Rick's POV

The car's engine hummed a steady rhythm, a stark contrast to the turbulence of recent events. Avery sat in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the passing city lights. The silence between us held a weight, a reflection of the unspoken emotions lingering in the air. The orphanage, left behind in the rearview mirror, had etched a sorrowful expression on Avery's face—a silent farewell to a place that had shaped her.

I couldn't ignore the melancholy that clung to her, but I knew it was a necessary sacrifice for everyone's safety. The lead we had on the man who targeted her demanded my attention. The pieces of Maria's case were slowly falling into place, and this was a crucial juncture.

Lost in my thoughts, the sudden break in silence came as Avery's voice cut through the air. "Where are we heading?"

Glancing at her, I noted the lingering sadness in her eyes. She was grappling with the abrupt departure from the orphanage, a place that held a significant part of her past. I sighed inwardly, understanding the complexity of her emotions.

"To my apartment," I replied, my eyes back on the road.

"It's the safest place for you right now. Plus, it makes it easier for me to keep an eye on you."

Avery's initial protest hung in the air, a palpable resistance to the idea. I could sense her weariness, the exhaustion from the night's ordeal evident in the lines on her face. She withdrew her objections, perhaps recognizing the practicality of the decision.

The silence settled again, but it didn't take long before Avery's frustration surfaced.

"And what about work?" she questioned, her tone a mix of defiance and annoyance.

I anticipated this. Keeping my composure, I glanced at her briefly.

"You're not going to the bookstore for a while," I asserted, my voice firm.

Avery's reaction was as expected—indignant and fiery.

"Excuse me? You can't just dictate whether I work or not. I need to, Rick. I have plans for the orphanage, and I need the money."

Her resistance fuelled a mild irritation within me. This wasn't the time for her to assert independence, not when danger loomed around.

"Avery," I said, my tone steady, "I'll take care of the orphanage issue. You don't need to worry about it."

She scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "And how can I trust that you'll do that?"

A hint of exasperation slipped into my voice. "Because, Avery, when I say something, I make it happen. I'll ensure the property is solely for the orphanage, and no one, absolutely NO ONE, can strip it away from you. You should know better than to doubt my word."

Avery, though visibly convinced, couldn't resist a parting shot. "You know, Rick, you have this way of making it sound like you control everything in my life."

I raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her attempt at rebellion. "Sometimes control is necessary for safety."

The tension simmered beneath the surface, but Avery acquiesced, albeit with a grumble.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As we stepped out of the elevator, I reached into my pocket for the keys, unlocking the door, revealing my apartment nestled in the pulsating heart of New York City. Avery entered, her eyes sweeping across the opulent darkness of the interiors—a reflection of my reserved nature. The living room, adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, showcased the dazzling city lights in a breathtaking display. The room's minimalistic design, sleek furniture, and the faint scent of whiskey lingering in the air spoke volumes about me.

Avery wasted no time, striding straight to the window, her hand resting against the cool glass as she absorbed the mesmerizing view of the city skyline. I followed silently, standing right behind her as her eyes were fixed on the panorama. She turned, a mischievous glint in her eyes, ready to unleash her thoughts.

"You sure know how to make a statement," she remarked, a playful smile playing on her lips. "This place screams 'I'm too cool for colours.'"

"Well, colours are overrated. I prefer the sophistication of grayscale."

She chuckled, a sound that echoed through the room. "Sophistication or just an excuse for a lack of imagination?"

"Imagination is overrated too. Practicality, my dear, that's the key."

Avery opened her mouth, ready to counter, but our banter was abruptly interrupted by the uninvited entrance of Bryce. For once, I was content, forgetting to lock the door, and Bryce's intrusion couldn't have been more timely. I shot Avery a sly look as Bryce strolled in as if he owned the place.

"Sophia's doing fine," Bryce announced his usual arrogance on full display. "Doctor says she just needs some beauty sleep. She'll be out tomorrow."

