by Anna White
“I’m not joking.” I rolled my eyes and placed my glass down on the table next to us. Her green eyes were beaming and I exhaled. “I know that look Haz.” She breathed as I took another step closer to her.
“Is it the same look you're giving me now?” I questioned as she gulped, her mouth parted a little to enable breath to be released from her lungs and as I wrapped my hands in her hair and pulled her closer towards me she kissed me. It was a soft and gentle kiss. There was a gasp around the room but she didn’t pull away. We were stuck to each other like two teenagers who weren’t allowed to see each other. She pulled away softly, my heart thudded against my chest and I watched her smile. “I think we’ve just been a little careless.” I whispered and watched her shrug.
“I love you.” She smiled as she kissed me again. I released her from my grasp and turned to head back towards the table. The whole room was practically staring at us and I watched as she flushed a deep shade of crimson. Harvey wriggled his brow at me and I rolled my eyes.
“Well at least we know where you spent the night now hey Av?” I heard a small giggle escape her lips and joined in with her laughter. The sound was delightful. Jay and Chlo walked into the room and Jay smirked as he looked at us. Chlo giggled and then the commotion of the room continued. Chlo gave her a small wink and I shook my head. We were really shit at keeping us quiet.
Holt
My phone was buzzing in my purse. I could feel it. Harvey and Grace were arguing over something silly to do with the law firm and I glanced at Haz. He glanced towards his pocket and I took in a breath.
“Is that your phone?” I questioned.
“One of them.” My heart sunk. I placed my head against his shoulder and watched his face twist.
“My phone was ringing too?” I watched as his shoulders tensed. He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen before he leaned down to pull mine from my bag. His face twisted again before a frown re-appeared on his face. I didn’t know that look. It wasn’t one I’d seen before. I knew it wasn’t a good thing.
“It’s him.” He turned his screen towards me and showed me his name flashing on my screen. My pulse rate spiked and I instantly began to feel sick.
“He knows then?” I whispered and watched him tap Jay on the shoulder. Jay’s muddy brown eyes softened as he looked at us.
“I think we’ve fucked up?” Haz’s words were low and hushed in tone and I watched them stand.
“What do you mean?” Jay’s expression was as confused as mine and I cleared my throat as I began to follow their fast moving pace towards the front doors of the old manor. Chlo clutched my arm as Harry began to fill them in on exactly what had unfolded between Rava and I. Jay’s eyes filled with sadness and fury and I gulped.
“Fuck sake Av, why didn’t you tell us what he’d said?” I shook my head and shrugged. I didn’t have an answer. I didn’t know why I didn’t say anything. I looked towards Harry. He had his head in his hands as the phone rang again. Jay handed me my phone. “Answer it.” He demanded. His words were sharp but I did as he asked.
“Tut tut Avaya,” he knew “I told you I had eyes everywhere and I’d know.” I opened my mouth to speak and closed it again. “One of you needs to go.” There was a silence between us for a while.
“Please don’t hurt him.” I sounded pathetic as I begged him not to do anything to him. Harry’s eyes widened. Tears were now briming in my eyes as Rava laughed down the other end of the phone.
“You’ve got days. Enjoy them.” The phone went dead and I blinked a few times.
“What did he say?” Chlo probed softly, she ran her hand over the skin on my arm.
“He said that one of us had to go? He said ‘you’ve got days’” I heard Jay growl and threw keys in Chlo’s direction. Her eyes were filling too as she looked across towards the elusive brothers. I was in a state of shock.
“Take her home.” Chlo just nodded and pulled on my arm gently. My eyes didn’t leave Harry’s. He smiled softly but it didn’t meet his eyes. He nodded as he leant to kiss my cheek softly.
“We’ll be alright Av. I’ve got you.” He whispered against my cheek and I hugged him with force. I couldn’t have him ripped away not now. Not ever.
Chapter Fourteen
Vens
Jay was pacing around my bedroom at Alfie’s. He slammed his phone down on the desk and his eyes flew towards me before he pointed at me.
“Fuck sake you pair.” He growled as he shook his head. “You’re gonna get each other killed.” He shot me a look before he threw himself back in his office chair. I shook my head as I bent over squeezing my temples.
“Look I didn’t mean to blow our cover did I!?” I almost hissed at him and watched him stare at me.
“Well you fucking did.” He shook his head and I watched him push his dark hair off his face. He was good at fixing shit situations. But I wasn’t sure how we were gonna get out of this one. “We’ve gotta tell Bandoni what’s going on Haz?” I shook my head frantically.
