Temptation (45 page)

I pace in front of the door impatiently waiting for Malcolm to bring Gabbie home. It’s after eight, and I check my phone again at when his message came through. It’s only been thirty minutes, but I feel as if it’s been a lifetime. Every time I hear a car drive by, I look out the window, and every time I see it’s not them, my stomach cramps. I check the time again, wondering what’s taking him so long. I should’ve asked if he still lived close to my parent’s or where he even was taking Gabbie. I’m the worst mother.

I take a seat on the stool by the kitchen island and try to ease my mind. My leg bounces, and I wipe my hands on my jeans. I hate this. I hate having to wait. I hate not knowing what happened while Gabbie was with Malcolm. I still don’t understand why Malcolm came back. I don’t understand how in all of the clubs in Nashville, he ended up at the one I work at. I almost fall getting off the stool when I hear a car door shut. I run to the window by the door and I see Malcolm holding Gabbie. They walk up the stairs to the porch and I don’t even wait till he rings the doorbell. I open the door, and the first thing I notice, Gabbie’s crying. She jumps into my arms and I hold her close and tell her everything is fine.

“She cried the entire time.” Malcolm looks exhausted and a little sad. He hands me Gabbie’s bag and he says, “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“What? Don’t you see? She doesn’t want to go with you.”

“She’ll be fine after she gets used to it. Tomorrow, same time.” Then he leaves. I watch him walk back to his car and as he drives off I shut the door. I take Gabbie upstairs and I give her a bath. She finally has calmed down and is starting to talk to me. She doesn’t say much about her time with Malcolm, but I know she didn’t like it one bit.

After her bath, I let her stay up a little longer with me. We watch The Little Mermaid, but she falls asleep on my lap halfway through it. I slide out from under her and she wakes as a yawn escapes. I turn off the TV as she holds her arms out to me and I pick her up. Her little arms and legs wrap around me and I have to pull her away a little bit since she’s coking me. I take her upstairs and I lay her down in her bed. I cover her up and kiss her goodnight. I start to walk out when she calls out to me.

“Mommy, hers seep wid me?”

I smile at her and I nod my head. I walk back to her bed and I crawl in under the covers with her. She snuggles close to my chest and I rub her back until she falls asleep.

For the next week and a half, that was our routine. Malcolm would come every afternoon after Viktor left, and every time, Gabbie would cry. I eventually told mom what was going on. I cried on the phone with her for hours after Malcolm had come by. I hated it. Mom told me things would get easier, but so far, it’s not. Viktor’s getting suspicious and I have no idea how to tell him Malcolm’s been coming by. I haven’t been back to work since I have to watch Gabbie cry and scream, begging me to not make her go. I called Margo telling her I needed more time off. She wasn’t happy about it, but told me to come back when I was ready. I just can’t go to work and take off my clothes knowing my baby girl is somewhere she doesn’t want to be. I can’t work also knowing I’m missing time with her either. Once I told the lawyer about not working at the club anymore, she told me it would work more in my favor. She also has been keeping notes for her records of how Gabbie resists going with Malcolm so much. I can only hope if it does come down to a battle, the judge will see how much this isn’t right for Gabbie.

I sit on the stool at the island like I have every time Malcolm leaves with Gabbie. It’s my new routine, sit and wait for her to come back. I turn towards the door as I hear it open. My stomach drops when I see Viktor walking in. He’s not supposed to be home. He’s supposed to be at work. I look at the time and I see it’s only six. He shuts the door and walks over to me. He kisses me then, pulls away looking around the house.

“Where’s Gabbie?”

I look away from his intense gaze and I pick the imaginary lint from my sweats. I have to tell him even though I don’t want too. I feel horrible enough as it is and telling him the truth after lying to him will make that feeling even worse. I feel his fingers under my chin and he raises my face to look at him. I close my eyes, feeling tears starting to form.

“Ava, look at me,” he demands. I slowly open my eyes and I sigh. “Where is Gabbie?”

I think he already knows. He just wants me to tell him. “She’s with her father.”

His fingers drop my chin, making me suddenly feel bare. I watch him run his hands through his hair and he says a lot in Russian. I know none of it’s good just how he looks at me with angry and hurt eyes. I see his jaw clenching and when he drops his hands to his side, I watch them as them clench as well. I want to say something to him, anything to make him understand that I didn’t have a choice, but I don’t. I just sit, and wait for him to say something to me. He runs a hand down his face and he shakes his head looking away from me. I hate knowing he can’t even look at me right now.

“How could you let him take her?” His voice is dripped with distain and I can’t help but cringe away from him.

“Viktor, I … I didn’t have a choice.”

He looks at me then and says, “You had a choice! There’s always a choice. Why, Ava? Why have you been letting him come into our home and take our child?”

I frown at his choice of words and look away. I’ll always be grateful for Viktor buying this house for Gabbie and I, but I need him to understand that I didn’t have a choice. I get he has been here and has done so much for us, but even if I hate it, Malcolm is Gabbie’s father. “Viktor, we’ve been through this already. Malcolm is Gabbie’s father, whether you want it to be or not, that’s the truth. He has a right to see her.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it!” He points to his chest as he says, “I have been here. I was there to take you to the hospital when you went into early labor. It was me who was there watching a miracle happen. I held her in my arms after she was born, not him.” He drops his finger and turns away from me. “I was the one to see her grow up and help you take care of her. I can’t understand why you would let him near her, Ava.”