Avery, genuinely concerned, asked about the hospital, throwing Bryce off guard. He hadn't expected her presence in my apartment, and well, neither did I. Bryce's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, a subtle acknowledgement that his assumptions about our relationship were crumbling.

He smirked at me, ready to fire off questions and mischievous remarks.

"Safety first, my man," I said, intercepting Bryce's impending inquiry. "Avery stays here for a while. It's the safest place for her."

Bryce, not one to pass up an opportunity, turned his attention back to me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Casually bringing work home, Rick? Didn't think you had it in you."

I rolled my eyes at his remark, deciding to put an end to his theatrics. "Avery, meet Bryce, my perpetually annoying buddy and overly curious colleague. Bryce, this is Avery. Well, you probably know enough about her already, considering we're working together on Maria's case and have run our own background check on her."

Avery shot me a glare, arms crossed in mock indignation. Bryce grinned mischievously, turning his attention to Avery.

"Oh, I've heard all about her. The fiery one who can get under Rick's skin. I finally have a partner in crime to piss Rick off."

Avery couldn't help but burst into laughter, openly enjoying the unexpected turn of events. I shot her a look, and she promptly composed herself.

"Why are you here, Bryce?" I inquired, my tone laced with scepticism.

Bryce, putting on a hurt expression, placed a hand over his heart.

"Oh, Rick, my dear friend, is that how you greet a friend who's concerned about you?"

Avery chimed in before I could respond, "Well, I already like him so much. The concern is touching."

Bryce grinned proudly at me, revelling in Avery's approval. "See, Rick, someone appreciates my genuine concern."

Deciding not to indulge in Bryce's theatrics, I turned my attention back to him. "Fine, why are you here? And why now?"

Bryce sighed dramatically as if he'd been wounded by my cruel questioning. "I just thought, you know, the hospital is nearby, so I'd crash here for a night, and since Avery's here, it's the perfect time for a late-night gossip session. You know, spill all the secrets about you."

I shot him an irritated look. "Gossip session? This isn't a slumber party. And my secrets are none of your business."

Avery, finding the situation amusing, interjected, "Well, I'm up for some gossip. Let's spill the tea."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Do whatever you want, but don't forget to lock the door. And, Bryce, clean the guest room upstairs for Avery to stay. I'm tired and heading to bed."

Bryce immediately frowned and complained, "Why should I clean? This is your apartment. You're the host here."

Ignoring his protests, I walked through the hallway to my bedroom on the right side of the living area, leaving Bryce to deal with the guest room and whatever late-night antics Avery had in mind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(the next morning)

I emerged from my room, dressed in a dark grey t-shirt neatly tucked into black pants, secured with a sleek black belt. A silver watch adorned my wrist, and I held a glass hooked onto my shirt while engaged in a conversation with Fred.

His voice came through the phone, "Yeah, he just got conscious. We put him in the interrogation room. Waiting for you to come now."

As I stepped into the living room, the tantalizing aroma of cinnamon roll enveloped the air. Beyond the living room, in the kitchen, Avery was diligently cleaning up after preparing breakfast.

A quick glance revealed Bryce sprawled out on the couch, his dishevelled hair forming a comical halo around his head. One arm dangled over the edge, clutching a throw pillow as if it were a cherished possession. It seemed that even the energetic Bryce needed his beauty sleep, or at least, his version of it. I continued my conversation with Fred, strolling closer to the kitchen.

The sight that greeted me was a plateful of freshly made cinnamon roll and a glass of orange juice on the kitchen countertop. Avery stood there, a proud grin on her face, holding the plate towards me. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued and slightly suspicious.

Saying my goodbyes to Fred, I placed my phone down and turned my attention to Avery.

"How can I be sure that you're not trying to poison me?"

Avery let out an annoyed sound and attempted to pull the plate back, but I intervened, gently holding onto her hand to prevent her from taking it away.

