Mafia Desire novel (Ava and Andrew)

Chapter 38

I woke up to the sun peeking through the curtains and flipped to the other side, expecting Andrew to be there, but when I went to check on him, he wasn't there.

I moaned and crept out of bed. I stood up and immediately felt a pain in my lower stomach; I hunched over, attempting but failing to relieve the pain.

"Damn, I need Advil." I exhaled a sigh.

I stumbled over to the bathroom and opened the door, revealing a half-naked Andrew. His perfect god-like body glistened with shower water, and every muscle was carved to perfection.

"Are you done drooling?" Andrew inquired, raising an eyebrow at me.

"You wish." I rolled my eyes and walked past him to get to the bathroom cabinet.

As he watched me struggle to get to the Advil, he smirked. I eventually got the Advil off the top shelf and downed three pills with some water. I sat on the toilet and waited for the Advil to take effect. A few minutes later, the ache subsided and I was able to walk normally again.

I exited the restroom and changed into black jeans, a scarlet red crop top, and a leather jacket. I dashed downstairs and into the kitchen, starving for breakfast. I found Andrew in the kitchen yelling at the chefs for messing up something, rolled my eyes, and leaned against the doorway, waiting for him to notice me.

He finished yelling at the staff and turned to face me, noticing but ignoring me. "What are your plans?" I inquired as I followed him to the front door. "I'm going to base; I'll return later." He said this without looking at me.

He was clearly in a bad mood.

"All right, I'll accompany you." I responded.

He came to a halt right in front of the front door; I ignored him and walked past him to the front door. "No," he said as he grabbed my arm and wrapped his hands around my waist.

"No?" I asked, a small frown on my face as I rested my hands on his chest, allowing them to travel up to his face. I gave him a seductive smile, leaned to the side of his face, and lightly bit his earlobe.

"No, and let's not start something you won't be able to finish; I was holding back last night, and you couldn't even walk this morning." He was humming into my ear.

I tucked my hands into his hair and pressed my face against his ear "If you don't want to take me, I'm sure Travis would."

"You are mine and I don't share, don't ask anyone else for what I can give you," he said as his hands tightened around my waist. He grumbled.

"All right, let's get started." I said, breaking free from his embrace and skipping out of the house to the parked car.

I entered the black SUV, leaving the door open for Andrew. Andrew followed me and slammed the car door shut, yelling at the driver.

"Is someone having a bad day?" I laughed.

"Ava, you will not engage in any physical activity, and if you do, I will punish you in ways you cannot imagine." He says, smirking at the end.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I turn away, not wanting him to notice the effect he has on me.

The rest of the car ride is spent in pleasant silence, with Andrew on his phone conducting business and me staring out the window. When we arrive at the base, I sprint out of the car and into the building, eager to return to the shooting range.

I rush to Melissa, tackling her into a hug as I open the door to the shooting range.

"Damn, you were only shot a week ago." She laughed as she embraced me in a hug.

"I heal quickly." With a big smile on my face, I say. Which was correct; as a result of Sylvester's constant abuse, my body adapted and I healed faster than most people.

"Are you ready to shoot?" She asked as she pulled away from the hug and grabbed a handgun from the counter.

I pulled a handgun from the shelf and admire how it feels in my hand. I've always enjoyed the adrenaline rush and sensation of firing a gun since I first held one. I know it may turn me into a psychopath, but when I shot Robert and all the bad guys, I felt tingles and relief rather than guilt.

I nodded and walked over to Melissa's shooting booth. I took my stance, aimed at the target, and let the bullets fly, my body pumped with adrenaline and electricity coursing through my veins.

I missed this feeling.

The rest of the day, I wanted to broaden my gun knowledge, so Melissa showed me how to handle and shoot all of the other guns. I wasn't as skilled with the other guns as I am with the handgun, but I was better than most.

"It's time to go." Andrew barged into the shooting range, I heard him say. When Melissa heard Andrew, she immediately stopped shooting and stood up straight. I rolled my eyes at Andrew's tone and slid the gun back onto the shelf. I said my goodbyes to Melissa and proceeded to Andrew's location.

