In that fleeting moment, his only thought was relief.Relief that it was him, not Ava, who had been taken.
And then, there was nothing but blackness.
Chapter 20
Avaheardsomethingoutsideher bedroom window, a faint rustling that made her pulse quicken in alarm.She peeked through her curtains, her heart racing.The night was silent, save for the soft hum of distant traffic and the occasional rustling of leaves in the cool breeze.She couldn’t see anyone—no shadowy figures creeping around her yard, no silhouettes with crowbars or guns.Everything appeared calm.Almost too calm.
Her eyes drifted down the street, landing on the guards standing at the end of her driveway.They were Luca’s men.She recognized them from his office, and from the various events around the city over the past year.They were vigilant, scanning the surroundings with an intensity that seemed almost predatory.
But despite their presence, an uneasy feeling continued to gnaw at her, like something was out of place.The air felt tighter, the atmosphere thicker than usual.She couldn’t pinpoint it, but her gut knew something wasn’t right.She could sense it deep in her bones.
Ava frowned, pulling the curtain back just a little more to scan the shadows across her yard.Nothing.No movement.No sign of a threat.It was as if the air itself had become charged, heavy with unspoken tension.Maybe it was just her mood—her nerves were shot, her mind clouded with uncertainty.Ever since she had left Luca’s penthouse, things had felt...off.
She let out a shaky breath, stepping away from the window.“Get it together, Ava,” she muttered to herself.She needed to relax, to let go of the anxiety clawing at her chest.She hadn’t been sleeping well, and it was catching up with her.A lack of sleep left her emotions more fragile, her thoughts more prone to spiraling.She couldn’t let this feeling of unease consume her.
Turning toward her bed, she pulled the covers back, then froze mid-motion.Her thoughts returned to Luca.Had she made a mistake going to him for help when all of this started?A part of her whispered that she should have handled things herself, but....
A soft smile tugged at her lips as she thought of him and those warm thoughts banished the bad ones from earlier tonight.Suddenly, instead of his coldness, Ava remembered the way he’d held her.The way his touch made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered.Her abrupt mental shift didn’t make sense.And yet, the intimacy they’d shared had been everything she’d hoped for.And yet...she’d left instead of standing and fighting for something that could have been wonderful.She couldn’t even fully comprehend why she’d walked away from him, except for her hurt that he wouldn’t share his past with her.
Had she been wrong?Should she have stayed and demanded an answer?
Ava shook her head, muttering, “This is ridiculous.”Abandoning the bed, she turned back to the window, hoping to shake off the lingering unease.But as she let the curtain fall back into place, something caught her eye.
Movement.
Her breath hitched as she squinted into the dark.At first, she thought it was a trick of the light, but then her heart dropped.There, in the shadows at the edge of her yard, was a figure.It wasn’t just anyone, either.The man was big—huge, in fact.A shadowy figure being carried by two others.
Luca-sized big.The thought hit her like a jolt of electricity.
Her pulse spiked.Was that...?No, it couldn’t be.
She squinted, but the figures quickly melted into the shadows, swallowed by the darkness that seemed to stretch and grow, as if the world itself were conspiring against her peace of mind.Her stomach churned, a wave of dread washing over her.She didn’t know what was going on, but she felt it in her bones: something was wrong.
With shaky hands, she grabbed her phone, about to dial Luca, but then hesitated.What was she going to say?Hey, I think something bad is happening outside my house?
No.She needed to be calm, logical.She needed to know what was happening before reacting.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, but she couldn’t let the fear consume her.She had to think clearly.Taking a steadying breath, she patted the puppies, both of whom were awake and alert, then grabbed her coat and slipped it on quickly as she moved toward the door.
A moment later, the dogs wandered over, their heads tilted as they sniffed the air curiously.As she made her way toward the door, the puppies whimpered slightly, as if they, too, sensed something was wrong.Without thinking, she scooped them up into her arms, the weight of their bodies a small comfort.
“Shh,” she soothed, her voice barely above a whisper.“We’ll figure this out.”
But deep down, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that she was running out of time.
Ava’s heart slammed against her ribs as the reality of what she had seen sank in.Luca!He was being dragged away.No, this isn’t happening.This can’t be real.
Her gaze darted wildly around her yard, but the silence pressed in.Where were the guards?The ones who had been stationed outside, vigilant, watching every corner of her home?Now, there was nothing but empty space.No movement.No protection.
“No!”she cried, her voice cracking as panic set in.She sprinted to the entryway, her hands shaking with adrenaline as she fumbled for her car keys.She didn’t know what to do next, but she couldn’t just stand here.Not when Luca was being taken.
She saw the vehicle—black, nondescript, speeding away—and without thinking, Ava bolted for her car, her heart thundering in her ears.She slammed the keys into the ignition, and peeled out of the driveway.A part of her mind saw several men come out of the shadows, trying to flag her down, but Ava didn’t hesitate.If they were the guards, they’d failed to keep Luca from being taken!They were useless and she wasn’t going to slow down when her man was in danger!
The adrenaline surged as her foot pressed the gas pedal, but she forced herself to stay calm enough to turn off her headlights.No sense in making it easier for them to spot me.
The streetlights blurred by as she sped through the streets, weaving between lanes.The reality of the situation gripped her tightly.Who could she call?The police?They wouldn’t care about Luca.He was a criminal.And with the way everything had been unfolding, what could they even do, really?
No, she should contact Luca’s head of security.Who was it?His name escaped her at the moment, but it didn’t matter.Maybe there was a receptionist?Ava bit her lip as she swerved around a corner, considering her options.What should she do—call the office?Try to get through to someone who might know something?No.She didn’t even know anyone in his chain of command.