“You say all these things as if you don’t think I appreciate them, or as if I don’t love you more for it. I know I owe you so much for being there and for still being here now. But you have to at least consider my side too.” He doesn’t seem to be listening to me.

He turns slowly back around to me and asks, “Why? Tell me why, Ava.”

“Viktor, I …”

He cuts me off as he says, “No more fucking excuses. Tell me why? He left you, broke your heart, and left you in pieces. I was there to help when you needed to put yourself back together. I gave you a job so you could have the freedom to take care of Gabbie. I gave you space when you rejected me and pushed me away. I did everything for you and Gabbie, but yet, the second he comes back, you let him run all over you again and take Gabbie.”

“I had no choice!” I jump off the stool and push my hair out of my face. “He didn’t give me a choice, Viktor. It was either let him see her without me, or he was going to fight me to win sole custody.” I drop my hands to my sides, feeling utterly defeated. “I don’t stand a chance against him. He comes from money and power. I might have to money but I don’t have the power like his family does. His mother knows people and all Malcolm has to do is tell her what to ask and it’s done. You just don’t get it!”

“Then explain it to me then. Because from where I’m standing, to me it sounds just like you gave up. Instead of fighting harder, you gave in. So please, explain it.”

I shake my head and turn away from him. Hearing he thinks I gave up really makes my chest hurt. I turn back around and suck in a breath. “I didn’t give up. I’m doing the only thing I know to do to keep her. I might not like it, but I’ll do it if it means I still have her in my life.”

“Then why lie to me about it? You know, I came home early to check on you. I knew something was wrong, I’ve known for a while things haven’t been right, but I never thought you would lie to me about something like this. Please tell me there’s a better reason than what you’re telling me right now.”

“Because I knew this would happen! Viktor, you have fought me from the moment he came back into the picture. I’ve been dealing with this all by myself because you can’t accept the fact that he’s her father.” I can’t let myself feel bad about lying to him. I knew he would act this way. He won’t accept the fact that Malcolm is Gabbie’s father and even if I hate to admit it, he has a right to see her.

Viktor places his hands on his hips and drops his head. He looks up to me and says, “Do you even hear yourself? No, he’s not her father. Father’s don’t take off and then show up later thinking it’s alright just because he stuck his dick in you and knocked you up.” He rubs his hands down his face, almost as if he knew how much his words would hurt me.

I step back and place a hand over my heart. I have a feeling Viktor’s never going to let this go, and no matter what I say will change his mind. “I get you love Gabbie and you want what’s best for her. I get it, I really do.” I take a deep breath as I say, “Viktor, Malcolm is her father. Yes he knocked me up, left me, and has been threatening to take her away. Maybe instead of being angry with me, you could’ve supported my decision. Maybe you could’ve helped me figure out what else to do, but no. You keep fighting me on this and I did what I had to. You don’t have to like it, hell I don’t even like it, but I’m doing it. I would rather go through this instead of dragging Gabbie through court and letting some stranger decide what’s best for her.”

“Let me get this straight. You decided to lie, stop working, just because you knew I wouldn’t agree with what you wanted?” He starts to laugh, but it’s devoid of any humor. “I didn’t think you were selfish, but I’ve been proven wrong. You did what was easy. Plain and simple.”

“I’m selfish? You’re the one,” I stop talking when the doorbell goes off. I huff out a breath, wondering who could be at the door. I open the door and I see Malcolm and Gabbie. “What happened?” Gabbie runs past me and runs straight to Viktor. He picks her up and says something to her in Russian. I hear her giggle, but I can tell he’s still angry with me by the look in his eyes. I turn back to Malcolm and ask again, “What happened?”

“Casey was angry that I’ve been spending so much time with Gabbie and she had made plans for us tonight. I’d forgotten all about it. I didn’t think you would mind me bringing her back early since you hate it when I come to get her.” He looks around the door, trying to see why Gabbie’s suddenly laughing. “Is someone here?”

“Thanks for bringing her back.” I start to shut the door, but Malcolm puts a hand on it. He pushes it back making me stumble and I almost fall. I catch myself as he walks in uninvited. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He ignores me as he sees Viktor playing with Gabbie. He’s tossing her in the air, making her giggle and squeal loudly. Malcolm turns to me and says, “This is the guy you’re seeing?”

I roll my eyes at him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

Viktor slowly puts Gabbie down and tells her to go to her room to play. She does what he says, and Viktor walks over to me and puts his arm around my waist. I want to knock his arm off of me. I’m still pissed at him.

“Do you have a problem, Malcolm?” Viktor says to him. I frown while looking from Viktor to Malcolm. I really hope Malcolm doesn’t say anything and just leaves. That’s what needs to happen.

“Yeah, I do. I don’t want you hanging around my daughter anymore.” Viktor drops his arm from around me, and I slowly back away.

“Your daughter? I’ve been here since she’s been born, where the fuck have you been?” They step closer to each other with each word said. I can only watch as they start to argue with each other, like I’m not even here.

Malcolm smirks at Viktor and says, “Wouldn’t you love to know where I was. I bet it pisses you off knowing you can’t touch me now.”

What the fuck? “What are you talking about, Malcolm?” I ask.

Before Malcolm can answer me, Viktor says, “Shut your mouth, Malcolm. If you know what’s best for you, you will walk out that door right now.” I look to Viktor then to Malcolm having no idea what’s going on.