As I sit on this old brown splintered picnic table with Mallory, my mind drifts to the one woman who consumes my mind. How she’s looked past all of my faults and never left my side. “Damien, did you hear me?”
“I heard you, but I think it’s time you move on, Mal. There is one woman who has my heart. And to be quite honest with you, if I can’t have her, I don’t want anyone.” I’m trying to keep it real with Mallory. She may not deserve it, and hell, I probably don’t either. I’m doing it for Ava.
My life.
My love.
My one and only.
“There he is,” Mallory whispers across the table, watching Oliver walk the shoreline towards the pier. “You sure you don’t want me to do it?”
I ignore her question considering this is the man who stole my world from me. “I’ll be back,” I grunt, getting up from the bench, not forgetting to grab the silver serrated knife sitting in front of me. I watch over the wooden railing as Oliver strolls into the shadows under the pier. Now’s my chance. Hopping over, I land on my feet and watch the glow of his watch moving to make sure he wasn’t startled.
The fog is starting to set, but that’s to be expected in the hours before dawn. That will make this easy. A deep groan from Oliver echoes under the pier as I wrap up my business in the shadows. As I run to find Mallory, I see her walking towards the boardwalk, catching up to me. Complete silence. We stop and Mallory turns to face me. I feel her hand turning my head. “It had to be done. If you need anything, call me.” And we go our separate ways. I don’t feel remorse. I don’t feel sad. I feel relieved that I killed the man who set out to kill the woman I love. The one thing I’m sure of is that high tide is in one hour and his body will be carried out to sea.
AVALYNE
T
he next few days roll on without any drama. Just a few messages from Rocco confirming details about the gala.
“You look gorgeous. He bought you that dress?” Mallory picks a piece of lint off of my long coral-colored gown.
“Is it too much? Is it too tight?”
“It’s perfect,” she says in a whisper. “Ava, will you make me a promise?”
“I can try.”
She wraps a strand of her hair around her finger and twirls it before she continues. “Be careful. Please? Cosa Nostra is being watched by the 'Ndrangheta.”
I roll my eyes, completely disregarding everybody's warnings. “What the hell is that?”
Why can’t my so-called friends just let me live my dangerous new life in peace?
“It’s the oldest and most dangerous mafia in the world that only allows members who have blood ties. Their allies lie in South America.” Her voice gets softer. “They traffick drugs—” Mallory pauses “—and young females.”
“Thank you for telling me. I’ll be safe. I promise.” I kiss her cheek and step outside into the cool night air.
Mallory stands beside me in silence as the black limousine pulls up to the sidewalk.
“Have fun. I love you, Ava.”
“Love you, too.”
“Miss Ava, Mr. Bianchi will be waiting outside for you at the venue.” The kind chauffeur gives me a shy smile.
I wave goodbye to Mallory as the chauffeur closes the door and I disappear behind the dark-tinted windows.I’ll be fine.
DAMIEN
“Can you believe she said that to me? I mean have youseen her? Those glasses look hideous,” my date screeches from across the seat in the limo.
Finding a date for the gala that I hate having to attend in the first place was easy. Despite Ava still having my heart, the contact list in my phone is still full of women who would jump to date me. And if it wasn’t so obvious as to why I’m going in the first place, I wouldn’t have invited… “What’s your name again?”
This girl raises her eyebrows and rolls her eyes like she is offended. “Cecilia, handsome. But don’t worry; when I’m under you tonight, you can call me whatever you want.”
Yeah. That’s nothappening.The limo stops in front of the overpriced venue and the door opens. My date climbs out and I follow, only to spot the back of Ava with her arm linked through Rocco’s. I feel Cecilia’s arm slither into mine but think nothing of it. It’s all for show on my part.
