Thank God for Mason. The poor besotted fool had played right into his hands by telling him things that he should have kept to himself. Mason’s love for Taryn had proven to be his lifeline and had come just in time. With a little coercion and a lot of blackmail he had finally persuaded Mason to see things his way.
Feeling assured that his marriage was no longer in jeopardy, he accepted a short-term training inspector position in the UK.
Leaving all the drama and his pregnant wife behind, he had newly arrived in the UK when he met Ruth, Aviva’s mother. Thinking back he couldn’t honestly say what had attracted his attention to her as she really wasn’t his usual type. Maybe it was her innocence, her naiveté, her total lack of artifice. But for sure it was the way she adored him and at the same time fed his ego.
When she told him she was pregnant he was furious and had insisted that she terminate the child. He should have known little Ruth would refuse. When she couldn’t be persuaded to see things his way, he had made a deal with her. He would make sure that he supported the child as long as he never had to see either of them again.
His offer had been posed as a means of humiliating her, it had worked and she had agreed to his terms. That was all he needed to forget about her and the child and move on.
Here he was over thirty years later about to really speak to Aviva for the first time. He knew she and Hope were close but if he played this meeting right he could ultimately use her as a tool for exacting punishment over the Richards family as well as Stephen Blackman.
Nixon was sure she had heard much about him and probably believed all that she had heard. However in his arrogance, he harbored thoughts that Aviva still wanted to get to know him. After all she had crossed the Atlantic to be near him, her father. He had read somewhere that all little girls hankered for the affection of their father. Today he would test that theory.
In his need to regain the control he had lost when Mason’s exam papers were stolen, Nixon conveniently forgot about the last conversation he had with Aviva.
The subject of his thoughts caught his attention as she walked towards him as though she didn’t have a care in the world. She was late and Nixon made a mental note to remind her that any disrespect directed towards him wouldn’t be tolerated. However that lesson could wait, first he had to gain her trust.
**********
When she finally walked into the diner, Aviva did so with the air of a woman who had come into her own. Her life was as she had always wanted it to be.
She had a career. She had more money in the bank that she had ever thought or dreamed to have. By her own hands, she had accomplished all that her mother had ever wanted for her.
That same woman had given her daughter the tools to accomplish what she had been unable to do. Because of Ruth Johnson, she was fully prepared to face the man who had wronged so many people because of their misfortune of being associated with him.
Aviva was deliberately exactly sixty minutes late. Well aware that he would be right where she expected him to be when she arrived. She understood exactly the type of person Nixon was. He had lost what he supposed was his power base, and his sudden call told her he had designs on establishing another at her expense. Aviva was determined to disavow him of that belief by the time she was ready to conclude their meeting. When she was finished with him, he would rue the day he ever insulted her mother.
Nixon was sitting facing the door. The look of impatience stamped on his face gave testament to his anger at being kept waiting. Although he tried to hide it, his true feelings were reflected in his eyes. His annoyance pleased Aviva to no end. She also thought he should think himself lucky she was only an hour late. The mean side of her had wanted to keep him waiting even longer, but she wanted this meeting to be over and done with. She wanted Nixon Clement out of her life for good. Therefore the sooner she handled her business the quicker that fact would become a reality.
When Nixon caught her eyes, Aviva noticed that he tried to adjust his expression. If he was going for fatherly indulgence over her tardiness it didn’t work, and Aviva didn’t care one way or the other.
“Hello, Aviva. You’re late!”
“Don’t state the obvious, it’s boring. Are you about to bore me... Nixon?” Aviva deliberately hesitated before saying his name in the hope that her disdain of him was made clear.
“You will address me with respect, missy.”
“Please excuse me, of course I’ll I address you with the respect you’re due.”
At Nixon’s puffed up look of satisfaction, Aviva only just stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Was this man for real? He must be completely demented if he thought she was here to pander to his ego.
“You wanted to speak with me?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I now think it’s time that you and I became better acquainted. I’m sure you have questions for me. You may ask me anything, and I will answer truthfully.”
“Thank you. There is one question I’ve been wanting to ask you for a long time.” Aviva smiled her sweetest smile and held his eyes. Buried in their depths was a cunning she recognized as the same look he had bestowed on Mason the day she had first met him.
“What happened in your life that made you such a monumental man-whore because it sure isn’t your good looks or sharp wit?”
Nixon’s magnanimous look was instantly replaced with the rising tide of his anger, and Aviva didn’t give a damn.
“So that’s the way you want to play this, is it? So be it. I thought we could take this opportunity to get to know each other but I see I was wrong. You’re not asking the right questions so I’ll just go ahead and fill you in on certain facts. You are the worst of my children. I mean look at you.”
When he finished, Aviva merely rested her elbow on the table, supported her head in her palm, and blinked her long lashes at him. “Please do go on, I find your insight fascinating.”