I took a cautious bite of the cinnamon roll, and the explosion of flavours caught me off guard. It was an exquisite dance on my taste buds. I couldn't help but be impressed, taking another bite, and savouring the delicious blend. Avery stood there, eyes fixed on me, awaiting my verdict on her culinary creation.

After a moment of silent appreciation, I cleared my throat, offering a rare smile, one that even surprised me.

Avery seemed momentarily taken aback, and before she could gather herself, she commented, "Wow, the great Rick Conrad does know how to smile. Guess my food really worth it."

"Well, sometimes a smile is just a way to avoid hurting someone's feelings, even if the food is awful."

Avery, not one to back down, made a swift attempt to grab the roll from my hand. However, I moved away with agility, finishing the delightful bite. I continued sipping on the orange juice, maintaining intense eye contact with Avery, a challenge she struggled to keep up with.

Bryce, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, wandered into the kitchen, enticed by the aroma of cinnamon rolls. His attempt to snag a piece was promptly thwarted by Avery, who flicked his hand away and ordered him to go brush first. I half-smiled at the morning chaos.

As I finished my breakfast, I directed Bryce to get ready. We had business at the office — an interrogation with the guy we'd caught at the orphanage yesterday.

Avery, busy munching on her breakfast, seemed to have other plans for the day.

"Hey, you guys better take me with you. I have nothing to do here all alone," she declared, her mouth half full.

I raised an eyebrow, already prepared for the argument.

"Avery, we're going to interrogate the guy we caught last night. It's not something you want to be a part of."

Avery wasn't one to back down easily.

"Come on, Rick. I can handle it. I'm not as delicate as you think."

I shot her a cold and intimidating look. "Trust me, Avery, you don't want to witness how we do things in there."

She leaned forward, undeterred. "Well, I won't know until I see it, will I?"

My patience wore thin, and I looked at Bryce for assistance, but he conveniently excused himself, leaving us to argue. With a sigh, I finally gave in.

"Fine, you can come. But stay out of the way and don't interfere."

Avery's triumphant grin didn't go unnoticed. "Great! Thanks, Rick. I knew you'd see it my way."

I narrowed my eyes at her, adding a stern warning, "I'm only letting you come with us because I planned to stop by the hospital to take care of Sophia's discharge procedure, and you can also visit her. So, you better behave and not create any chaos."

Avery's grin faltered a bit, and she nodded in agreement, realizing that there were conditions attached to her newfound permission to accompany us.

As we waited for Bryce to finish freshening up, Avery continued with her breakfast. It was then that I noticed a scar on her left eyebrow.

Intrigued, I questioned her, "What happened there?"

Avery, with a mouthful of cinnamon roll, glanced at me.

"Oh, this? When I was a kid, I ran towards the TV to point out Patrick Star in the SpongeBob cartoon to Maria. I was wearing oversized scuff slippers, tripped, and hit my head on the corner of the TV soundbar."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter, the image of a young Avery in scuff slippers tripping over her own excitement too amusing to ignore. She shot me a glare, unamused by my reaction. Still chuckling, I tapped on the kitchen countertop, mocking her playful mishap.

"Tripping over a scuff slipper and hitting your head on the TV soundbar? Classic."

Avery's glare deepened, but there was a hint of a smile. Just as I was catching my breath from the laughter, Bryce strolled into the kitchen, his eyes widening in surprise at the unusual scene of me laughing out loud.

"Well, well, if it isn't Rick 'Stone Face' Conrad having a good laugh. What's the occasion? Did the universe tilt a bit today?"

Avery, still amused by the situation, chimed in, "Finally, someone's proving that they are also a human by laughing like a normal homosapien." The mischievous glint in her eyes only fuelled Bryce's amusement.

I immediately ceased my laughter, realizing the gravity of the situation. Their shared laughter echoed through the kitchen as they exchanged a high-five as if they had just won a battle.

I shot them both a cold glare, attempting to regain control of the situation.

"Enough of this nonsense. We've got work to do."

But my authoritative tone only seemed to amuse them further.

