"Together," she agrees.
That night, despite having her own room, Ava ends up in mine. We're lying in the dark, her body curved against mine, when she speaks.
"Mason, what if they never find the Collector? What if I'm looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?"
"Then I'll be right there beside you, watching your back." My arms tighten around her. "However long it takes, whatever it costs, you're not facing this alone."
"That's a big commitment."
"Good thing I'm committed." I press a kiss to her shoulder. "Besides, someone's got to keep you out of trouble."
"I don't get into trouble. Trouble finds me."
"Same difference." I roll us so I'm above her, needing to see her face. "I love you, Ava Langley. Danger, trouble, and all."
"I love you too." Her hands frame my face. "Now stop talking and show me."
I do, spending the rest of the night proving exactly how much she means to me. And if I'm a little rougher than usual, a little more desperate, she doesn't complain. Just meets me stroke for stroke, taking everything I give and demanding more.
By the time we're done, we're both exhausted and satisfied, the fear temporarily forgotten in the aftermath of pleasure.
"We're going to be okay," she murmurs against my chest as we drift off. "Aren't we?"
"Yeah, sweetheart. We're going to be okay."
I just hope I'm not lying.
Because somewhere out there, the Collector's watching. Waiting. Planning their next move.
And I've got no idea how to stop a ghost.
But I'll die trying if that's what it takes to keep Ava safe.
That's a promise.
Chapter 14
Ava
Two days after Castellano's death, I wake to the sound of raised voices downstairs. Mason's side of the bed is empty, sheets already cool, which means he's been gone for a while. I check my phone and find it's barely six AM.
Whatever's happening, it's urgent enough to pull him out of bed before dawn.
I dress quickly in jeans and one of Mason's shirts that I've claimed as my own, then head downstairs where I find half the club gathered in the common room. The tension's so thick I can taste it, brothers standing in tight clusters with weapons visible in a way they usually aren't around the compound.
Mason spots me immediately, his expression shifting from hard to concerned in a heartbeat. He crosses the room, intercepting me before I can get close enough to hear what's being discussed.
"What's going on?" I ask, keeping my voice low.
"We've got a problem. Someone tried to breach the perimeter last night. Zip caught them on the cameras, and when Sterling went to investigate, they'd already disappeared." His jaw's tight, muscles coiled with tension. "They were professionals, they knew how to avoid most of our security."
My stomach drops. "The Collector's people?"
"That's the assumption. FBI's on their way, but Vulture’s calling an emergency lockdown. No one in or out except patched members, and even then only with explicit authorization." He guides me toward the kitchen, away from the crowd. "You're staying inside. No exceptions."
"Mason, I can't just hide every time there's a threat."
"This isn't every time. This is someone actively trying to get to you." His hands frame my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Please, Ava, just for today let us handle security while the FBI investigates."
