“Assassinations?”
“It took the entire underground by storm when it first happened,” I responded. “Some pretty powerful politicians, judges, and police officials had all gotten irreversibly woven into a nasty sex trafficking ring. The investigators had insurmountable evidence; these people were going down for decades. Some of them, the rest of their lives. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it unless the few key witnesses who tied the whole thing together suddenly disappeared. To ensure that they didn’t, the detectives overseeing the case literally moved the witnesses into a single home and secured it with the military. No one could go in or out except for the detectives approved on the case… but they made an exception for the governor of New York City.”
Avion shook her head, confused. “My dad was in on it?”
“No. His Lieutenant Governor went to deliver a message on his behalf. To ensure the victims that they would remain safe leading up until and even after the trial. How shocked he was when he entered the room and found that all of the witnesses had been slaughtered in one fell swoop. All of the security guards were held responsible for the murders, because it was the only way they all could have died. The running theory is that they accepted payment to do it and split the cut and all promised not to say anything, but the fact that they all claimed innocence made no difference. The fact that no one was allowed in or out was enough for the feds to lock them up and throw away the key.”
“And the trafficking ring?”
“They all walked pending a collection of new evidence. The judge was mysteriously reluctant to allowanyevidence from the first trial because the witnesses were killed conveniently after voir dire had already happened. No one knows the exact number, but the rumor on the street is that each member of the ring paid half a million dollars into a pool to pay your brothers for the murders.”
“How many people?”
I took a deep breath before looking into her eyes and saying, “About a hundred and fifty.”
Avion took a choked breath as tears started to fall down her face. “I can’t believe it.”
“When your brothers threatened me at the hospital, the reason it freaked me out is because Iknowhow capable they are of following through on that threat. Those men will kill me, they’ll kill you, they’ll kill anyone we’ve ever loved.”
A look of recognition flashed across Avion’s face and she stared at me with horror. “Lorie.”
“I was hoping getting to know her would have gone better. I’ve got a couple of men keeping an eye on her house and job. I may or may not have also sent an anonymous threat to her father to heighten his senses to it as well. I don’t think they’d be dumb enough to hurt her. They don’t really have a reason to do it, and killing the daughter of the police chief wouldn’t garner anything positive for them, but could have eyes prying until they’re figured out. Still, I’m looking out for her. Don’t worry.”
Sniffling in her emotions, Avion set her head against my shoulder.
“Thank you,” she whimpered.
I considered saying something right then and there. That this world I’d dragged her into was dangerous and that if she wanted out, I wouldn’t blame her. That scene I’d created in my head was a little different now, but at least if I could still get the words out and hear a confirmation from Avion’s mouth that she wanted to stay, then that’d be enough, but after what I’d told her, my fears were just as significant. Who wouldn’t leave after hearing that their brothers were actually murderers. If she believed leaving me could save herself, or even her best friend, she’d choose that over staying.
Right?
“Of course,” I said instead. “I know it’s scary, but I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Lifting her head, Avion looked up at me. Her green eyes, though still sparkling with her tears, were filled with thanks. I could tell that she believed the words I said, and she should have. I’d never let anything hurt her.
One of her hands floated up and rested gently on the side of my neck. Though I knew the risks involved, when she craned her head up towards me, I immediately dropped to meet her. Our lips touched and all the electricity that seemed to generate between us from even the smallest touches, went into overload. I couldn’t keep my hands from wrapping around her sides, not squeezing, but holding her gently. There was a small voicewayin the back of my mind telling me to fight through it and resist Avion for both of our benefit, but a much larger voice was beating that one with a golf club. It was magnifying Avion’s ragged breaths, and the feeling of her other hand combing into my hair and squeezing--the way she was snaking against me and telling me without telling me that sheneededme right now.
And who was I to deny a woman in need?
She leaned backwards, falling flat against the bench and I moved with her resting on top of her until I was afraid that the pressure would hurt her wound. Lifting myself just enough, I slotted my hand into the bend of Avion’s back and lifted her from the bench, keeping her just aloft enough to protect the stitched spot on her waist.
“Okay,” I said, “but if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it at my pace.”
The flare of excitement and victory in Avion’s eyes was enough to make giving it worth it as she smiled at me and uttered, “Yes, sir.”
39
AVION
Scooping me up with his arms under my legs and shoulders, Gio lifted me from the bench we were sitting on. At first, I thought he was going to carry me back towards the elevator, but instead, he walked further into the greenhouse. Giant, curved shelves formed a swirl pattern, and the way they were covered in all sorts of flowers and greenery made it seem like we were walking through a beautiful, ethereal forest. The sun cast a filtered light through the dome above and the multitude of fragrances made me feel like I was in a dreamscape.
Well, those and the gorgeous man currently carrying me through.
At the very center of the swirl was a flat, modern-style bed, clearly made for looking up at the sky through the dome. Gio started to guide me down onto it, but hesitated and instead turned and sat down on the edge of the bed. I followed his flow and pulled my legs free of his hold so that I could straddle his lap. His hands drifted carefully down my back and up the base of my shirt, stopping, exactly as they had last time, when they got to where my wound was. I didn’t have bandages there now, having been given an instruction by the live-in doctor to let the wound air, but it didn’t matter. His fingers still hovered over the spot as if touching it at all would deactivate me.
To prove that I’d be okay, I pushed myself backwards against his hand. We both winced, him because he wasn’t expecting the sudden movement, and me because a twinge of pain ran away from the spot as he touched it.
“Did that hurt?” he asked.