I followed Andrew out of the base and into his car, heading home.

"Andrew?" I called.

"Mhm," he said, still staring at his phone.

"When will Dalia return?" I said.

"She is coming back in two and a half weeks but you aren't moving out if that's what you want to know," Andrew said, looking up from his phone.

"No, I don't want to leave; I just miss her." Looking out the car window, I responded.

"You'll keep an eye on her when she returns." He responded.

I nodded and returned my attention to the window. As I fell asleep, I watched the buildings transform into mansions.

*********

After two weeks...

I couldn't be more excited because Dalia's return is only three days away. I had gone to the shooting range every day for the past two weeks.

Melissa had become my teacher, teaching me how to shoot, throw knives, and defend myself better than I had previously known.

I had mastered shooting with all types of guns in just a few days of training, and Melissa was convinced I was born to hold a gun. Throwing knives took me about a week to master, but I got the hang of it after Melissa instructed me to look at the target as if it were Robert.

I was grateful for Robert, despite Andrew's fear that I would develop PTSD as a result of what Robert had done to me. Robert toughened me up, and if I hadn't killed him, I wouldn't have continued training. Melissa also taught me how to murder someone in a variety of ways. It turns out she is an assassin who kills and tortures people for a living.

I knew I was insane, but I looked up to Melissa because, despite killing people, she is one of the most kind and patient people I've ever met. I disregard what her job requires, despite her claims that they deserve it, but what is to say that Andrew does the same thing to other people?

We are the heroes of our own stories, and the people we associate with become our heroes as well. But whenever thoughts of what Andrew really did entered my mind, I just hoped to ignore them. Because even if I recognized it and attempted to leave him, he would not let me.

But I wanted to be a part of something bigger and understand the world Andrew grew up in, and if I hadn't had to look after Dalia, I would have asked Andrew for a job in his Mafia, but I figured it was better not to kill people and then look after a four-year-old.

"The best weapons are rifles." Melissa argued as I sat across from her on the floor.

"The best pistols are Liesss pistols." I responded, laughing along with Melissa.

"Noooooo." Melissa practically screamed.

I laughed and looked down at my watch, which read 7:47 p.m. Andrew should be finished with his work by now. "I have to leave, but thank you; I'll see you tomorrow for knife throwing." As I walked out of the room, I replied and thanked her.

"Goodbye, Ava." Melissa responde, standing up and smiling.

I returned his smile and exited the room to look for Andrew. I walked down the hall, opening every doorway in the hopes that Andrew would be inside one of them.

"Fuck." I muttered, having opened nearly all of the doors on the second floor with no sign of Andrew.

Great. I didn't see Andrew, and I was starving. I sighed and began walking back to the shooting range until I overheard something that piqued my interest.

"Awwww, baby." Coming from behind me, I heard a familiar voice say. I turned around and approached the source of the noise. It was coming from one of the closed doors at the end of the hallway. "I've been thinking about you." The same voice said it again.

Ashley, my eyes widen as I realize who the voice is. I approached the door, hoping it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. But as I got closer and saw something I'd rather not have seen, my heart dropped like a stone.

Ashley was pressed against Andrew's chest, his hands wrapped around her back. "Didn't she really mean anything to you?" Ashley inquired, kissing Andrew on the neck and moving her hands up and down his arms. "No, I just took advantage of her." Andrew replied, his face stone cold as I felt the urge to vomit rise.

The sensation suffocated me as I prayed for my eyes to tear away from the scene, but they remained glued to the man I thought I cared about and the girl I despised.

"I knew you were just using her because I know how much you like me." Ashley responded by taking her hands and tangled them in his hair. The same hair I'd adored, the same hair I'd pulled, the same hair that belonged to the person I adored.

"Mhm," Andrew said, his emerald eyes meeting hers. There was no spark or hesitation, just his gaze fixed on hers. Nothing felt as bad as the emotion coursing through my mind and heart.

