her bed. She of course screams and kicks but I just lay her back down again. We do this numerous times, before she finally tires out and falls asleep. I back out of her room and crack her door. I return downstairs, worried what the envelope contains. I look at the white envelope for the longest time before I grab it and slowly open it. My heart’s racing and I have to take a few deep breaths before I unfold the papers.