Ava's Revenge: (Salvation Series Book 2)

by Jaime Whitley

  “Are they always this active?” He’s beaming and I can feel the tears building again at his joy.

  “Not like this. They must know that their daddy has finally made an appearance and are as excited about it as I am.” Pulling his face down to mine, our lips crash together and we’re making out like a couple of horny teenagers. We don’t even hear the sound of the door open as the nurse announces his presence.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I do need to examine the patient. I promise it won’t take too long.” He picks up the clipboard and starts to read the notes.

  “Are you hungry? I’ll run and grab you something to eat while the nurse does whatever he needs to do.

  “I’m starving, but I don’t want hospital food. Do you think you can grab me a taylor ham, egg, and cheese?”

  “With disco fries?” It’s my turn to beam, I love that he knows me so well.

  “God, I love you.”

  “And I’m going to marry you as soon as I get your ass out of this hospital bed. So hurry up and get better because I’m ready for some honeymoon sex.” He winks at me before leaving me, laughing in the room.

  2 Years Later

  You would think after all that we’ve been through, Dante would finally start to listen to me. But he’s a man so of course, he thinks he knows everything. We were at a work BBQ this afternoon and he got put on grill duty. Well, the people who supplied the food didn’t bother putting the chicken in the fridge to thaw out, so it was still frozen. I repeatedly told Dante he couldn’t grill the frozen chicken, that he would get sick if he ate it. But no, he assured me it would cook all the way through and be just fine. Needless to say, I didn’t eat the chicken. I figured I wasn’t going to chance it and would just wait till we got home to eat dinner.

  Once we were home and were all sitting eating, I lost my mucus plug. I knew they wouldn’t let me eat anything once I got to the hospital, so I finished eating. We called Joe, who rushed right over to take care of Aria and Elijah, our twins. While we waited for him to arrive, I jumped in the shower. I knew it was going to be a while before I could get one, and since I had a while before anything major would happen in the labor, I wanted to get one last relaxing one in. Dante yelled at me the whole time telling me to hurry up and that I was going to have the baby in the shower. So much for my relaxing shower. I told him to quit bugging me and call Ali and have her meet us at the hospital huffing that I now need to rush my shower. He started to say he didn’t feel too well and before we knew it, he was throwing up. I took my time in the shower and told him he shouldn’t have eaten the chicken, and again he assured me that it wasn’t the chicken, but his nerves making his ill; that I wasn’t taking this labor seriously and I needed to be going to the hospital, not shaving my legs in the shower.

  So here we are in the delivery room and just as another contraction hits me, I groan in pain, clutching the rails on the side of the bed. “Just breathe, Pop Tart, breath.” Dante is shouting in between vomits in the bathroom. Leave it to my husband to get food poisoning on the day I go into labor. He’s moaning and complaining about how his stomach is killing him and I’m beginning to wonder who is actually delivering this child. He walks over to the bed and removes my hand from the rail, placing it in his. Opening my eyes, I see his face is greener than grass.

  “Babe, you don’t look too … ah shit, this one hurts.” Squeezing his clammy hand, he rubs my back with his free one. A nurse comes into the room to let me know that the anesthesiologist will be in shortly to give me my epidural. As soon as the contraction passes, I release my hold on Dante’s hand and he immediately rushes off to the bathroom and begins vomiting again. I hit the call button and the nurse comes back into the room.

  “Hey Ava, how are you doing?” She is a sweet little thing, and she's been so helpful since I’ve been here.

  “I’ll be better once I get my epidural. Is there any way you can get my husband something to help with the vomiting? I’m pretty sure he has food poisoning.” He helps my case by groaning louder than I would have thought possible.

  “The only way we can give him any medication is if we admit him. I can however, give you the name of some over the counter medications that should help.”

  “That would be great.” Dante says, coming out of the bathroom. The nurse writes down a list of medications and instructs him to where the nearest pharmacy is. Giving the list to Ali, she leaves to go get him what he needs and Dante bends over with his head between his legs. “I can’t believe how sick I am.” Standing up, he walks back into the bathroom and now I’m starting to get pissed.

  “Really? I can. I told you not to eat that chicken.” There’s a knock on the door and the anesthesiologist comes in to go over a few things regarding my epidural. Just as he’s finishing up and I’m signing the paperwork, Dante is once again by my side. I sign the papers, hand them to the nurse and eye Dante. “You’d better go back in there and puke your brains out. Don’t you dare come back until you’re done! Stop trying to steal my show! The last time I checked, I was the one in labor and having contractions that feel like knives stabbing me over and over. I don’t care if you have to pull the trigger, just get it all out already!” He retreats away and the doctor is laughing.

