“Thank you, Rocco.” That’s all I can get out. Am I hurt I’ve been dumped twice in the past couple of weeks? Hell yeah! Am I relieved he was the one to pull the plug on this obvious rebound relationship? Fuck yeah, I am. I want to hug him and tell him how wonderful he is and how much he deserves out of life, but my body is stuck to the seat of the plane, not being able to think of anything but the possible love of my life dying in bed with nobody to save him.
The captain comes across the speaker announcing our descent into West Palm.
“Ava, I have an update.” Rocco stares at his phone, summarizing the situation. “ The local leaders and their people have Damien’s house surrounded. Lianne, Oliver’s mother, has him captive in his own home. He is heavily sedated in his bedroom.” My breathing is erratic and I feel helpless.
“I can’t breathe. I-I … can’t…” Rocco moves to the seat next to me, handing me a paper vomit bag, instructing me to breathe into it.
His voice is soft yet stern. “Chances are this will all be over by the time we land and actually get to his house.”
My eyes widen at his words. “Over? As in…?”
“We have the best of the best in place to take down this woman and anyone who stands in the way to reach Damien in that bedroom. Viper, his mom’s right hand, reaches out to the doctor, who is standing by for the go-ahead to enter the property.”
He has to be okay. I didn’t tell him how I really felt.
DAMIEN
I
’ve played “incoherent” for about 14 hours now. I’m dehydrated and starving, but I’m not letting them turn me into a pile of goo again. I need strength. I need to fight for my life. I’m not done.
I peek through my lashes and see Lianne looking out of my window. The same one I stood at when Ava came up behind me and wrapped her small arms around me.
“What the…” Lianne snaps. “How is she here?”
She?
“Is that The Phoenix? Shit!”
Ava. She came for me.
Lianne holds the monitor up to her face. “Come in. Come in, Guard!” she repeats after no answer. “Guard! Hello? God dammit!” She throws the monitor against the wall shattering it into pieces.
I use every ounce of strength I have to stand, barely able to straighten up. But I’m standing. I bite the fabric of my shirt as I rip the IV out of my arm. This is my only chance. As I lose my balance, I turn to grip the bed.
There is a sound in everyone’s life that causes the hair on the back of their necks to stand at attention. Some are sounds of fireworks, some are certain family members that have done them wrong; mine is a gun being cocked.
I slowly turn to see a 9 mm pointed in close range directly at my head. If Ava is here with Rocco, they’ve had enough intel on where they need to find me. I just hope it’s not too late.
“None of this was supposed to happen! I was supposed to be the leader. I was supposed to have everyone bowing at my feet. Kissing the ground I walk on!”
“Put the gun down, Lianne. That can still happen.”Over my dead body.My hands are up by my head, surrendering everything to live. For one more chance to do right by my poor decisions.
Ava.My eyes spot my beautiful girl in the doorway behind Lianne. Her blonde hair is up in a slick ponytail as she fights to catch her breath. Dressed all in black. I try not to stare for too long, giving Lianne a reason to point the gun at the love of my life. Why isn’t she armed? As I try to gauge my next move while strength is not on my side, I allow my mind to wander to words exchanged in my bed the morning she got stabbed.
“So you want me to be the girl who sets the world on fire, huh? How? Are you going to do it for me?”
“No… I’ll only hand you the matches, stay by your side and watch you do the rest.”
I need to hand her the matches. I need to get her that gun. Lianne walks towards me, her lips moving, but my ears are ringing. It’s now or never.
Before she can blink, I roundhouse kick the gun out of her hand, causing me to fall to my knees on the ground and the gun to fly towards Ava. Too weak to do more. Everything starts moving in slow motion.
Ava spots the gun and sprints to where it lies on the marble floor. Lianne, much older, runs towards the gun as well. Where are the other men? Where is The Phoenix to help her? Why is she here alone? Ava grabs the gun and stands straight. She holds it as we practiced.
She shoots a quick glance at me and then back at Lianne.
“What are you going to do, little girl? Shoot me? You’ll go to prison.” Lianne has an evil smirk spread across her face, but Ava knows better.