Aviva could see that Nixon was racking his brain to pull out more words that were meant to hurt and humiliate her. What he in his self-absorption failed to recognize was that there was nothing he could say or do that could bring those two feelings about. For her, Nixon had ceased to matter a long time ago.
“I have four children. Two are lawyers and the other is a world famous supermodel. What are you, Aviva?”
Aviva came back as quick as a flash, “Sorry you’re my father, next question.”
“You are also the ugliest child I have.”
“Good God, what are you, a five year old girl?” Aviva laughed in his face. “Is this why you called me, so you’d have an opportunity to attempt to throw juvenile insults at me? I say attempt because so far you’re crap at this.”
“Your mother was also the worse lay of my life.”
“Well thank God for that. At least that meant she didn’t have to spend undue time in your repulsive company.”
“She was also the easiest. I didn’t even have to work for it. A few words and she did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was so easy, pretending to like her, getting her to fall in love with me. Getting her to deceive her parents. To do anything and everything I wanted her to do.”
The calculation of Nixon’s words had the desired effect. Aviva sat up in her seat, her attention riveted on him. He had just managed to gain her full attention. Aviva had known this meeting would ultimately settle on her mother. She had known that once Nixon realized she cared nothing about his impression of her, he would switch his tactics to her mother. She had just thought he had more finesse, she was wrong.
“You have no idea of the type of woman my mother was. Shall I tell you why, Nixon? You have absolutely no idea how to deal with a woman. From all accounts your wife was a teenage bride, who you married for her money. Taryn was also a teenager when you deliberately pursued her, in my opinion for no other reason than to hurt Mason.
What happened with my mother was probably the worst of your offensive behavior where those young women were concerned. She was a total innocent, you knew it,
and you used her and then discarded her. I don’t care what you think about me, but she didn’t deserve your treatment of her, you low life piece of excrement!”
Aviva could see that nothing she had just said to Nixon had registered with him. His next words proved her right.
“I also have it on good authority that you’re just like her.”
Aviva remained completely still unsure of his meaning, waiting for him to fill the silence that now surrounded them. At that moment her senses expanded. For the first time she realized that their voices had risen. They were attracting attention from at least one other diner. Aware of the covert looks, Aviva disregarded him. What he or Nixon thought of her was of no consequence.
“From what I understand, you didn’t waste any time moving in with that Jason King. Two weeks, Aviva,” Nixon said with a shake of his head. “I have to say like mother like daughter... easy.”
Aviva had had enough. The conversation, in her opinion was completely inane. It was time to bring it to an end. “I have no idea where you get your information, but you have been misinformed...”
“Don’t even try to sit there and deny you moved in with that man after knowing him for two weeks.”
“I do deny it. You really need to check your facts, Nixon. Actually, I moved in with him after two days, and you know what... I don’t regret it. If I had it to do over, I’d do the same thing without a moment’s hesitation.”
“You admit to that and you sit there in judgment of me!”
“Yes I judge you. The difference between you and Jason is that he would never seduce and impregnate an innocent young woman while he was married with a pregnant wife. Not to mention deceiving his cousin with the woman he loved, and impregnating her along the way!”
“Lower your voice, you’re embarrassing me!” Nixon said through his teeth, furious that she was listing each of his indiscretions aloud. Glancing around, Aviva could see that he wasn’t so much worried about how he had behaved. Rather, his concern was focused on whether the other diners were aware of the content of their conversation.
Pushing back her chair in a rush, Aviva knew she had to get away from the disgusting man. Nixon was a complete and utter narcissist who would never see, let alone admit to the damage he had brought to so many lives.
As she picked up her purse and secured the strap over her shoulder, she reached for the glass of water set out before her, and threw its content directly in Nixon’s face. As he jerked away in shock at the icy touch of the water, she followed up by emptying the whole jug, ice cubes and all, directly in his lap.
“The first glass was just for the fun of it, and the jug was for my mother. Embarrassed now, Nixon? I’d say!”
With her head held high, Aviva looked neither left nor right as she exited the restaurant.
Chapter 33
Their meeting had gone just how Aviva had imagined it would. She had been the one to walk out, leaving Nixon literally sputtering. As far as she was concerned, it was job done, and good riddance to bad rubbish!
High on her exit, Aviva was totally caught unawares by the grip on her arm. Her whole body was spun around by the force of anger she had only experienced once before in her life.
The sight of the fury that masked Nixon’s face threw her back into memories of her abduction. She saw hatred, and it was completely focused on her.
Aviva watched as the hand of the much larger man descended towards her. She knew it was going to hurt, but she had been through worse, much worse. Unable to stop his hand, she readied herself for the sting of pain. The difference was, this time she wasn’t bound. This time she would fight back. She was finished with being abused, of having pain inflicted on her by weak men. She would take the blow, but she would come back fighting.
She felt nothing. Somewhere through the haze of her adrenalin rush was the sound of rage. Before Nixon’s hand could find its mark it was arrested in mid-air. The force of his downward motion was being used against him, bringing him to his knees.
