Where I Belong

I knew I had to face my dad sooner or later I just didn't expect him to be here when I woke up.

"Where's Blaze?" I asked still not looking him in the eye. This was the first time I had seen my dad since it happened. I never expected to be telling him on my own.

"Never mind about Blaze sit" He ordered as he pushed back his chair and got to his feet. "White coffee no sugar yeah?"

"Dad look-..."

"Sit in the damn chair Ava" He snapped cutting me off.

I sure as hell have never sat down as quick in my life. As we all know my dad is a scary man, ruthless and yeah sometimes heartless. When he tells you to sit you park your little ass on a chair. "Why didn't you come home? Why didn't you come to me? dammit" He hissed thumping his fist off the worktop.

My heart was hammering in my chest but I had yet to look at him. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't want to see the sympathy or the heartbreak that I knew was there.

"Fuck sweetheart you should have came to me". Sighing I watched as he poured the hot water into my cup then passing it to me. "I should have been the one-"..... and then he stopped.

"Should have been the one to what?" I asked "Save me?" Rolling my eyes I held my cup with a tight grip. What happened happened we can't go back in time and fix it. I just had to live with it and move on. "Yes Ava fucking save you cause that's what I'm meant to do. I'm meant to protect you from getting hurt and I didnt".

Finally bringing my head up so I could look at him I held back a cry. My big, strong dad was crying. Silent fat tears rolling down his cheeks. "I should have done better I failed you and that caused those fuckers".... "Dont" I croaked my throat suddenly dry. I couldn't sit here and have this conversation. "Please don't say it" I begged as his head snapped up his eyes meeting mine. Wiping the tears from my cheeks I hid my face in my hands. I was embarrassed, hurt, humiliated and I couldn't face the shame I had brought to my family. My dad and the club were respected around here.

"I-I'm sorry" I stuttered keeping my head low. If I hadn't of ran out on Blaze, if we hadn't of argued none of this would have happen. "I've embarrassed you" I whispered my stomach churning.

"Oh god baby no" He cried his hands cupping my cheeks, lifting my head so he could look at me. "Ava sweetheart please don't think that. What they did to you" Taking a deep breath his eyes fell into slits "Mark my words darling they will pay. Every last one of them will get what's coming to them". Using his thumbs he wiped my cheeks dry "I'm so sorry Ava".

Placing my hands over his I closed my eyes. Regardless of what has happened between us he is still my dad.

"Come on sweetheart get dressed I wanna take you somewhere". Peeling my eyes open I frowned. He wanted to take me somewhere? "Go I'll be waiting outside and wear something comfortable".

Slipping my sneakers on I rubbed my hands down my tracksuit bottoms. These were my comfy clothes and for the past few days had been my only clothes. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror I took a deep breath. I could do this

Closing the front door behind me I walked to where he stood. Already holding my helmet out to me I took it slipping it onto my head and making it secure.

"Do I get to know where you're taking me?" I asked as he stood finishing his cigarette.

"Some place you can let it all go" Flicking his smoke to the ground he climbed on his bike waiting for me to get on behind. Sighing I climbed on behind him wrapping my arms tightly around his waist.

This was the first time I had ever been on the back of my dad's bike. Resting my head against his back I watched the scenery as he drove to where ever he was taking me.

Where I could let it all go?

I had no idea but hanging out with my dad for the day was better than being cooped up at home on my own. I couldn't expect Blaze to stay with me all day when I knew he had stuff to do. Thinking about Blaze made me wonder where he was. Did my dad make him leave so we could spend the day together? Or maybe he thought this would help me in some way. Feeling the bike slow down I lifted my head frowning when I looked at the graffiti covered building infront of me. What the hell was this place?

Climbing off the back of his bike I unclipped my helmet handing it to him.

"Dad what is this place?" I asked still not being able to drag my eyes from the building infront of me. The more I looked at it the more I realised it wasn't graffiti but street art. The words 'Train to Gain' sprayed over the front of the building, wait was that.....

"Is that muhammad ali?" I asked my eyes going over the drawing of him next to what I presume was the name of where we were and then it clicked.

"A gym?" Turning to face him I rolled my eyes when I noticed the smoke hanging from his mouth.

"More than that sweetheart" Flicking his smoke to the ground he held his hand out for me "So much more come on". Taking his hand I let him lead me inside. I wasn't going to pester him about why he brought me here because honestly I was a little curious. This place obviously means something to him.

"Franko fucking Mendez" Jumping slightly my grip on my dad's hand tightened.

"Theo" My dad gave him a nod as he stopped infront of us.

"Good to see you brother. Haven't seen you in a long time. What can I do for you?" He asked his eyes finally landing on mine.

His piercing blue eyes. It's like they were looking into my soul, like he could tell I had been hurt. By looking at him the first thing that came into my head was body builder.

"She's got your eyes Franko but let me guess she's a spitfire like her mother" Theo held out his hand "You come to train little one?"

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Shaking his hand I turned so I could look at my dad. Slipping my hand out of his I folded them across my chest. Is that why he brought me here?

"Theo a word" As the both of them disappeared through the back I got a little bit more curious. It was defiantly a gym of some sort, the equipment made that obvious but the boxing ring in the middle told me it wasn't a normal gym. It didn't have running machines, or crossfits. Seemed more like a boxing club than anything else. Skipping ropes and weights were scattered all around.

Walking around the boxing ring I stopped when my eyes landed on a framed picture hanging on the wall. It was surrounded by different pictures but this one caught my eye because it was of my dad.

"Wanna know why I brought you here sweetheart?"

"You like boxing?" I replied sarcasm dripping off my tongue.

"Smartass" He huffed nudging my shoulder "Nice to see you still have it. I brought you here Ava because when your mom"..... Sighing he pinched the bridge of his nose "Sorry sweetheart talking about what happened to her is hard and now with what happened to you is even harder. I thought this could be a good place to let out that anger".

"I don't have any anger" I lied dropping my gaze to the ground.

"Maybe it'll help with the hurt-"...

"Can we just go? I don't think this is a good idea" Cutting him off I turned on my heel about to high tail it out of there when his hand shot out grabbing my wrist.

"I know it's in there baby please don't shut me out A. I know what you're-.."

"Don't you dare" Pulling my grip free I stepped back from him "Don't you dare stand there and tell me you know what I'm going through because you have no idea" I yelled.

"Ava I'm-...."

"Do you want to know what they did to me? How they tied me to a fence and all three took turns. How they held me down, how they battered me. I wanted to die, I didn't want to survive it because now I have nothing. I feel nothing, I have nothing to live for anymore because do you know what? They broke me and I don't know how to fix me". Falling to my knees I burried my head in my hands a sob racking through my body.