Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
I shove my gun under his chin to force him to look at me, getting a good look at his face. I recognize him. This is the fucker we’ve been looking for, the one we just searched that damn cabin for.
“I don’t give a single fuck what her pathetic excuse for a father owes you,” I growl, sneering down at the man. He tries to reach for his gun, and I slam the sole of my boot into his chest, sending him sprawling. I step on his wrist, pinning him to the floor, training my gun on his head again. “Ava is mine. And I’m sure you know exactly what happens to people who try to take my things.”
The man’s eyes widen as I pull the trigger, then turn glassy as he slumps. I drop my weapon, rushing straight to Ava. She’s pale and shaking a little, but she doesn’t seem hurt.
“Angel,” I breathe, gathering her up into my arms. “Fuck, are you okay?”
She clings to me, breathing heavily. “I’m okay now that you’re here,” she says, burying her face in my chest. She doesn’t seem to care that I just killed a man right in front of her, doesn’t seem afraid even now. God, she’s perfect for me.
We pull away from each other as Nick enters the kitchen, eye swelling shut and blood covering his clothes.
“You look like shit,” I tell him, but I can’t deny how relieved I am to see him alive.
“You should see the other guy,” he jokes back, grinning despite his split lip.
With my arm around Ava’s waist, I head into the living room. Some of my guys are clearing up the mess the intruders have made, and after quickly confirming none of my guys are gravely injured, I sit beside my girl and pull her onto my lap.
Nick gives me the rundown, with Ava chiming in occasionally.
Ava was woken by the men breaking in, and Nick fought them off as best he could. He’s a beast of a fighter, but he’s still only one man, and there were at least ten intruders. Their goal was clear—to take Ava, to spite her father for the fact he’s pissed off every criminal leader in the city.
When I called, Nick had just enough time to answer and tell me to come back before he was tackled. He told Ava to run, and she tried, but the leader was waiting by the front door, anticipating it. She tried to grab a knife in the kitchen to fight, but he cornered her.
“It’s over now,” I whisper to her, kissing her hair. I dismiss everyone else, thanking Nick profusely for defending her.
In a rare show of seriousness, he pats my shoulder and says, “She’s important to you, so she’s important to all of us.” He grins and adds, “Plus, she’s a better friend than you. She’s never beat me up or anything!”
I roll my eyes at him, and Ava giggles in my hold.
“Go shower and sleep,” I tell him. “I’ll call in a clean-up crew in the morning.”
With everyone out, I lock up and carry Ava to bed. Thankfully, this room is untouched, and I lock the door behind us, shutting out the chaos that is the rest of the house. The clean-up crew will have it looking normal by tomorrow evening, but for now, I don’t want Ava to have to lay eyes on any of the blood stains that no doubt are splattered over my floors.
We shower and climb into bed, both of us exhausted. I cup her face, stroking her soft skin and pushing her damp hair out of her eyes. She smiles softly at me, leaning into my touch.
“My brave girl,” I whisper, kissing her softly. “I’m so fucking glad you’re okay. I couldn’t live with myself if you were hurt. I love you too much for that, Ava.”
Her breath hitches. “I love you, too,” she whispers back, making my chest crack open. “I promise I’m okay. Shaken up and tired, sure. But I’m in your arms, Axel. Nothing scares me when I have you.”
“You’ve changed my life, angel,” I tell her as she starts to drift to sleep. “And now, it’s time to change your life, too. I’ll protect you forever, Ava. Just you wait, I’m gonna give you everything you can dream of.”
“You’re all I dream of,” she says sleepily before succumbing to sleep.
6
AVA
“Hold still, Axel!” I instruct, laughing when he scowls at me. I wipe antiseptic over the wound on his arm, the one that’s pretty much already healed, but still.
He looks after me, and that means I look after him, too. I didn’t even realize he was injured until we woke up the day after the kidnapping attempt and there was blood on the bed sheets. I nearly had a damn panic attack before he woke up and we realized the blood was from his arm. Damn stubborn bastard got shot and didn’t even think to mention it.