Chapter Text
“We need to get him out of here.” Beatrice kept a hand on Ava, but spoke to her team in hushed tones. The police would be there very, very soon. They needed to decide on a course of action immediately. Of course, focusing on anything other than Ava was borderline impossible, but Beatrice was nothing if not good at compartmentalising. “He might die, but he also might know something.”
“Can she…” Mary trailed off, while looking at Ava, who stayed focused on the ground. Beatrice only shook her head. “Okay. Understood. I will call our usual guy.”
“He doesn’t need to be kept alive forever.” Shannon was harsh, but not wrong. She had every right to maintain a grudge. “Just long enough to see what he knows.”
“Got it.” Mary was rapidly typing into her phone.
“And we need a story for the police.” Camila paced across the room. “Or a really good bribe.”
“Both, probably.” Lilith ran a hand through her hair. “I can arrange the money, but this cannot be traced back to us under any circumstances.” Everyone’s eyes fell on the continually oblivious Ava. “And that means some things… Might need to change.”
“I’ll… Take care of broaching that topic…” Beatrice wanted to vomit. She could feel the stickiness of blood on Ava’s hand - against hers. The upcoming conversations between them were going to be more than difficult.
Fresh sirens pierced the air. “We need to move.” Shannon callously unplugged Vincent’s various monitors and IVs. “Don’t die, Vinny.”
“Vinny.” Lilith shook her head as they pushed the hospital bed into the empty hallway. “Christ.”
“We’ll load him into the back of my Range. Hopefully he doesn’t die on the way.” Mary pressed her fist against the elevator button. “And we’ll need to keep him somewhere hidden, obviously.”
“I’m not totally sure I trust the office.” Beatrice muttered. She all but pushed Ava into the elevator as the doors opened. “Maybe the safehouse…”
“Safehouse.” Camila nodded. “It’s as far off the books as it can be… But you’ve got other things to worry about, Beatrice.” She added, with a nod that wouldn’t have been subtle if Ava was anything other than catatonic.
“Yeah. That.”
“It’ll be okay.” Camila wrapped a hand around Beatrice’s shoulder. “I think you already know what needs to be said, you just might have trouble saying it.”
“Right.” Beatrice nodded. The elevator reached the ground floor. Police were just entering the front door, loud as always, as they slipped out via the loading dock.
“Camila and I will take care of the cops.” Lilith announced once they reached the vehicles. “And I’ll try to keep the bribe as low as possible. I know we’re a little less liquid than usual right now.”
“Perfect.” Shannon all but shoved an unconscious Vincent into the back of Mary’s Range Rover. “We’ll call the doctor and take care of our old friend, then we’ll all rendezvous at the safe house.”
All too soon, Beatrice was alone with Ava, who might as well have been an imaginary friend. As quick as she could, too aware of the growing police presence, Beatrice manoeuvred Ava into the passenger seat of her car, before ripping out of the parking lot and onto the main street. It was dark now, but the evening’s traffic was far from over. Desperate to keep moving, Beatrice used as much brain power as she could on figuring out the most efficient route out of the city proper… It wasn’t a very good distraction.
Ava didn’t speak in the entire hour it took to drive to the safe house. Instead, she stayed completely still, and stared out the window. Beatrice snuck constant looks, hoping for something , only to be met with a terrified-looking woman in bloodstained scrubs. God, she really fucked up. With a heavy sigh, Beatrice pulled up to the gate, entered the code, and quickly drove through. No one else was here yet.
Still moving fast, almost shaky, Beatrice exited the vehicle and quickly opened Ava’s door, extending a hand. “Come on. Let’s talk.” Once again silent, Ava did at least take Beatrice’s hand, and allow herself to be led into the expansive backyard. It was overkill for a safehouse, with a pool, decorated with intricate stonework and lights, but Shannon had insisted when they bought it.
Anxious, Beatrice released Ava’s hand and took a few steps forward, scooping up a handful of freezing salt water and splashing it on her face. She shivered as several drops rolled down her neck and soaked the collar of her shirt, but it helped bring her back to earth. She needed to be strong and level headed right now. For Ava.
“He would have killed Vincent if you didn’t do anything.” Beatrice finally addressed the elephant in the room, though she stared at the reflective surface of the water, instead of at Ava. “He would have killed you both.”
“I know.” Finally, finally, Ava spoke. Two scratchy, hoarse, words, sure, but it was something.
“You saved his life.”
“What is that worth?” Ava walked across the stone patio, stopping at the other end of the pool, and facing Beatrice with tears in her eyes. “This is the same man who sold you out.”
“I know that. But… It’s complicated.” Beatrice hated her reply, but it wasn’t necessarily wrong.
“It’s always complicated. ” Ava frowned, and a tear fell from her face and darkened the fabric of her shirt. The pool water glistened beneath them, freezing but oddly welcoming.
“I’m sorry, I -”
“Please. Don’t apologise.” Ava held up a bloodstained hand. It shook. She sounded angry. “You give me minimal details, and all I really know is how much I don’t know… Today, I killed a man. I killed someone, Beatrice. Do you get how awful that is?! In my line of work, especially?!”
Oddly, Beatrice was happy to see the life and emotion in Ava, even if it was negative. Even if it was directed at her. Remaining silent, Beatrice only watched as Ava continued.
“I killed him because he was going to kill me and Vincent if I didn’t.” Her voice dropped back down, hard to hear. “Vincent betrayed you… He almost got you killed. I’m not sure that’s the kind of man I’m willing to kill for.”
“You don’t need to be willing to kill at all. I’m sorry it came to this.”
