Chapter 9 - Nolan's Final Gambit“Hello, Benny boy. Hello, Ava,” Nolan’s voice echoed smoothly from the tablet speakers, filling our quiet St. Paul loft like poison.
Ava let out a sharp gasp, stumbling backward until her legs hit the edge of the sofa.
“Surprised?” Nolan continued, taking a slow sip of his drink. “Did you really think a broken wrist and a couple of local cops were going to keep me locked away? Money talks in this city, kids. My lawyers cleared the bail before the ink on your police report even dried.”
I stared at the screen, my jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. The protective fury from two weeks ago flared back to life, hotter and deadlier than before.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking,” Nolan chuckled softly, leaning forward into the camera frame. “You’re thinking you packed up, moved across the river, and left your problems behind. Cute strategy. But property records are public information, Ava. And guess who just bought out the mortgage on your sweet little St. Paul loft?”
My heart stopped. I spun around, looking up at the high industrial ceiling, the tall windows, the brick walls.
“That’s right,” Nolan smiled, his eyes gleaming with malicious glee. “You’re still living under my roof. And this time, there are no emergency exits. No police are coming to save you, because legally, I’m your landlord. Again.”
The screen flickered, showing a split-second clip of security camera footage—us walking into the St. Paul building lobby two days ago, carrying our boxes.
“Here’s how this is going to work,” Nolan said, his tone turning ice-cold and businesslike. “Ava, you pack a bag, ditch the golden retriever downstairs, and meet me at the Grand Hotel downtown by midnight. Otherwise, I evict you both by sunrise, and I make sure Ben’s professional licensing board receives a very interesting package detailing his violent assault record.”
The screen went black.
The silence in our living room was absolute, suffocating, and terrifying.
I looked over at Ava. She was shaking from head to toe, tears streaming silently down her face, her hands covering her mouth as she tried to stifle a sob.
"He's destroying us," she whispered, her voice breaking. "He won't stop until one of us is ruined. Ben... you have to go. You can't let him ruin your career over me."
I walked over to her, knelt down on the floor, and took her trembling hands in mine. I forced her to look at me, smoothing away the tears with my thumbs.
"Listen to me," I said, my voice steady, clear, and absolute. "I am not going anywhere. Do you hear me?"
"Ben, he'll ruin your life—"
"Let him try," I interrupted, standing up and grabbing my car keys from the counter. "Because we are not running anymore."
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Ava looked up at me, panic and fierce devotion warring in her eyes. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to go have a talk with our landlord," I said, my voice dropping an octave.
