“No. I’m going to shoot you and I will personally deliver you into the depths of the ocean to be with your son. You can finally join him in hell.”
“That’s not who you are, you little rich girl. Your father's money wasn’t enough but you need to come after one of the most powerful mafias? You money-hungry bitch.”
Ava never falters. She stands strong and never misses a beat. If Lianne moves, Ava moves with her like a tiger. The most efficient predator. Her pupils dilated, Ava’s finger squeezes the trigger a little tighter as Lianne keeps speaking.
“Maybe I should’ve fucked your dad instead of Damien’s. You know they all went to school together, right? Instead, your dad chose that mousey bitch of a woman. How is your mom anyway? Dead, right?” A maniacal laugh escapes Lianne and a shot goes off, causing a loud thud on the ground in front of me.
Ava drops the gun and runs to me, followed by Rocco, who finally decides to grace us with his presence.
“What the fuck, Ava! You could’ve gotten yourself killed running in the house like that!” Rocco scolds her while she is tending to my leaking arm.
I take in her delicate features. Too weak to speak, I watch as her small hands move over me. She is wearing the leather jacket I took her to buy. She said it was the only way she’d get on my bike again. Her blank tank top shows a sliver of skin, almost meeting the top of her black leggings. Are those combat boots? My dick twitches at the sight. And with that,I knowI’m going to be just fine.
The doctor rushes into my room as I watch a few of the men from Black Venom carry out Lianne’s body.
“You’re lucky; these are all superficial, Damien.” He tends to the wound Ava just taped to stop the bleeding. “I want to do some blood work and make sure your vitals are okay and I will be administering a tetanus shot. I have no idea where they found a needle that big.” His face winces at his words.
“Damien.” Ava’s voice, small, comes from behind Dr. Marvin. “I need to say goodbye to Rocco.”
“Hey! Come here, Firefly.” Her eyes twinkle at that name. She makes her way to the other side of the bed, padding softly around what’s left of Lianne’s blood. I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. “Thank you. Thank you for saving me.”
She nods, smiles, and kisses my knuckles. Without saying a word, she leaves. My heart feels like it was just torn out of my chest.
“I’ll have these labs back as soon as possible. For now, I have a smorgasbord of food on its way for you. And I hooked you up with an IV so we can get some fluids back into you.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
AVALYNE
I turn the corner into the kitchen, where Rocco iswaiting with Viper. Rocco nods to Viper to leave, and then there were two.
We both speak each other's names in unison.
“You go first,” he says, tucking his phone into his pocket.
“I wanted to thank you—”
“You know what? Stop. I don’t like goodbyes. So I don’t want to drag this out, but Ava, I have to tell you, I hope to someday find a love like yours and Damien’s. A love that is so true that you aren’t just willing to die for him but you are willing to live for him.” He grabs my hand in his and places his other hand on my cheek. “Bella, it’s been an honor to have you by my side. And if you ever need anything again, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Now go! He needs you.”
I had a small speech prepared, but a part deep inside of me is settled. Content. I don’t need closure with him because I was never really open to him.
I watch as Damien scrolls on his phone. I take inhis weak stature and the dark circles under his eyes.
“Hey.” His eyes light up at my voice and he drops his phone next to him immediately.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m actually really hungry.” He gives a partial laugh and continues, “But Doc said he’ll be sending a feast up here. You’re more than welcome to join in.”
“Well, actually…”
“You know what? I know you have to go. But before you do, I need to thank you again. You saved my life.”
“You could say you handed me the matches.” I giggle at my corny joke, but nothing about Damien’s face finds that funny. In fact, a single tear starts to roll down his cheek. “I’m sorry… That joke was poorly timed.”
“That’s exactly what came to mind when I kicked the gun out of her hand.”
Our gazes hold strong and he pulls his lips between his teeth.
