The Traps of Black Swan

Aaron was thinking about the video Nico mentioned. Hearing him say he recovered the deleted video, he understood Aarvi's team had erased it but it wasn't sufficient. The military keeps the backups of their data regularly for security purposes hence her video reached the hands of Nico.

Now he has to find a way to get rid of it as it can be used to blacken Aarvi's image when she reveals her identity to the world. 

Thinking of a way, his hand reached his mobile when Nico kept a Pendrive on the table, "This is the last copy available." Nico had fetched it. When he identified Leon's men as the ones who were chasing after Ava, he erased the footage from the storage. 

Probably that was what he could do for 'Ava Kelly' as neither Aaron nor Aarvi would take his help. He was certain about it.

Aarvi eyes glued on the Pendrive as the past flashed in her mind as though it happened just yesterday. Everything felt raw causing her to clench her teeth. 

Niko had watched the video, she couldn't erase his memory but she didn't want anybody else to watch her pathetic state. Not even Aaron or Zain.

She felt her heart clench, a jab of pain caused her brows to tremble when Aaron's hand reached for the Pendrive. She wanted to snatch it away but found herself frozen and no words left her lips.

Just when she thought he would keep the Pendrive with himself and watch the footage later, Aaron dropped the Pendrive in the hot coffee cup without any hesitation.

She looked at Aaron with a hint of surprise. The pain dulled and she unknowingly breathed a relief. As far as she could think, Aaron did want to know what happened to her to end up in that state. So she was curious why he destroyed it.

Aaron glanced at her, feeling her gaze on him. He wanted to know her past from her to relieve her pain. If he watches the video, it won't relieve her pain but make her uncomfortable.

He would have watched that video if he had got that video when she was comatose, just so that he could destroy the ones who were behind her state.

His face softened looking at her curious kitten eyes. He rose from the chair to get another cup of coffee, "I will get a fresh one." He caressed her hair as he passed by her.

For no particular reason, Aarvi had the strong urge to follow Aaron even though the coffee maker was just at the corner. She didn't know why Aaron didn't watch it but was glad he left it behind. She didn't know that even when her back had stiffened, she relaxed her posture.

She composed before looking at Nico who again asked, "Why didn't you call me?" He wasn't on any mission but working at his office collecting some information. 

He was just a call away from her, forget about the call, he would have reached her for her single message. Ava Kelly had created a soft corner in him that he was certain he would have dropped his work to look for her.

Aarvi watched him in silence. She had the choice to ignore him. She wasn't obliged to feed Nico's worry and curiosity. But being oblivious won't end their acquaintance there. Nico would dig her past else he won't be able to rest. She didn't want to drag this for long. The faster she leaves her past, she would be able to live freely with Aaron.

Upon all that, Rivas and Burton had a good relationship. If she were to marry Aaron, she would crack a break that won't let Aaron treat Burton well.

Despite hearing Nico had erased the main copy, Aaron messaged a person to wipe out the data during a specific day and time. He didn't want to take a chance, he won't trust so easily.

Aarvi waited till Aaron returned to the table with just a cup so that her caffeine stays in control. "I didn't have your number." They always contacted each other through Vance Hays's phone. 

She responded before getting the cup from Aaron. She took a sip of freshly brewed coffee which had an equal proportion of coffee decoction, cream, and milk.

"I-..." Nico didn't continue. After Vance Hays and Ava Kelly got engaged, he had asked Vance to send her a number so that he could send her the gift. Now thinking back, 'Was that another number of Vance Hays?'

The question was at the tip of his tongue but he bit back. He felt foolish for having his trust in Vance Hays. When did he even change? Anyway, it wasn't time to think of Vance Hays. 

"How did you escape from Leon Harmon? How did you get there? Why were they behind you? Why…" He paused when he noticed the two pause their action to look at him. 

He couldn't understand why he was losing his composure repeatedly while the couple in front of him had deadly calmness. He took a deep breath and became silent.

Aarvi glanced at Aaron before she decided to tell how she ended up at Nico's military base which was out of the city.

She briefed how she escaped Leon and cops in the police station without telling the details before continuing the next part for Aaron.

--- Past ---

After hurting the four officers, Aarvi was afraid the chief might ask others to catch her. She limped out of the office room, sniffling hard, rubbing her bruised and tear-stained face.

How many times she tried to stop her tears, they just flew without her control. She had piercing pain from every part of her body, especially her head and her arm.

The reds and blue bruises and blood-stained wounds were multiplied on her body. They were more obvious on her pale skin so even if she tried to lower the attention, she was garnering too many eyes on her. 

The spectators were muttering something while looking at her. But none gave her a helping hand. Probably Ava would have been frightened more if anybody had tried to get near her. So she quickly limped out ignoring the gazes on her.

After exiting the police station, Ava Kelly noticed the men who were in black chasing after her, were still at the gates. She didn't want to get in their hands. So it left her in jeopardy again.

Inside the police station or outside, she wasn't safe. Ava Kelly knew her suffering wasn't going to end so easily.

While thinking of how to escape, she remembered many and decided to call her grandfather as she knew Zain wasn't in the country. Probably she should have just called Zain. He would have found a way to keep her safe.

'Mobile?' She was holding it while running inside the police station. She recalled she had kept her mobile on the table of the captain when she was drinking water.

Turning behind, her body quivered uncontrollably, tears rolled down. She hugged herself, recalling everything again. 

'Will I return safely if I step inside?' 

That was the toughest question in her mind. For her, every cop in there was immoral and wouldn't mind stripping her n.a.k.e.d even if it's a woman.

Did she have a choice to escape without calling for help?

No. She again stepped her feet back to the hellfire.