She cackles and her eyes narrow on me. “Don’t be so naive, Damien. This was supposed to be my empire all along.” Her eyes swirl around the room like she’s proud of killing my mother. “There is only one thing … person standing in my way. But I want to get as much out of you as possible before I kill you like you killed my son.” Her lips are tight and her gaze deadly.
“So, you’re going to kill me.” I laugh despite my throat being as dry as charcoal. “At least you brought me home to do it.”
Lianne’s face fills with a cocky smile as she brings her hand to my cheek. “You never even made it off the plane from Italy before you were slurring for your little slut girlfriend.”
My body tenses at her mention of Ava.
“The pilot got away, that little rat. It won’t be much longer until she will be lying next to you, unconscious … IV in her arm, ready for me to take her life along with yours.” Where did this all go wrong? “I’ve manipulated most of Black Venom into telling me your secrets, Scorpion. They were so quick to give up the info when the threats to their families came to fruition.”
“You what?”
“Ahh, there it is. I was wondering if you cared about your people at all. Well, my people now. I take the reins! I have the money! I have the power!”
She was always a kind and happy woman. She was almost like a real mother to me since mine was so consumed with Black Venom.
“You won’t get away with this!”
“I already have, little boy. Now sleep because next time you wake up, your hoe will be lying next to you being drained of her blood nice and slowly.”
Before I can say anything, before I can rip that IV out of my arm,darkness.
AVALYNE
Rocco has taken me to a beautiful lunch on the coastof Amalfi. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d make it to this level of paradise. Or maybe I did but I imagined being here with someone else. The homes built on the cliffside, and the culture, it’s just absolutely gorgeous. All of it.
“What are you thinking about, bellisima?” His head tilts towards me as my gaze lands on a man and a woman with a baby. They look so happy. My mind wanders to Damien. When I pictured a family, I pictured him. Hell, I still might.
Before I can answer Rocco, my phone rings. I look at him for permission to answer.
“Go ahead,” he says. Why am I waiting for his permission like I’m a child?
“Hey, Mallory! Wait, slow down.”I feel the blood drain from my face. I feel lightheaded and my heart … my heart hurts. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I throw the phone into my purse and my vision turns to tunnel vision. Airport. Flight. Damien.
I feel a hand around my arm that jolts me out of my spiral. “What’s going on, Avalyne?”
“It’s Damien…” I give him a summed-up play by play about Oliver, Oliver’s mom, Damien on his deathbed, and how the Black Widow has been killed. I also share Mallory’s inside information about them draining my blood to die next to him so he can watch.
Rocco lifts his phone to his ear. “Have the plane ready in fifteen.” His eyes never leave mine.
“I won’t … I can’t let him die… I–” He brings me into a hug and my voice is muffled in his broad chest. “It was supposed to be him and me against the world.”
“I won’t let you die and I’ll help you get him outta there.” Rocco lifts my face to his, looking at my mascara-stained cheeks. “That son of a bitch is too stubborn to die.”
I can’t muster up a fake smile. Instead, I sob, allowing Rocco to guide me to his car.
This nine-hour flight has been pure hell. Knowing you can’t do anything from the air. Except Rocco has done so much. He called all of his allies on the East Coast of the States. They apparently respect Black Venom and the Black Widow, so they’ve decided to help save the rightful heir. I guess their moral compasses aren’t completely corrupt. I’ve done nothing but doodle on paper. A habit I never knew I had in stressful situations.
“Would you like a drink, Ava?” I shake my head no then lean my head against the window, allowing my eyes to drop to the clouds. He hasn’t called me Ava since we first met.
He hasn’t tried to kiss me or touch me or even hold my hand. It should make me feel something, right? Empty. Sad. Lonely. I feel nothing of the sort. I feel like I need to get to the man who made me feel all of those things when he pushed me out of his life. Yet Damien’s confession and why he pushed me away won’t stop living in my head, rent-free.
We should have talked about it. We should have used our words.
The hands on my watch have barely moved since the last time I checked it.
Rocco clears his throat and shifts in his seat across from me. “Ava, may I say something?” My bloodshot, tear-filled eyes meet his, giving him the go-ahead to say what he wants to say.
“The underworld is a dangerous place, as you’ve come to find out. It’s hard to stay safe and it’s harder to find someone you can trust enough to want to share your life with … your most vulnerable self. I see the way you look at him and he looks at you.” His accent becomes thicker as he fills with emotion. “You love each other. And, yes, he may have hurt you, but I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.” He pauses and takes a sip of his bourbon. “I wouldn’t have believed it if it wasn’t for him being here and seeing the two of you interact with my own eyes.” His inked finger circles his crystal glass as he speaks. “I’m going to bow out, bella. I’m not the one for you.” He glances out the window and back at me. “I don’t want love right now.”
