Nina’s POV
"Jace, can soone explain to what the hell that was? Actually, all of you, care to explain?" I growled, ready to murder them all.
"Nina, I lost it, okay? We’re already dealing with Howard threatening Luna Caroline, and now another psycho? I really lost control!" Jace tried to defend himself.
"You think it’s her fault? Jace, are you serious? What kind of disgusting, self-righteous asshole are you?" I was getting angrier by the second. "And the rest of you? This was an ambush in a hostile environnt against a woman who’s already been tornted enough by her goddamn ex, and you all went along with it?"
"I didn’t say anything," Beta Ryan held up his hands defensively.
"No, you didn’t say anything. You were complicit in this ss," I complained. They all stared at silently.
The elevator doors opened again, and Clara walked out, clearly concerned.
"Would soone like to tell why Ava resigned? HR just sent her final paycheck estimate, scheduled for deposit in two days," Clara asked, t with silence from everyone.
"Go on, tough guys, tell Clara about the ss you created," I said, grabbing my purse. "I’m going to find Ava. Alpha Draven, if you want to fire , I don’t care. And you, Jace, we’ll talk later."
"This has turned into a nuclear bomb!" I heard Ryan say.
"I wonder why I ever let you guys take point on this shit show," Alpha Draven added.
I took the elevator down to Ruby’s floor. I rushed over to her, and she imdiately sensed sothing was wrong.
"Nina, what’s going on? You don’t look good," Ruby asked imdiately.
"Ruby, do you think Arthur would let you go early today? Ava needs us," I tried to keep my voice steady.
"Sounds serious. Give a minute." Ruby went to Arthur ’s office and returned with her purse. "Where’s Ava?"
"Probably at ho," I was so angry I was nearly in tears.
"What happened, Nina?" Ruby noticed my agitation.
"Are you driving?" She nodded. "Then let’s go. I’ll call Kyle and Eleanor on the way and tell all three of you at once."
And that’s what I did. Once in the car, I made a video call and told the girls what those idiots had done. They were as furious as I was.
"My man asked about this yesterday, and I thought it was strange," Ruby comnted.
"Luke asked too," Kyle said.
"Nate asked as well. Joseph must have told them, but these clueless guys seem to have gotten the wrong end of the stick," Eleanor explained. "Let’s not tell Caroline so she doesn’t get upset. We’ll et at Ava’s apartnt building. Kyle and I are on our way."
When we arrived at the building, the doorman told us Ava wasn’t ho. This was strange—I was sure she would have co here.
"I’ll call Odelia, maybe Ava went there," I said.
"Don’t worry her mother unnecessarily," Kyle cautioned.
I called Odelia, chatted for a bit, asking how she was doing. During the conversation, she ntioned that Ava hadn’t contacted her in a long ti, and she was on vacation with Ava’s grandma. So Ava wasn’t with her.
"Girls, she might just be out for a walk," Eleanor suggested. "Let’s keep an eye on the building. There’s a bakery across the street, we can sit there and wait until she cos back."
We tried calling several tis and sent countless texts. It wasn’t until later that evening that Ava finally sent a ssage saying she was fine but wanted to be alone for a while. Further prodding was useless, she simply didn’t want to talk to us.
Ruby drove to Jace’s apartnt, where he was waiting for . When I walked in, he was pacing in the living room and then ca over to hug . I stepped back.
"I don’t want you touching right now," I said honestly. "Actually, I don’t even want to see you right now."
"Nina, stop it," Jace said calmly.
"Jace, seriously, what you did to Ava today was awful. You practically blad her for what that idiot ex of hers is doing," I complained.
"Nina, that wasn’t my intention, but I lost it thinking there could be a maniac out there who might hurt you. But Ava overreacted—it wasn’t that bad."
"I can’t believe you just said that."
"Nina, I’m an investigator, I’ve seen this kind of thing before. These people are literally insane, they don’t just threaten. I was worried about you, which is why I reacted that way, but I will apologize to Ava."
"I highly doubt she’ll hear you, because thanks to you guys, she’s not even talking to her friends anymore," I said angrily. "Let tell you sothing, investigator. You have no idea what she’s been through. You didn’t even listen to her explanation. Ava was threatened, she needed support and safety, and what did you do? You took away her support system with your terrible attitude."
"Nina, I’m sorry!" Jace seed genuinely remorseful.
"It’s not you should be apologizing to," I said, exhausted. "I’m sleeping in another room tonight. Don’t co near until you’ve fixed what you ssed up!"
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