Page 243 of This Woman Forever

I withdraw, every inch of me turning cold.

“Go!” he coughs.

I look up above the elevator. It’s at the penthouse. “Oh my God,” I breathe, standing and sinking my fist into the doors. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I turn and run to the stairwell door, smashing in the code and yanking it open. I fly up the stairs like a tornado, adrenaline and fear fueling me.

Terrified.

I push through the last door and emerge into the foyer outside the penthouse, stalking toward the front door. I don’t feel for my keys, my head telling me to get the fuck in there fast. So I shoulder barge it, and the second I right my bent body, I see Ava, folded over, holding her tummy.

And I know.

I. Just. Fucking. Know.

“No,” I whisper, catching sight of someone disappearing into the kitchen. Fuck, no! There are clatters and bangs, but... Ava. What the hell has she done to her?

Ava’s eyes meet mine. Tears are streaming, yet her sobs are quiet. My God, I’ll fucking kill her. Rage breaks through my terror, so fast and fierce, I start to quake where I stand, consumed by it. It goes against everything inside me, but I leave Ava where she is and go to the kitchen. The minute I see her, nausea rises.

My blood turns to ice.

She’s not really changed that much. There’s still crazy in her eyes.

A knife in her hand.

A sick smirk curving her lips.

“Here we are, me and you, as it should be,” she whispers, out of breath, as I move around the island, making sure I keep something between us. I don’t correct her. I realize I have to choose my words carefully. Be cautious, wise. Try not to poke her. I’ve seen many versions of Lauren. This one in front of me? It’s the worst. The most dangerous and damaging.

I stare at her, trying to catch my breath. “Put the knife down, Lauren,” I say calmly, silently willing Ava to stay away. Hoping she’s been sensible and got her and our babies the fuck out of here and called the police.

My hope is dashed when I hear a thud and Lauren’s eyes move to the doorway. Fuck. Ava’s standing on the threshold, looking the most petrified I’ve ever seen her. God damn her.

“Oh my God,” she whispers, her eyes nailed to the blade in Lauren’s hand.

“Nice to see you, Jesse,” Lauren muses, a nasty, sinister edge to her voice, causing many horrific memories to come flooding back.

“No,” I whisper, so tense my body hurts. “It’s not. Why are you here?” Why now, after all these years, has she chosen to invade my life?

“I was happy to let you wallow in misery,” she says, making me pull in air, my questions being answered with that one scathing statement. It’s Ava. Happiness. Peace. That’s why she’s here. “Drink your life away,” she goes on, the knife swaying. “And try to fill the void that you created by mindlessly fucking about.” And there it is. She was happy that I was miserable. Hollow. In constant pain. “But then you went and fell in love.” She smiles, and it’s loaded with nothing but hatred. My God, how long has she been hovering on the sidelines of my life, watching me slowly dying? “I can’t let you have happiness when you’ve destroyed mine.”

“I’ve paid tenfold for my mistakes, Lauren,” I whisper, catching a glimpse of Ava. Her horrified face, her disbelieving, watery gaze. It crushes me. Absolutely fucking crushes me. It’s been Lauren all along. The drugs, the car, the threats. I wasn’t seeing things. I wasn’t going fucking crazy. “I deserve this,” I murmur, not sounding very convincing.

“No, you don’t,” she muses, like it’s a foregone conclusion. “You took my happiness, so I’ll take yours.” Her knife is pointing at Ava. My happiness. And Lauren’s happiness? That was me. It wasn’t Rosie. It was me. She’s here because I took me away from her.

“I didn’t take your happiness.” I was never going to be her happiness.

“Yes!” She explodes, her face flashing red, and I flinch. “You married me, and then left me.”

The sound of complete shock that bursts from Ava was expected. Doesn’t make it easier to hear. I want to explain, tell her the full story, build the picture, before Lauren gets to where I know she’s heading.

Rosie.

“You didn’t know?” Lauren says, seeing Ava’s reaction. “Well, there’s a surprise. It might also explain why you’ve stuck around.”

Jesus Christ, what the fuck am I going to do? Trying to pacify her won’t work. I’ve dealt with her enough to know what I’m dealing with, and I’m dealing with the same woman who lost her mind and gunned for me. If it were just me standing here, I’d take my chances. But it’s not just me. And I don’t like the crazed looks she keeps turning Ava’s way.

To Lauren, my wife’s the problem.

“Nothing can break us,” Ava whispers shakily, and I swallow, my heart turning. I want to believe it.