  “You have to stop talking, well yelling. You’re cracking me up and I don’t want to stick the needle into the wrong spot. Okay, I need you to bend over as much as you can, like you’re trying to get into a ball and then hold really still. There will be a slight scratch but I need you to try not to move. The more still you are, the faster this will be.” I nod and feel a quick pinch going through my spine. “Alright, Ava, we’re all set here.” He hands me a button. “You can hit this every fifteen minutes as needed.”

  It’s times like this I wish my mom and dad were here. They are out of town for a convention and since I went into labor two weeks early, I had to call Ali and Killian to be here since Dante is sick as a dog. Dante has managed to move on from the whole ‘me sleeping with Killian disaster’ and I think it helped him knowing that it didn’t happen in my home. Like it wasn’t tainted with the thought of that.

  An hour later, Ali is finally back with the medicine for Dante and he eats them like candy, popping one after another. After a couple minutes, his stomach starts to feel a little better. He says he no longer feels nauseous but is still exhausted from being so sick. Sitting in the chair next to me, he takes a hold of my hand and rests his head back, closing his eyes. “Don’t you dare fall asleep on me!” I warn and his eyes pop open.

  “I was just resting my eyes. I’m good, I promise.”

  Ali’s phone rings and she excuses herself to take the call. The doctor comes in to check on me just as she's leaving, and she steps to the side to let her come in. After seeing I’m fully dilated and ready to push, he calls for a nurse and prepares to deliver our baby. He said I can start to push as soon as Ali comes back to hold my other leg. Moments later, Ali appears in the room like a whirlwind, apologizing as she gathers her things together. I lie there open mouthed as she tells me she has to leave, that something big has happened at work and needs to go. She pauses just long enough for me to assure her I will be fine and ask her to send Killian in on her way out. She wishes me luck, kisses me on the forehead and is out the door. A moment later, there’s a knock on the door.

  “It’s open.” I yell and the door opens and Killian steps in covering his eyes with his hands. “Oh for the love of God Killian, you can open your eyes.” I want to make a joke about it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, but I don’t need a fist fight in the room as my baby is born.

  “Well I didn’t know what I was walking into and I didn’t want to see anything gross. Ali said you needed me?”

  “If you could just come around to this side here and hold her leg up, she can begin to push.” Killian’s face is white as a ghost and he’s shaking his head.

  “You want me to hold her leg? I can’t do that.” I can’t keep in the laugh that his face is causing. This guy used to s
ell guns for a living, a real life gangster, and he can’t deal with this?

  “Listen man, Ali had to leave and I feel like death. If you don’t want another black eye, you’re going to hold her damn leg up. Just do what I’m doing and don’t look.” As soon as he finishes, he rushes off to the bathroom.

  “Again? Are you kidding me with this shit, Dante?” He rushes back to my side after emptying his stomach again. I don’t know how he has anything left in there to bring up.

  “I really think that was the last time. Now, let’s meet our baby and see what we’re having.”

  “I really don’t feel comfortable doing this.” Killian says as he reluctantly lifts my leg, trying to do it without actually touching me. This causes more laughter to escape.

  “Okay, we’re ready. Ava, the nurse is going to monitor your contractions and tell you when to push. So just listen for her count.” I do as I’m told and start to push when told to. I can’t feel my legs because of the epidural but the doctor keeps telling Dante he needs to hold it up more. He apologizes and is basically using it as a pole to hold himself up. I can tell he’s feeling like death as the sweat pours out of his body. Next thing I know, my knee is lodged in my forehead and I’m yelling at Killian.

  “Killian! Hold my leg, don’t push it into my damn face.” My leg lowers a little as I’m trying to push.

  “I’m sorry! I’ve never done this before. This is all new to me.” If possible I think his face is paler now, with a tinge of the green hue that Dante has.

  “I swear, I’m at a loss. How is it the two most helpful people in my life become so unhelpful in this past hour? It completely just blows my mind. I have my husband who can barely stand and is using my leg for support when he’s supposed to be supporting it, and my friend who is trying to knock me out with my knee. Please tell me I’m almost done pushing, doc.” I’m praying this is almost over. This is meant to be one of the most amazing experiences in the world and all I feel is the need to knock one of these guys out.

