Chapter 70

Evelyn's POV

I’m more nervous than I should be. Ava’s putting her life in danger by talking to William. Not only that, but Sebastian’s laser focused on making sure things go well.

I’m just sitting here trying not to tremble.

William finally gets to Ava, and he looks horrible. His normal neat and tidy self is just sloppy, his hair has grown out a lot since I last saw him.

Not only that, but he looks…demented? Off his rocker? I’m not sure.

“So, finally came to your senses then?” Is the first thing he says.

“It took a while,” Ava responds. “I should have taken your side.”

“You still snitched when we were here.”

Ava sighs. “I shouldn’t have. I was just so tired of all the fighting. But ever since that night, I’ve had a nagging feeling that maybe I was making the wrong decisions.”

“Like being friends with a douchebag playboy and a prude?”

“I don’t think she’s a prude. But she’s definitely lying. Sebastian, too.”

William throws up his arms and yells, “Finally! Someone else can finally see through their masks!”

Ava looks down the hallway to make sure no one is nearby before turning back to idiot. “I’m sick of them! All it ever is with Evelyn is complaining about her heart and feelings and her mom, and Sebastian’s just the same pompous ass.”

The words would hurt if I hadn’t been the one to come up with them.

“So, you wanted me to come here because you want to team up to finally end this shit?” William has a smile slowly forming.

Ava leans in. “I want revenge. For all the lies, all the set ups.”

“Finally, you’re speaking my language. Ava, I’ve already got people on the inside, people that are keeping an eye out on Sebastian and Evelyn.”

“You do?” She’s so convincing. Maybe she should consider acting. “Who? He doesn’t have a ton of friends these days if you can tell.”

A snort from William. “Everyone walked away, now that they see the truth in what that man really is.”

“Can I ask you something then? There’s a rumor going around that there was a car with a bomb…was that you?”

A raised eyebrow. “How’d you hear about that?”

“I heard a couple of guys. I think those are his team for his races. I don’t remember. But I’ve kept thinking about how someone could have pulled it off, and Sebastian still gets everything he wants.” Ava is quick to recover with everything William asks.

“She’s scary good at this,” Mack tells us, adjusting a set of levels.

“I’m as surprised as you are,” Sebastian admits. He scrubs at his hair. “William’s no idiot, but Ava’s five steps ahead.”

William moves around to face Ava in the opposite direction, leaning on the wall. “I didn’t have a bomb. It was a scare tactic.”

Ava’s head moves back in surprise, though we can’t see her face as well now. “You should have done it. Blown them up to pieces.”

“You know how cats like to play with their prey before they eat them? Toss them around, chase after them, then eat the animal.”

“Yeah?”

Now he leans even closer, and his voice becomes stronger on the mic. “It’s a game. Plunge them into paranoia.”

“That’s so evil. You’re a lot smarter than I’ve given you credit for. But maybe you should take it up a notch. Maybe take your inside guys? What if you start harassing her through texts? And what if there’s a way we can make Sebastian crash his car in his next race?”

“I’ve never heard you like this before, Ava. Honestly? You’re super sexy when you’re angry.”

Sebastian snorts.

“You tampered with those breaks once, why not do it again and this time, no one knows a thing. Maybe we can pay off people, so it doesn’t get back to us.”

“Already got most of his team on my payroll,” he admits, flourishing his hands in the hair. I’m meeting with them later. Maybe you should come with?”

I look at Sebastian, worried that Ava might have to do that. We have him on tampering the breaks and paying off Seb’s team, but what happens if William has a gun or something, and refuses to let Ava go?

“That depends. Do you forgive me for being foolish?” Ava’s voice has turned sultry, which is usually how she sounds when she’s flirting. I swear I’m never going to eat again. William’s clearly enjoying this revenge talk, and he’s partially admitted to his crimes.

“I’ll forgive you if you help me make sure Seb doesn’t check his car or anything else before his race this week.”

“Just tampering with the breaks?” Ava asks.

“Oh, so you’re looking for more?” He chuckles with a shake of his head. “I did have another thought. Maybe not a bomb, but still a way to end with…fire.”

“Please tell me you’re going to try starting a fire in his gas tank. That’s what I’ve been thinking!”

“Ava, I think we’re entering a beautiful new chapter of friendship. Maybe even something more that we could arrange.”

She nods, and I hear her smile in her voice as she says, “Kidnap Evelyn again. Blow up Seb’s car. Force her to watch him explode in front of everyone.”

“Sounds like a pretty hot event.”

She leans in, running her index finger down the front of his disgusting t-shirt he has on. “I’m sorry I told them. This time, it’s going to end the way it was meant to.”

“We have everything?” Mack asks into his walkie.

“The kidnapping, the breaks tampering, paying off the team, and premeditating murders,” the chief replies. “Roll out, officers. We have plenty. Arrest him.”

I close my eyes tight, breathing as I take in the words. I can’t believe it’s happening. We did it. Well, Ava did this part. But finally, no more worrying about being kidnapped, Sebastian’s car being tampered with, everything.

Mack and Rodger start checking numbers, before Mack says to Ava in his headphone. “Great job, Miss Remington. We got it all. The cops are coming now.”

Less than ten seconds later, the building is being swarmed with men and women in uniform, screaming and shouting. “NYPD! Put your hands where I can see them!”

William is shocked, but Ava keeps her poker face. I thought at the last minute that Ava should be arrested to avoid suspicion. I don’t know if there’s more to this than William, so just in case, this will help her.

“What the fuck?” Ava shouts, the two being held in the corner with at least ten guns trained on them.

“William Pearson, Ava Remington, you two are under arrest!” A detective wearing a bullet proof vest shouts at them. “Hands where we can see them!”

“We didn’t do anything!” Ava yells.

“She’s right, we’re just having a talk!”

“You’re under arrest for the kidnapping of Evelyn Walters, conspiracy to tamper with race cars, and extortion!”

Two other officers grab them, cuffing them as the detective reads their Miranda rights. “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law.”

There’s a lot of overlap after that, but the two are cuffed and perp walked outside. There aren’t a ton of people around in the building, but those that are we can see them watching on the monitors.

“I want him to know it was us.” Sebastian’s growling as he watches the screens. “I want that satisfaction of getting to look him in the eye and tell him, ‘Checkmate.’ It would be worth it.”

Mack shakes his head. “We’re trying not to escalate things any further for now. Right now, take the win. You got him.”

I take off my headphones and grab Sebestian, holding him close to me as I start trembling again. We did it. My plan worked.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Sebastian coos, taking his own headphones off and runs his hand down my hair. “It’s over, Princess. He can’t do anything again.”

A checkmate indeed.