“Oh, thank God! You’re alive!” Damien hastily removes the gag from my mouth, leaving the corners of my mouth cracked and bloody.
“You found me,” I barely choke out. My throat feels like it’s filled with needles.
“I brought five of my guys with me when I heard what happened. We got here as fast as possible.” He lifts me as if I’m as light as a feather. I notice a few armed men from Black Venom and two dead guards on the ground before my eyes fall shut against Damien’s chest.I’m home.
DAMIEN
Rocco hands me another magazine for backup anddemands I take Ava back to his villa.As much as I want to kill the fuckers that kidnapped her with my bare hands, I’m happy that I’m the one who will keep her safe. She should’ve never been in this situation to begin with.
“I can get in myself.” Ava tries to step into the back seat of the blacked-out truck wincing through her pain.
I admire her independence, but she needs my assistance. “Just let me help you, Ava.”
She rolls her eyes and lets me help lift her up to the seat. “I could’ve done it without you, but you were rushing me.” I can’t help but laugh because if I know anything about this girl, she skipped a meal and now she’s hungry.
I lift myself into the seat next to her, propping the gun between my legs. “I know you could have, sweetheart.” I don’t know what prompts me to rub her cheek with my thumb, but when I do, she closes her eyes and leans into my hand.
With her eyes still closed, she whispers, “Thank you for coming for me, Damien.” The driver starts down the stoney road and I watch as Ava’s eyes get heavy. She leans her head on my shoulder and falls asleep.
The 40-minute drive consists of me breathing in the woman I love. Her pear-scented shampoo has mostly worn off. It’s now a mix of faint pear, metal, blood and sweat.
AVALYNE
T
he doctor has just got done checking my vitals and routine testing to make sure I don’t have any extensive damage. I watch as he leaves and turn my head to the shadow at the large window.
Damien turns around and slowly saunters over to the bed. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t think the next time I’d see you in a bed would be in The Phoenix's villa.” He looks utterly defeated.
“Sit.” I pat the bed next to me.
“Listen, Ava,” he starts, but I stop him.
“Don’t, Damien. Not right now. Please.” A single tear rolls down my cheek.
He exhales. “You’re right.” He tries to lighten the mood and it brings a warm tingle to my belly. “I think you keep putting yourself in these situations so I can rescue you.”
A light giggle leaves me as I wince from my bruised rib.
Damien’s eyes move slowly over my features and I let him take me in. After what could have been 10 minutes or an hour, who knows because time flies with him, he nods his head to the door. “I’ll let you get your rest.”
He goes to get up, and before my brain catches up, my arm bolts out to grab him. Both of us jolt at the touch. “Stay. I don’t want to be alone, Damien.” My voice comes out as a whisper. Without hesitation, he kicks off his boots, takes off his jacket, and lies next to me.
“You can get under the covers if you want,” I offer, knowing he won’t accept.
“It’s better that I don’t.” With that, he pulls me against him, wrapping me in his arms. “Besides, everyone knows wearing jeans in bed is almost as bad and uncomfortable as wearing wet jeans.” I laugh and wince once more. “Okay. Easy, killer. Time to sleep.”
As I get comfy in his arms, waiting for the jolt of pain to subside from laughing, I hear him smell my hair. I should be mad. I should be outraged! He has no business sniffing me. But right now, I need rest. Moreover,I feel safe.
A few hours must have passed when I’m awoken by a slamming door. Ignoring the sound, I still feel a strong set of arms encasing me as I inhale the strong scent of my first love. The painkillers the doctor gave me must still be in full swing because I doze off again.
DAMIEN
The door slams and wakes me out of a sleep so deep Iwas dreaming. I haven’t had dreams since I was a kid, before I got caught up in this shit show of a world.
I look up to see the source of the noise and realize Bianchi is standing there watching me canoodle my girl. His girl.Ahh fuck.I hold up my finger, gesturing for him to give me a minute. Positioning Ava on the pillow, I’m able to pull my sleeping arm free of her weight.
I slip my boots on, shake my tingling arm, grab my jacket and follow him out the bedroom door.