  “One more push, Ava and we will be done. Ready on three. One, Two, Push!” I push with all the energy I have left in me. “That’s it, keep pushing! And he’s out. Congratulations, it’s a boy.” The doctor says as the cries of a very noisy baby fill the air. Welcome to the world baby, DJ. We agreed that if this baby was a boy we would name him after Dante, or little DJ for short. They clean him off quickly before placing him in my arms. Dante walks over and we take a moment to welcome the latest member of our family. I hand him DJ so he can hold his son and look to my left to Killian who isn’t looking too good. Before I can ask him if he’s okay, he faints, hitting the ground hard. Nurses rush to his side as Dante and I laugh.

  A couple hours later, I’m awakened from my sleep with the twins jumping onto the bed, hugging me. They talk about how much they missed mommy and daddy, and telling us the fun things they did with Pop Pop while we we’re gone. Dante has Elijah and Aria sit on the couch in the room and sits between them with DJ as they meet their new brother for the first time. I sit in awe as I look at my perfect little family, it really is the greatest achievement of my life. Knowing that that Dante and I created this together fills my heart with love. As the twins talk to their brother, I witness all the love that is in the room. Smiling a little smugly, I know I’m truly the luckiest girl in the world.

  Three Weeks Later

  “Do you really have to go?” I ask, handing DJ over to Dante. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can say to change your mind to stick around?” I push my lip out pouting.

  Killian laughs, pulling me into a hug, squeezing tightly. “You know I can’t stay.” He pulls away. “The trial is over, and there is no way anyone in Sal’s circle can rebuild his organization from their jail cells. You both did great pulling every piece of evidence together and even managed to take a few gangs off the streets.”

  “With your help. Don’t forget, without your help Joe wouldn’t have his job still and I wouldn’t be standing here.” Dante adds and Killian smiles at him. I never thought Dante would warm back up to Killian but now that he did, Killian’s leaving. DJ starts to fuss as Dante rocks him in his arms. “I think this little guy needs a bottle.” Holding out his hand, he shakes Killian’s. “Have a safe drive man, and good luck.” He kisses me on my lips, letting them linger there for a moment before he pulls away. “I’ll see you inside.” We watch Dante talk baby talk to DJ as he brings him inside. Once the door closes, Killian chuckles to himself and I smack his chest.

  “Laugh it up, chuckles. One day that will be you.” A tear falls from my eye.

  “Don’t cry.” The sadness in his voice makes more tears fall, and I wipe them away quickly.

  “I can’t help it. You’ve been there for me through all of this and I feel like I’m never going to get to see my friend again.”

  “Come here.” He pulls me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. “I’ll be back. I just need time to figure out what I’m going to do with my life. I’ve been trapped here, living in the fear of what would happen if I left. I don’t have to worry about that anymore and I need to go figure out who I am. I can’t do that here. There are too many bad memories that will hold me back from doing what I need to do. It hasn’t been easy on me since I took Aria off life support. Visiting her grave is much harder than I expected it to be. I don’t know why, but seeing her in the bed just felt…”

  “Like there was still a chance she would wake up.” I finish for him and he squeezes me harder.

  “Yeah. I know it’s stupid, but I can’t help the way I feel. I think that’s part of what’s keeping me from moving on. I can’t move on when I’m constantly reminded of my life here with her. I’ve been living in the past for so long I need to learn how to live in the here and now. Besides, with you quitting your job to raise the kids, you know you’re going to be bored and texting me non-stop.” Laughing, I know he’s totally right. The kids keep me busy and I knew after having the twins that I needed to be home with them. It’s the downtime that kills me.

  “God, you know me so well, you better make sure your phone’s always charged.” I joke. “You know you’re going to meet some great girl and then you really won’t come back.”

  “Well, then I’ll make sure that’s on my list of requirements if I do meet someone. I’ll make it a deal breaker if she’s not willing to move back home with me. I’m driving cross country. There’s got to be one girl who’s looking to get the hell out of her town.” He jokes.

  “Don’t you dare bring back some floozy, Killian!” I warn.

  Walking with him to his car, I give him one last hug and watch him as he gets in the car, driving off to start his new life. I’m excited for the adventure that is ahead of him and say a silent prayer that he finds what he’s looking for. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s him.

  Killian’s Repentance

  Salvation Series #3 coming soon!!

  &

  Levels coming soon!!

  Other books by this author

  Twist of Fate

  Dante’s Redemption

  Stay Tuned For A Sneak Peak Of Becoming James Black by Skye Turner

  Book 2 James Black

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  Becoming James Black

  Book 2 James Black

  By

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