Bryce, wiping away a mock tear, teased, "Note this day on the calendar, folks. The day Rick Conrad laughed. It's practically a national holiday!"

Avery joined in, "I'm thinking of making commemorative T-shirts. 'I survived Rick's laughter epidemic.'"

They burst into laughter again, revelling in the absurdity of the moment. I sighed and walked away with my car key in hand.

"I think I have to leave you two here and get on with my work."

Immediately, both of them stopped laughing and followed me. Bryce grabbed a cinnamon roll in his hand and left the apartment after Avery, locking the door while I was already in the elevator.

Just as I managed to close it, Avery stopped it and gave a victory shout, holding the door open for Bryce. The morning had turned into a comedy of errors, and I wondered what other surprises awaited us at the office.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I entered the hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic hitting me as my eyes landed on Sophia lying in the bed. Avery was seated beside her, and Bryce, true to his nature, was munching on some chips, lounging on the couch to the left.

Sophia's eyes lit up the moment she saw me and a warm smile played on her lips. "Thank you, Rick," she expressed aloud, appreciating the effort in handling the bills and ensuring everyone's safety.

I nodded in acknowledgement, my focus shifting to Avery, who offered a subtle smile in return, as she mouthed a silent thank you.

"Alright, Bryce, time to play the responsible escort," I announced, directing my next words to him.

"Sophia, you're good to go. Bryce will make sure you get back to the orphanage safely. Before leaving, I just wanna ask, do you know anyone named Sergei?"

Sophia furrowed her brow, puzzled. "No, Rick, I don't know anyone by that name. Why do you ask?"

Her eyes held a questioning gaze.

I evaded her curiosity with a calm demeanour.

"Ah, nothing to worry about. Just asking. Take care of yourself, Sophia. As for the orphanage, I promise you won't lose the property. I will take care of the issue. Avery's stepping out for a while, but I've got things under control. Don't worry about her, and just focus on your health and the kids."

Before we could make our exit, Sophia surprised me with a hug, expressing gratitude. "I'm so glad that you're here for all of us. If Maria were here, she would be proud that Avery has found a protective man like you to be her boyfriend."

Caught off guard, I exchanged a bewildered glance with Avery. Bryce seized the opportunity to inject humour, bursting into laughter. He quickly silenced himself under my cold glare, a challenge in my eyes.

Sophia, still smiling, attempted to clarify, "Oh, my apologies if I assumed incorrectly."

Maintaining my stoic demeanour, I spoke up, "I think you've got us wrong. We're not together..."

"Yet", Bryce, always ready to provoke, interjected with a mischievous grin.

In response, I swiftly put him in a headlock, a warning not to push too far. Sophia laughed, and even Avery, who had remained quiet, joined in.

She asserted, "Rick and I are simply friends. He's just helping me out." The emphasis on the word 'friends' was evident in her tone.

After a final exchange of glances with Sophia and Bryce, the latter winking mischievously, I walked out of the hospital with Avery. The weight of the situation lingered in the air as we stepped back into the world outside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hahaha... I had a blast writing this chapter—it's definitely one of my favourites. What do you think of the trio?

CAN'T WAIT TO PUBLISH THE NEW CHAPTERS NEXT WEEK! The story is really heating up, and we're in for a lot of intense Rick and Avery moments, especially now that Avery is staying with Rick. WOOHOO! Guys, I'd love to hear your suggestions for ship names for Rick and Avery. Let's see how creative you can get!

A huge thank you to _hazy_lazy_for being such a sweetheart and leaving genuine feedback on every chapter of my story. You're one of the finest friends I've made on this platform, and I'm so grateful we connected through R4R. Guys, be sure to check out her story, "Code of Betrayal." The irony is, while our stories are set in the same world, they follow different plots and characters. I've thoroughly enjoyed her story and found a strong resemblance between Bryce, Rick, and two of her main characters. It feels like we share the same brain cells. I'm confident you'll love her story as much as I do!

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