“Because you know more than you think, and it was clear you were the one most in danger.” He watches me as I place my fork on my plate and push it from in front of me.
“He won’t come, not for me, or my family.” Despite knowing this since he left, it still makes my throat tighten at the thought. He put his greed ahead of his family’s safety. My father is the worst kind of man.
“A lot of people want to find your father, Ava. Not just Bratva, or even FBI. None of them are good, all of them were coming for you. I believe I’m the only one who can keep you safe.”
I clear my throat, try to push words through it, but they come out broken and brittle. "You can't save me. You've become the reason I need saving."
"I know." He reaches across the table and takes my hand. "But I'm going to try anyway."
Renat
I watch Ava eat like she's starving, and something primal twists in my chest. Mine. This fragile, beautiful thing is mine to feed, to protect, to keep.
She's wearing simple clothes, jeans and a black t-shirt that's slightly too big for her frame. Her dark hair is damp from the shower, falling in waves past her shoulders. Without makeup, without the fear-mask she wore earlier, she looks softer.
"You're staring," she says without looking up from where my hand covers hers.
"I'm appreciating."
That gets her to glance at me, and I see color flood her cheeks. Good. I want her aware of me, conscious of every moment between us.
"How long do I have?" she asks quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Before you use me as bait." She nudges her hand out from under mine and twists hers together before dropping them on her lap. "That’s why you took me, so what’s the plan?"
Smart girl. Too smart for her own good.
"Tomorrow, I need to take you to my brother," I confirm. "Adrik wants to discuss strategy for drawing out your father."
She flinches at the mention of him. "Will you let me talk to my mom first? She must be terrified. The FBI probably told her I was taken."
Everything in me wants to say no. Every contact with the outside world is a risk, a potential leak. But the look in her eyes, hopeful and desperate and trying so hard to be brave, breaks through my tactical training.
"Yes. But on a secure line. And I'll be listening."
"Thank you." The relief in her voice is palpable.
We finish eating in silence. I should be planning. Should be thinking about how to use Ava to flush out her coward father. Should be preparing for Adrik's inevitable questions about why I'm keeping her here instead of in a secure facility.
Instead, I'm thinking about how her lips felt under mine. How she kissed me back even though she's scared. How she said I’m not a monster even when we both know the truth.
"What happens after?" she asks suddenly.
"After what?"
"After you catch my father. After you..." She can't say the word kill. "After it's over. What happens to me?"
I stand and move around the table, pulling her to her feet. She comes willingly, her small hands reflexively resting on my chest.
"I told you. You're mine. That doesn't have an expiration date."
"But I don't understand what that means." Her voice rises slightly. "Am I a prisoner? A pet? A—"
I silence her with a kiss, softer than before but no less claiming. When I pull back, I keep my forehead pressed to hers.
"You're mine, Ava. Not a prisoner. Not a pet. Mine. As in, you live here. You finish your schooling. You become whatever youwant to become. But you sleep in my bed. You wear my marks. You take my name and carry my—"
