CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE
BURKE’S POV
I lay on my bed, thinking if Catherine’s look alike.
I didn’t know if she was real or if it was just some hallucination because I was missing Catherine.
I rubbed my eyes repeatedly, trying to find sleep but I couldn’t.
It was two moons before my wedding with Harley and then my pack would be cured of this syndrome, especially Emma.
I was in my thoughts when I heard a knock on my door; they would never allow me a little rest, even if I pleaded for it.
“It’s already bedtime. Can I just get some rest?” I asked loudly when the knocking became persistent.
“I think that’s my cue to come in,” I heard Ava say as she pushed the door open.
“What is the problem, Ava? I need some freaking rest,” I groaned at her and she returned my attitude with a brief chuckle.
“Harley came crying to me two days ago,” Ava stated, sitting on the empty chair beside my bed.
I knew Harley would have told Ava about the abomination I did when I was drunk.
I haven’t forgiven myself, and I know Harley might not have forgiven me either.
“I didn’t mean to do that, I hated myself for it,” I admitted, swallowing hard.
“She knows you are sorry and she has forgiven you,” Ava said, and I felt a loud lift from my heart.
“Really?” I asked, trying to figure out if she meant what she was saying.
“Yes, but you need to forgive Harley, too,” Ava said it sounded like she was scolding me for not forgiving Harley.
I swallowed hard, anytime I looked at Harley, the thought of Jack’s lifeless body came back to my memory like it happened yesterday.
I looked at Ava again, and she stared into my eyes with pleads and sadness. I hated seeing my sister like that, especially when I was the curse of it.
“She’s forgiven, I don’t hold anything negative against her,” I said, sitting up.
“Thank you, I know you are a good man,” She said, smiling at me.
I stared at Ava and wondered why Diago would think of an angel like Ava and call her a murderer.
She is meek, gentle, and doesn’t even like the sight of blood.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” Ava asked, noticing I didn’t take my eyes off her for a bit.
“Can you believe Diago thought you were the murderer and that you tried to kill Nikky by sprinkling Tafana in her juice?” I asked, laughing at the horrible accusations.
“What? That’s disheartening,” Ava said, breaking into a sob, she hated it when her name was painted black.
“Hey, it’s okay; I didn’t believe the damn shit he said,” I assured her, patting her hands, but she was still crying.
“I try to bring the family together and strengthen our relationship, and someone calls me the demon behind my back,” She said, still crying. She placed her hands on her chest and squeezed tightly; probably, the pain was too much.
“I see what you do, Ava, and I know you aren’t involved in any murder; I can bet my life on that,”. I assured her, and she gave me a deadly stare.
“When you told me not to do something stupid in the living room, I felt you were suspecting of being the murderer, weren’t you?” She asked, still breaking down in tears.
I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say.
I hated myself for allowing Diago’s words to get to me.
“I… I regret thinking you did that, it was because I haven’t gotten myself to forgive Harley, but now I have Ava,” I said, trying to sound assuring.
“Promise me you would not believe anything that is said about me without proof,” She said, and I nodded my head in approval.
“I promise, hurting you wasn’t part of my decision, and I’m very fucking sorry,” I apoloogictized and she smiled at me.
“Well then, good night,” She whispered, before leaving the room.
Giving Harley a second chance is a difficult decision, but it is the best one at the moment, so I am going to try a new life with Harley.
“Burke, we need to talk,” I heard Diago’s voice, as he entered my room through the window.
“I think I would put a guard in charge of my window to keep people from barging into my room unannounced,” I said as he walked towards me.
“Ava is the villain, and I can prove that to you,” He whispered.
He has the nerve to come into my room and blame my sister for murder after making her cry a while ago.
“I warned you never…”
“I know you warned me, Burke. But I, Ava, would cut you loose and watch your head roll when the time comes; you should sit your ass up and listen to me,” Diago retorted, cutting me shut of words.
“I just promised my sister that I would never accuse her without proof, so if I’m listening to you, you must have some goddamn proof,” I said, with my voice filled with anger.
“I don’t have proof, but why the fuck would she tell you that if she isn’t up to something,” He said, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Ava is no different from a saint; she can’t even hold a gun, and she can’t pull a trigger,” I yelled at him, defending my sister because she would do the same for me.
“You tell yourself that, but you think differently about it, why?” He questioned, and I swallowed hard upon hearing his question.
“I am in search of the person who tried to kill Nikky, and I know it can’t be my sister, even if she has the balls to kill someone it wouldn’t be her family, not to talk if her Fucking Niece, Diago think,” I said, ignoring the question he threw at me.
“You don’t know Ava that much; I can prove to you that Ava isn’t to be trusted,” He said with a very serious tone.
“And that is why you sent your sister to try and seduce me huh?” I asked although it was a rhetorical question.
Diago cleared his throat, uncomfortably.
“I knew you wouldn’t fall for it, and there was a reason for that,” He answered, swallowing hard.
“How am I expected to trust you when I don’t know why you sent your sister to seduce me,” I said, getting off the bed.
“When I get the proof of Ava’s dirt, I will let you know the reason. I am here to pledge my loyalty to you and also plead for your blessings in trying to scoop Ava’s dirt,” He said.
I was certain he would find nothing, but if I declined his request, it would give him the benefit of the doubt.
“You have my blessings, find my sister’s dirt,” I said.