Mafia Desire novel (Ava and Andrew)

Chapter

36

I needed to get out of the room before anyone else arrived, so I crawled to the other side, past the two men who were dead on the floor, and slowly but steadily stood up and grabbed the handle. Fortunately, the door opened and led to a dark corridor. I tightened my grip on the gun I still had and limped through the corridor, hoping it would lead somewhere.

I walked around the building and noticed some natural light. I almost ran to the light, but my injuries prevented me from doing so.

I opened the door and inhaled the cool night air. I looked around frantically and noticed a black SUV parked on the side of the building.

I limped into the car and unlocked the door.

Please, please, please let there be a key in here.

As I drew down the sun shades, something fell into my lap. When I looked down, I saw the key was covered in blood from my stomach. Please, don't pass out. I need to find Andrew.

I started the car and drove away down the deserted road. I pressed the accelerator all the way down because I needed to find a familiar road.

Oh god. What if I was in another state?

I watched as the deserted road came to an end and met a main road in front of me. My head began to spin, and I could feel the blood draining from my body.

Come on, no way.

I saw the street name "Coleytown St."

I was close to Andrew's house and only needed to stay awake for about 5 minutes.

I sped down the street, my vision hazy and my head dizzy, towards the house. I had to make it because I had gotten this far to die. I had to see Andrew.

I drove through Andrew's neighborhood and crashed into his gate.

The four guards outside grabbed their guns and began approaching the car, unaware that I was inside.

I swung open the car door. I barely had any energy left and could feel my life draining from me with every movement, but I was determined to see Andrew; I needed to know he was okay.

I jumped out of the car onto the hard concrete and watched as the guards recognized me. While the rest of them approached me, one of them talked into his earpiece, hopefully calling for Andrew.

I was still lying on the sidewalk when I heard the front door slam open and saw Andrew emerge, staring at me.

Then... black.

*********

Andrew's POV

I used to enjoy these ball things because they allowed me to get things done, but with her, I didn't want to go. I knew the kind of men who would be there, the kind of men who trafficked girls and saw her as a way to make money. I avoided that type of business, and I wouldn't do business with men who did, even if I knew they were going to the ball.

I was standing near the front door when I heard a pair of heels collapsing on the floor. I turned around and watched her walk down the stairs. Her hair fell perfectly on her chest, her eyes sparkled, and her dress complemented everything.

"You look lovely, kitten." I grabbed her waist and drew her into my chest.

My heart stopped when she looked up and smiled.

"You don't look back either." She replied with a wink.

This woman was torturing me. "Let's go before I do something I'll be sorry for." I said.

We got into the car, and I rested my hand in hers while she rested her head perfectly on my shoulders.

When we arrived at the ball, I had forgotten about the media until I noticed the flashes of cameras. Every year, they tried to get something out of people, but everyone ignored them.

I turned to Ava and said, "Don't tell them anything, just walk by."

She looked nervous as she nodded. I got out and assisted her.

I took her hand in mine and led her past the paparazzi.

"Are you his fiancee?"

"Do you have any idea how many people he killed?"

"May I have a name?"

"Take a look over here."

I despise them. If I had my way, I would just shoot them all here, but Ava was right next to me, and that would cause a lot of problems.

When we walked through the doors, everyone fell silent as I entered the room. They were all terrified of me, so I smirked. Everyone returned to their conversations after I nodded.

I felt a squeeze on my arm and looked down at Ava, who was nervous next to me. I squeezed her hand back, assuring her that I was there and that everything would be fine.

"I have to talk to some people about business," I said as I led her through the ballroom, "so you can stay here or go to the bar." I informed her.

"I'm going with you," she said as she looked up at me.

I could tell by the look on her face that she was uncomfortable with how the other men were looking at her. I had noticed it as well, but I was trying not to kill every man in the room.

"If any man touches you other than me, I will put a bullet between their eyes." Leaning down to her ear, I told her.