My chest tightened and my heart completely broke. My hands began to shake, and tears welled up in the corners of my eyes. I took my gaze away from Andrew and Ashley and dashed down the corridor, my legs barely carrying me.

I ran all the way to the car and slammed the door shut behind me as I collapsed completely.

"Are you all right, Ms?" The driver inquired, unsure what to do as I collapsed.

"Take me to Mr. Jayson's house." I replied, unable to hold back the sobs that were breaking out in my chest.

"Do I have to wait for Mr. Jayson?"

"No, please go." He nodded and began driving.

I placed my hand on the window and let myself cry, allowing all of my tears to fall down my face. I wasn't mad or angry; I was just utterly and completely broken. I'd let down my guard, trusted him, let him in, and loved him, and it still not enough

My thoughts returned to all of the memories we had shared and how they were all fabricated by him. What I thought were the best few months of my life were a lie, with every memory tainted and shattered. My heart was literally splinting into a million pieces.

The pain I was in was worse than anything Sylvester or Robert could ever give me; I'd rather be punched for the rest of my life than feel like this. I had the distinct impression that this emotion and suffocation would never leave me.

Bruises and cuts would fade, but this feeling dug deep into what was left of my heart and erased every last piece.

As soon as we pulled into the driveway of Andrew's house, I dashed inside. I flung open the front doors and dashed into my room. I couldn't see anything because of the tears streaming down my cheeks, but I managed to grab my suitcase and stuff all of my belongings inside.

I went to the bathroom to try to fix myself after I finished packing everything away.

When I look in the mirror, my eyes were red and my cheeks were stained with tears, and I couldn't recognize myself. I look terrible. I turned on the faucet and splash myself with water, attempting to appear rational.

This was not me; I was not frail. I knew Andrew was too good to be true, so I promised myself I wouldn't fall for him because I know he'd only hurt me. I wiped my tears away and took a deep breath, trying to stop my body from shaking. However, my body began to shake more as the tears continued to fall.

I rushed out of the bathroom, away from the image of myself. I took out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found the one I was looking for.

Ring...

Please pick up.

Ring...

"Hello?"

"Hey," I sobbed, trying to keep it together.

"Is everything all right with you? What happened?"

"I'll tell you later, but I'll need you to pick me up." I whimpered, frustrated with myself.

"Are you at Andrew's house?"

My heart broke at the mention of his name, and I began to cry even more. "Y-yeah." I sobbed.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes."

I hung up the phone and tried hard not to cry. Inhale... Exhale, Inhale... Exhale, Inhale... Exhale, Inhale... Exhale, Inhale... Exhale, Inhale... Exhale

My eyes finally stopped tearing up, and I was able to calm down. I took my suitcase from my room and carried it down the stairs to the front door. I prayed and prayed that Andrew would not return home in the next two minutes because I couldn't face him.

I closed my eyes and let the darkness of my eyelids bring me peace.

Beep, beep, beep.

I flung open the front door with my eyes wide open.

"Ava."

"Travis," I said as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Can I please stay at your place?" I said, still clutching him.

He replied, "Of course, shortness."

He pulled up and took my suitcase, placing it in the trunk of his car. "Please come in." He said as he approached the driver's seat.

I nodded and opened the car door, looking back at the house and recalling everything that had occurred. I turned away and sat in the passenger seat before I burst into tears again.

Travis shifted into drive and accelerated away from Andrew's house. While Travis drove through the streets of New York, I looked out the window, hoping that the pain in my chest would go away. "What happened?" Travis broke the silence by asking.

"I don't want to discuss it." I replied still staring out the window.

"Did Andrew hurt you?" He replied, his voice tinged with rage.

When I heard his name, my breath caught and I began shaking again, "No." I slurred my words, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"Don't fucking lie, I'm going to kill that asshole the next time I see him." Travis snarled.

I turned to face him, his knuckles white from clenching the steering wheel so tightly. "Please Travis, I just need a friend right now," I said in a soothing tone as I placed my hand on his.

"I'll do anything for you, shortness." He responded, his eyes softened and his voice calm.

I forced a small smile before returning to the window and allowing myself to be consumed by darkness.