Echoes of the Past

Chapter 24

James' Pov

The flight was long and exhausting, every minute dragging like hours. My head pounded with questions that wouldn't stop. Why would someone abduct Ava? Who would have any interest in doing that? As soon as the plane touched down, I grabbed a taxi and told the driver to take me straight to the police station. I barely noticed the scenery flashing by; all I could think about was seeing Ava again. My Ava.

When I finally rushed into the police station in Nassau, my heart was hammering so hard I thought it might burst. I scanned the room frantically until I saw her—a thin, worn figure standing in a small room off to the side. It was her. Ava. She was alive. Relief and disbelief surged through me like a flood, and before I knew it, I was running toward her, tears blurring my vision.

"Ava..." I gasped, pulling her into my arms with a force I didn't know I had. I held her as if letting go would mean losing her again. "Oh my God, Ava. You're alive. I thought I'd lost you forever."

She clung to me, her body trembling against mine, her tears soaking my shirt. "James... I'm so sorry," she choked out, her voice raw and broken. "I never wanted to leave you and the boys. I thought I'd never see you again."

I kissed her, desperate to feel her warmth, her breath, her presence. To know this was real, that she was back with me. Her lips were familiar yet fragile, like she could shatter at any moment. For a brief, fleeting second, the rest of the world disappeared. It was just us—Ava and me—together again, as it should be.

But then something shifted in the corner of my eye. I turned, my heart pounding, and there was Cole—standing there with a baby in his arms. A baby.

I looked at Ava, then back at Cole, confusion and anger mixing like poison in my veins. "Whose baby is that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, though the rage was already bubbling beneath the surface.

Ava took a deep breath, her eyes wide, filled with guilt. "James... this is Erica. She's mine... and Cole's."

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. My world stopped. "Yours? And Cole's?" I repeated, my voice breaking as disbelief gave way to a fury that made my whole body shake.

Cole, silent until now, gently placed the baby in the carry cot on the floor. Something about that calm, deliberate movement ignited a fire in me.

"You son of a bitch!" I roared, lunging at him.

My fist connected with his jaw, and the impact reverberated up my arm. Cole stumbled back but quickly regained his footing. Without hesitation, he swung back, catching me square in the ribs. The force knocked the wind out of me, but it only fueled my rage.

We were locked in a vicious struggle, punches flying between us. "You took everything from me!" I shouted, swinging wildly. "My wife, my life—you bastard!"

"You weren't there for her!" Cole snapped, landing another hit. "I was! I saved her!"

"Saved her?" I spat, blood dripping from my lip. "You used her! You wanted this from the start!"

Cole shoved me back, his face dark with anger. "You don't know a damn thing about what happened!"

Before I could throw another punch, strong hands grabbed me, pulling me away from him. Two officers stepped in, restraining us both as we struggled to get at each other.

"You stole her!" I screamed, my voice raw, my body shaking with fury. "You stole my life!"

Ava rushed between us, her face pale, her eyes pleading. "James, stop! Please!" she cried. "This isn't helping!"