Rivals Heart

PRICE OF CHOICE

Ava’s mind raced as she stared at the photograph Liam had left behind. Her mother’s death wasn’t just an accident. And in the background of the image, clear as day, was Liam’s father, watching her mother with a cold, calculating expression. She’d never known this part of her family’s history, her mother’s link to the Grants.

Her father tried pulling her from the thoughts. “Ava, I told you not to go near him,” he said urgently. “This isn’t just a business rivalry. The Grants have blood on their hands.”

Her phone buzzed a minute later, she glanced through, it was a massage from Liam:

“Meet me at the old Sinclair House. Come alone.”

“Don't meet with him,” said her father.

Ava ignored him, her anger building. She’d had enough of secrets. Before another word could be said, she stood up and went to the door, her father calling her back.

“Ava, don’t! He’ll trap you!”

But she wasn’t listening. She was done being a pawn.

Twenty minutes later, she was at the Sinclair estate, an old mansion her family had abandoned years ago, now covered in dust and shadows. Liam’s car was already there, his figure outlined against the crumbling mansion as he leaned casually against the hood.

“Didn’t take you for the dramatic type,” she snapped, striding toward him.

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze cool. “The drama runs in your family, Ava. I thought you’d feel right at home.”

She ignored his jab and held up the photograph. “What do you know about my mother’s death? Why was your father even there?”

He folded his arms and stared her down. “Well, you truly have no idea, do you?” “Your mother was here that night, by choice. She was negotiating with my father.”

Ava’s mind went blank. “Negotiating for what?”

“For peace,” he said simply. “Your father owed a debt and wanted to remain in power. She thought she could fix things, but your father couldn’t stand the idea of losing control.”

Her hands shook, but she held her ground. “Are you saying my father let her die?”

He looked away, just briefly, before locking eyes with her. “I’m saying he would rather have war than peace if it meant keeping power. He’s been pretending and lying to you all along he’s not who you thought he his.”

Ava shook her head, refusing to believe it. “My father isn’t perfect, but he wouldn’t... he couldn’t...”

“You think you know him?” Liam cut her off, his voice hard. “He’s spent years building this empire on lies, manipulation. When your mother was in the knowing, she paid the price. All because he was power drunk.”

Her heartbeat echoed into her ears. If Liam was telling the truth then all she believed about her family life was a total fabrication. But could she trust him?

Before she could complete her thought, all of a sudden, there was a vulgar sound, the roar of an arriving car engine. Tire screeching could be heard as headlights shone in her direction then the car turned off the headlights.

She looked at Liam, whom uttered a curse under his breath. “We’re out of time,” he said. “Your father’s here and believe me he is not here for a chit-chat. He knows now you know some secrets.”

Ava’s heart raced. Her father would never tolerate seeing her with Liam. “How did he know exactly I was here?”

Liam’s jaw clenched. “He’s been tracking you. I warned you, this is a game he plays to win. He’ll twist anything to get you back under his control.”

The car door shut and she felt her father commanding roughly. He wasn’t alone; the men began to circulate around the fringe, in the process effectively shutting down any avenue of escape.

Panic tightened her throat. She had to get out of there before he turned this confrontation against her.

Liam grabbed her hand. “Come on,” he whispered. “There’s a back exit through the garden. Move now, or he’ll take us both down.”

All her antecedents screamed for her to step back, but she couldn’t as something in his eyes grabbed her attention. In that moment she knew they had to give it all to the trust for each other again regardless of the entangled history.

Liam took the lead, and they charged down a poorly lit hallway and headed straight for the door to the side of the garden. They got out only in time just before the door opened and her father stomped into the house.

They ran across a damaged garden and the cold night wind blew insistently, touching Ava’s face. When they got into the forest area her phone rang. She glanced down, her heart sinking as she read the message from her father:

“I warned you, Ava. If you choose him,you’ll lose everything.”

Her frown deepened, she turned to face Liam who as they were illuminated by the moon light. She had made her decision and there was no way she could reverse them.

“Liam,” she said, her voice steady, “if I’m trusting you, then you’re telling me everything, no more secrets.”