Emerging from the place where she had ensconced herself ready for the blow, Aviva saw Jason. His fury distorting his face so much, she hardly recognized him.
In a split second, as though in slow motion she saw his right hand ball into a fist, descending towards the older man’s face.
Aviva recognized his intent. Jason’s blow intended to kill him. She couldn’t allow it. Pulling on all her strength, Aviva somehow managed to grab onto his massive arm. Holding on she threw her whole weight against his massive power.
Feeling the full force of his strength, she knew his control at not hitting Nixon had nothing to do with her puny weight hanging onto his arm. It had nothing to do with the lessening of what he wanted to inflict on Nixon, and everything to do with his affinity to what she wanted.
“He’s not worth it, Jason.”
Jason didn’t look at her. His fury was a palpable thing. It emanated from him encapsulating the three of them to the point that she knew she dared not break the control she had over him.
Everything around her seemed to be hanging in a balance. It was as though her words hung in the air for an eternity. Aviva experienced everything frame by frame. Even the feel of the breeze that blew against them seemed suspended until Jason finally looked at her. The blackness of his eyes told their own story. While he had responded to her plea, he still fought an internal battle. The relaxation of the tautness of his muscles was Aviva’s cue that she could finally do the same.
That was her mistake. In a blur of motion that she should have become used to with him, she was standing on her own. Jason had the older man flat out on the ground and he was on one knee, bending over him like a harbinger of death.
“You must have lost your mind to think I would allow you to raise your hand to this woman. Believe me when I say... I will kill you for that alone.”
“Jason... please, Baby. Please don’t do this.”
As Jason looked at Aviva, she could tell he was still fighting an internal battle. The moment he broke eye contact with her, she knew she had lost control of the situation.
“If you see that woman over there again, you only have one option, run... run for your life. If I even think your existence causes her a moment of distress, I will remove you from your pitiful existence.”
Aviva knew his choice of words was for her benefit. Yet they left her in no doubt as to his meaning. He may not have realized it, but she knew her man, and she understood what he was capable of.
Her worry over the situation lessened. She had told him she didn’t want him to use force against Nixon, and she knew he would respect her wishes. What concerned her more, was how he had known where she was, and how he had come to be in the right place at the right time to save her from Nixon’s anger.
Nixon already forgotten, the direction of her thoughts led Aviva to an obvious conclusion. With that certainty, she turned and walked away. With each step, she picked up speed. Soon she was running, and Aviva didn’t like to run. She knew that as soon as Jason realized she was no longer by his side he would come after her.
Reaching her car, she was behind the wheel in a flash and speeding out of the parking lot, tires screeching. Here she was working so hard at regaining her confidence, taking back her life after all she had gone through, and the bloody man was having her followed!
Peeling down the highway, Aviva’s anger was a boiling mass lodged in the pit of her stomach. She had worked so hard for the mileage she had gained. Venturing out on her own hadn’t been easy. Merging back into a semblance of normality hadn’t been easy, and all the time he had assigned someone to watch her. Someone who dogged her every move.
Aviva knew that had it not been for her meeting with Nixon, she would never have known she was being watched. The people he had hired were good, very good. She was now constantly on her guard, and she had neither seen nor suspected their presence. Her complete ignorance to the fact that she was being followed was what scared her the most.
Aviva had thought she had done all sh
e possibly could to ensure her own safety. She had staggered the times she left home, taken meetings that she knew she should have attended in person via conference call, she even had pepper spray in her purse.
As her mind tormented her, she was aware that none of the precautions she had taken meant anything. Someone had been on her tail all the time, and she hadn’t even known it. Somewhere in the back of her mind Aviva knew she should feel comforted by knowing that Jason was ensuring her safety. But she didn’t. Maybe if he had taken the time to discuss his intention with her, she might have agreed. Now she would never know, and at the moment that lack of choice really pissed her off.
**********
When Jason looked up, Aviva was gone. All he caught sight of was her lithe form slipping into her car, and the sound of tires screeching as she drove away.
Her departure escalated his fury. His conversation with Steve had shown him to what ends the man who was currently propped up against a car was capable of going. He had lost control of one daughter, and he had foolishly thought to move on to another.
That thought alone made Jason’s blood boil. Since the night of Hope and Steve’s engagement party, he had known that the man cowering before him needed to be removed permanently from Aviva’s life.
Looking down at Nixon, he knew that he had already lost interest in the older man. But he took the time to voice one more warning now that Aviva was gone.
“Forget Aviva and Hope’s existence. If they ever mention seeing or hearing from or about you, I will kill you!”
“Who do you think you are? I’ll have you up on assault charges for this!” Nixon said, attempting a show of bravado.
Jason laughed in his face. “Go ahead, but know that I have a long reach. You should also know something else about me, I never forget or forgive a slight, especially one made against Aviva. This is your final warning.” Jason’s words were delivered with such cold intensity, he saw Nixon shudder.
The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) Page 24