“Who am I to choose?” Here, Ava’s emotions became more complex and less pointed. “What gives me the right to kill? Just because they were going to kill first? That’s some sick, sick math.”
“It is.” Beatrice closed her eyes for a moment. There was a lot of blood on her hands, more than Ava even knew, but probably could imagine.
Now it was Ava’s turn to stay silent. Beatrice took a ragged breath.
“Maybe this isn’t what you want to hear, but your actions today may save us in the long run.” Was this really a comfort? Beatrice wasn’t sure. “Vincent likely has information that will help us take down Adriel. For good.”
“I’m not sure that excuses it… I can’t go back to work ever again, can I? At least, not there?”
“No. Probably not.” If nothing else, Beatrice’s answer was honest. Ava’s face still fell.
“Fuck,” whispered Ava. She gingerly unclipped her ID from her pocket, and hurled it into the pool. “Fuck!”
“Ava, I’m sorry. Really, I am.” Beatrice felt beyond guilty. “It’s not safe, and the police presence will be… Challenging.”
“Could this have been prevented?” Ava’s voice shook. “These last few weeks… I’ve lost… Everything.” She coarsely rubbed her eyes. “JC, my house, now my job… And in some ways, you.”
“Why me?” Beatrice knew it wasn’t the detail she should focus on, but she couldn’t help it.
“Why you?! Because I found out you’re in the mob, Beatrice! I basically have to get to know you all over again! And let’s not forget how fucking stupid that makes me look, not realising after all this time…” She paced back and forth a few times, whereas Beatrice felt rooted to the stone.
“You’re not stupid. I went to great lengths to keep this from you. To keep you safe.”
“Did it?” There was a venom in Ava’s words that was justified, but not unwarranted. Beatrice sighed. She couldn’t help but think of the last time she was here, laying in bed alone, and thinking so painfully of Ava.
“No. At least, not enough.” Beatrice thought that there was nothing that could make her feel guiltier than she already did, but she was wrong.
“What am I supposed to do, Beatrice?” There was a genuine curiosity in Ava’s question, but it was weighed down beneath the sadness. “Am I stuck here with everyone until… Until something happens, something that I’m sure will only get explained to me in the vaguest terms?”
“I… I can’t just let you leave.” Beatrice replied. “Not let you, but you know what I mean. You’ll be…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the k-word. “It’s… It’s not a coincidence that Vincent ended up at your hospital.”
“I know.”
“If you didn’t find out when you did, you… Probably wouldn’t be here.”
“I know,” repeated Ava.
“I don’t blame you for being angry.” Pausing for a deep breath, Beatrice wished she was better at this. “It’s why I avoided you and kept my distance for so long. And now, everything’s falling apart, and I -”
“Bea.” Ava interrupted, with that damned nickname again. Such casual affection, and the last thing Beatrice deserved. “Even with everything that’s happened, even with everything I know now, everything I’ve done … I wouldn’t change this.” She gestured between them. “I would still be your friend.”
“Really?” Just a single word was almost too much for Beatrice after Ava’s statement.
“Yes!” Ava took a step closer, ugly nurse shoes against the dark stone. “God, Beatrice, you’re my best friend! And look, I’m not going to pretend I’m okay with this. I’m not. I fucking killed someone today…” There was a pause here, gentle silence save for the gentle lapping of pool water. “I see death every day. But today I chose it, and honestly, I chose it really quickly… That’s… Horrible.”
It was clear why Ava hesitated on that last word, lest she offend Beatrice the killer. Frustrated with herself, Beatrice knotted her hands together.
“You are not horrible. Far from it. This was a kill or be killed situation, and you made the right choice. And if you want someone to be angry at, it’s me. I’m the reason this happened in the first place.”
“I am angry at you, Beatrice!” Ava didn’t sound totally convincing here, but Beatrice still let each word pierce her like a knife. “I’m angry that this is your life. I’m angry that you didn’t tell me sooner. I’m just… Angry. And confused. And I have no idea what my life is even supposed to be right now…” She had to stop here and roughly wipe the tears from her eyes. “Say the timing was a little different, and you’d been there a minute earlier. Would he have killed you?”
“He would have tried.” Cocky, maybe, but Beatrice had survived this long for a reason. Even with the massive distraction that was Ava Silva, she was no slouch.
“Well… That helps.”
“Ava, no.” Beatrice shook her head. “I would have taken care of it. I cannot stress how much this shouldn’t have happened, nor how sorry I am.”
“I know how sorry you are. It’s written all over your face.” Ava’s resolve and strength here was nothing if not admirable. “Just… I know I have to stay here, I know. And I can deal with that, but… Is it too much to ask to be included?”
“You want to be included?” Beatrice didn’t know what she expected Ava to ask, but she knew it wasn’t that.
“Yes.” Ava nodded. “I don’t love this, but I hate not knowing what’s going on. And sometimes, I can’t help but feel like you’re withholding some of the details from me.”
“I am,” admitted Beatrice in a whisper. Pointless, perhaps, it was clear that Ava already knew.
“Great.” Ava smiled slightly, surprising Beatrice. Then, she threw herself into the freezing pool, which was somehow more surprising and not. That was Ava, though.
Staying under the water for a moment, Beatrice watched the distorted version of Ava beneath the surface. This entire evening had an indescribable feeling of surrealness that Beatrice wasn’t sure how to explain. But she didn’t need to.
“Come in.” Ava all but commanded as she resurfaced. “The water’s fine.” The slight chatter of her teeth made this statement less than believable, but Beatrice took the plunge anyhow. For Ava.