“Quite openly,” he countered, gesturing at the docks. “You help run all this. An empire, really, of trade. It takes a unique mind and personality to have the heart to do it. I am beyond impressed.”
The sun brightened his blue eyes as he walked closer to the docks, surveying them up and down, asking questions. I answered them all, when Eve showed, looking lovely in a light pink gown, her hair curled on top of her head.
“Thought I’d join the both of you here, since I suggested it.” She smiled, her face freshly powdered and glowing.
“Glad to have you,” Reddington replied. “Your friend was just explaining her plans and answering my legion of questions.”
Eve glanced at me with a smirk before bringing her attention to him. “She loves speaking about it. Ava has worked very hard at it. Too much, to where she has to pencil me in to spend time with her.”
I chuckled. “That’s a lie.” Examining the busy docks, I curtsied. “Would you both please excuse me? I have to meet with my man about the upcoming shipments.”
Reddington bowed. “Of course. We’ll be here waiting.”
Giving him a quick smile, I turned on my heel, making my way to Mr. Torres’ office. Greeting a few men on the way, I knocked lightly on his door before entering. Mr. Torres was knee-deep in paperwork at his large desk, sorting through high stacks of papers through his small eye glasses.
Peering up at my entrance, given away by the squeaky door, he greeted me. “Ava! My dear, it is lovely to see you!” Standing from his chair, he rounded his desk, extending his arms for a hug. He gave me a light squeeze before releasing me. “How is Evan?”
“Getting better. He should be out of bed in no time.”
Mr. Torres took off his reading glasses and hooked them onto his coat pocket. Pulling out a wooden chair, he gestured for me to sit.
“How is everything here?”
“Oh, just fine,” he replied, taking his seat. “Everything is running smoothly. I’ve been keeping daily reports, so I can keep Evan updated once he feels up to it.”
“Sounds like you have everything under control, as always.”
“Ah, well, it was what you hired me to do. Keeps my mind young.”
I sent him a small grin. “And you’ve done a wonderful job…with all the things you’ve been hired for.”
“Well, thank you, my dear,” he replied. “I try.”
“Was it hard doing both positions?”
He raised a brow. “Both positions?”
“Why, yes. The one where you help me with the inventory and other miscellaneous things, and then the other, where you were hired to protect me and my father by Lord Cranfield.”
Mr. Torres’ eyes relaxed as he clasped his hands on his desk, but remained silent.
“I’ve come along some hardships with Lord Cranfield,” I continued. “We are not on speaking terms nor do I want to be in contact with him in the future. I’ve come to adore you, Mr. Torres, and I was wondering if you’d like to work for my father and I only. That would mean breaking any contract or abiding agreement you have with Cranfield.”
“Ava,” Mr. Torres began, “I didn’t mean to deceive you, or your father. I came as a job, but I’ve come to love you, and being here.”
“And I understand,” I assured him. “I have no ill will toward you and would love for you to stay with us.”
He nodded. “I would like to as well.”
“Then we have an agreement?” I raised my hand for him to shake.
“I’ll still be protecting the both of you while I’m here. That won’t be negotiable,” he put in.
I bowed my head. “All right then.”
“You have a deal then, my dear.” He shook my hand. “I will write him a letter today, and send it post haste.”
A huge weight lifted from my shoulders as I released the breath I was holding in. Walking over to him, I placed a quick kiss on top of his head.
“Thank you for understanding,” I replied. “Come to dinner tonight. You need a good home-cooked meal.”
Mr. Torres chuckled. “I’ll be there.”
Excusing myself from his office, the warm spring air felt lighter, now that I had taken another step toward releasing myself from Garrett. I didn’t need him; I had George. Closing my eyes, I listened to the hustle of the docks and the bellows of the men relaying orders.
Now, to get rid of the Elite Eight.
Garrett
Chapter 24
“You let her go!” I shouted in George’s face.
He leaned against his desk, sipping on his brandy, looking at me like I was being a pest.
“And I took half your men,” George added, with no remorse in his voice as he took another sip.
I bore daggers at him. “Where did she go!”
“Home,” George said calmly. I clenched my hands into fists; George was about to have a close encounter with one of them.
Well, if this was how she wanted to act, I wasn’t going to deal with it.
“Home?” I repeated in a low, threatening tone. “With half of my men?”
“She received a letter from home; her father is very ill. He wasn’t getting any better, so she left.”
I released my clenched fists, my shoulders relaxing. More guilt assaulted me; not only did I upset her, but now she was rushing home to her ailing father.
I wiped a hand down my face. “Did you send out a doctor?”
“I did.” George handed me his drink, which I took, and swallowed its contents in one gulp.
“I feel bad, I think I...hurt her feelings.”
“You did,” George admitted. “She’ll never concede to it, though. What exactly did you do?”
I pinned him with a scowl. “I didn’t do anything. Why do you always blame me for shit?”
George raised a brow. “Because usually it’s your fault.”
“It was your meddling mother telling her that I was marrying Sophia that started it.”
George chuckled. “Oh, Femme Fatale. That again?”
I held my glass for George to refill. “She needs to keep her nose out of my shit. For her hating me so much, she sure has been talking about me a lot.”
“It’s just to keep Ava away from you,” George replied, walking to the mantel over the fireplace lined with liquor bottles. “Fix it. Because if she even thinks of not coming back, and I have to ride over there to grab her again, I’ll beat the living shit out of you.”
I mumbled, “I should beat the shit out of you for taking half my damn men.”
George rolled his eyes, swigging at his glass as he walked back over. “You would have sent them over yourself anyway.”
“Another part of our argument was you both marrying,” I advised, studying him for any signs of unease.
He handed my glass back to me. “What about it? I already talked to you in regard to that.”
“She makes it sound as though it’s going to happen.”
George scratched the back of his head. “If I don’t find another potential wife…”
“Don’t say it,” I croaked.
George leaned back against his desk. “Just say it, Garr. You’re developing feelings for her.”
I clenched my jaw. Saying the words felt like commitment; that I would have to stay in Telliva, which I definitely didn’t want to. “It’s complicated.”
“You liking Ava Barlow is complicated?” He let out a snicker. “Figure your shit out, brother. A female like that only comes once in a decade. I’m just sorry we grew up together. Maybe I would have found my dream bride.”
“I don’t want to be shackled down here. I hate the weather, the people, the—”
“Does that matter when you like the girl? Or do you still have puppy love for women?”
“Are you sure her father is sick?” I inquired, trying to change the subject.
George wrinkled his nose. “What are you talking about?”
“She could have forged the letter. This could be a plan to run and—”
“Stop,” George warned. “She would never lie to me.”
I raised a brow. “But she would lie to me.”
“About what?”
“Your little agreement,” I belted out, clenching my glass.
“She didn’t lie. She just…waited to tell you.”
Yeah, she waited all right. She waited until I almost took her completely, when there would be no going back.
“Speaking of the famous pain in the ass, has John found anything on Lady Chitwood?” George inquired, breaking through my menacing thoughts.