I took my arm away from her and wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her to my side.

I almost left when I saw Arthur approaching from across the room. Arthur sells arms, but he usually asks twice the price, and I can't argue because he's been doing business with us for 15 years, but I still want to shoot him in the head.

"How are you, Andrew?" Arthur inquired.

"Arthur," I said.

"And who exactly is this?" Looking at Ava, Arthur inquired.

I tightened my grip to ensure that Ava remained firmly in my grasp. "This is no one of your concern. "Have you received my shipment?"

"It will arrive tomorrow," the author stated.

"Fine, you'll get paid when it arrives." You may leave now if there is nothing else to discuss." I said.

Arthur eventually came up with an idea and then left. A few other men approached me and discussed business, but I was too preoccupied with Ava to talk to them.

I wanted to spend the rest of the night with Ava after the last man had left. "Do you want to dance?"

"I have no idea how to dance." Looking up at me, she said.

"And you couldn't tell me before the ball?" I questioned. I responded.

"It didn't seem pertinent." Ava responded with a shrug of her shoulders.

I rolled my eyes as I took her hands and led her to the center of the ballroom. I took one of her hands and trailed the other to her waist, guiding her through the song.

I turned her around and dipped her into my arms. She laughed and looked up at me, her eyes twinkling. I helped her up and led her off the dance floor, away from the perverts' gaze.

She smiled as she turned to face me and said, "I think I can dance really well."

"Or you just have a fantastic teacher." I responded with a sigh and a roll of the eyes.

"Yeah right," she said, kissing me lightly.

"Andrew." A voice said behind me.

My Uncle.

As the man approached Ava, I wrapped my arm around her waist and swung her to the side of me, tightening my grip.

One of the men who kidnapped and sold women was my uncle. He wasn't usually at the ball, but if I had known he was coming, I would not have brought Ava. He was going to treat her like a toy for his own amusement, and I wasn't going to let him.

"Uncle," I said coldly.

"I need to speak with you about business, so your little whore should leave." Looking at her, he hissed.

My blood was boiling, and I reached for my gun, ready to kill him.

"She'll stay, and if you call her that again, I'll rip your head off your neck." I warned you.

"It's fine, I just need some fresh air. I'll be outside." Ava said as she stepped out of my embrace. I felt empty as soon as she left my embrace, no longer relaxed and happy. I watched as she turned away from me and toward my uncle.

"What the fuck do you want?" I spat and motioned for Seb to come over to me.

"Yes boss?" Seb inquired.

"Make sure Ava is all right," I said.

"Yes, sir." He said, walking in the direction she had followed "People are saying that she is weakening you." He responded. "Perhaps I should just take her and sell her." He continued.

I grabbed his throat and lifted him off the ground, choking him.

"What exactly did you say?" I grumbled.

"Never mind," He whimpered as my grip on his neck tightened.

My uncle was a wuss, despite the fact that he ran a dangerous business.

"I will kill you if you ever speak to her, look at her, or even mention her name. I don't mind if you're my uncle." I said as I placed him back on the ground.

"Boss?" Seb called.

"What? And why aren't you with her?" I snarled.

"She isn't here." He responded.

"What on earth do you mean she isn't here?" I screamed.

"She is neither outside nor inside." He responded.

I took my gun and aimed it at my uncle's head. "What exactly did you do? I swear to God, I'm going to kill you."

"I swear I didn't do anything." My uncle explained.

"Boss?" Alex called as he approached me.

"What?" I exclaimed.

"Robert Tom was here." He replied

My body froze and blood drained from my face. He would almost certainly kill her if he had her for what I did all those years ago.

Robert had murdered my father, and as retaliation, I had taken the only thing that mattered to him, his son. I live with it every day but don't feel bad about it because my gang did nothing to provoke him; it was

his greed that drove him to kill my father, and it was his greed that killed his son. But he'd never see it that way; he saw it as retaliation for what I'd done, and he'd kill Ava for it.