“Nah we can’t. If he knows we’ve got her he’ll take her now? What’s he gonna do with her Jay?” His face twisted as I spoke. Neither of us knew what he wanted with her. She started off as a job and now we were running around trying our damndest to protect her when we should have handed her in months ago. My chest started to constrict.
“Look if we tell him that Rava is looking for her he’ll stop him? Rava might want her to hurt you but Bandoni? What he wants he gets.” I shook my head.
“Not happening Jay.” I slumped back on the bed and rubbed my head. I felt like screaming.
“Well then what the fuck do you suggest?” My heart sunk. If he didn’t know I’d be damned if I did. His phone began to ring and he placed it to his ear. His face sunk. He pointed towards his phone and I felt a wave of sickness fall over me. Jay was shaking his head.
“Rava c’mon let her go?” Those were 3 words I never wanted to hear. It was then I knew he’d got her. I would probably never see her again.
Holt
It was dark and my head ached. Really fucking ached. The room was woozy and fuzzy and the smell was funny. Old almost dusty in fragrance. This wasn’t home. This wasn’t Alfie’s. Panic set in and my breathing became erratic. I clutched the pillow that was next to me as I tried my hardest to focus on anything and stop the wobbling.
“Sleeping beauty awakes.” I knew that voice. I took a deep breath in and clutched the pillow. I saw his face. His eyes were dark. So dark. I shook my head and closed my eyes. This is a dream, it’s all a dream. Wake up. I began to rock myself. “You’ll feel better if you sleep it off. Not sure how much Phill gave you.” The feeling of his hand against the skin on my arm made me sick. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter. Praying that the moving waves in front of me would stop.
I’m still not sure how long I’d spent asleep in that same room. I’d been too scared to move or open my eyes. I had no recollection of how I got there. The last thing I remembered I was on a break at work. I’d walked to Starbucks and now I was here. My heart began to thud as I felt the bed dip beneath weight. I inhaled his aftershave and was sure there was sick in my throat. I felt him run his hand over mine and I snatched it away.
“Would you like a drink?” He whispered. I wasn’t over his accent. It still made me cringe every time I heard it.
“No.” I mumbled. He sighed and ran his fingers over my cheek.
“You’re so much like Holly used to be.” I froze “so brave and stubborn. That’ll stop soon enough.” I opened my eyes and glared at him.
“I really don’t think you realise who you’ve got sat in front of you Rava.” I hissed towards him. My throat was dry. He smirked and ran his thumb over my cheek again. I snatched my face away from his and heard him chuckle.
“Oh Avaya.” He shook his head and stood to his feet.
“What’s your plan Rava?” I questioned. He looked down at me and shrugged.
“I don’t have one yet. I’ll have my fun with you and then I
’ll probably kill you.” He smirked and winked at me. I recoiled away from his words and shook my head at him.
“You know you’re a pathetic excuse of a man?” I threw an insult his way. He grinned and held his hand out for me to take.
“I’ve never claimed to be a man Avaya. Not a good one anyway. C’mon I’ve got something to show you.” I didn’t take his hand but I did stand. His eyes traced my face and it twisted. I looked away from him and followed him. I had no idea why I was following him, I didn’t trust him at all but there was something sad in his expression and maybe I could break him just a little.
“You gonna show me where my life ends huh?” I watched him shake his head as he smiled and I rolled my eyes. I was terrified but I wasn’t going to show him that. Not now. I wondered how long it would be before Haz and Jay realised I was missing. My mum would be calling them or would have called them already.
“Not quite.” He grinned and gestured towards the sofa. It was fairly new looking. Completely different to the room I’d been in. I glanced around the room and noticed there were several men lurking around. I’d seen some of them before. He nodded at one of them standing by the door and he disappeared. “See the truth is Avaya. You don’t know him.” I stood awkwardly in front of the sofa and examined him. He was muscular but not as big as Harry. Probably the reason for the back up. I held my hands together and gulped. “Did you know that Holly was a relationship of convenience? He didn’t really love her. I only found that out from his father a few years ago.” I shook my head. “They were having a baby too.” My heart dropped. He’d never mentioned that. Tears pricked in my eyes. “He’s not the man you think you know.” He cupped my face and I shook my head. I couldn't believe a word he said. I knew all about mind games. He was playing mind games. “Do you still wanna save him?” I tilted my head as tears fell from my eyes, I watched him turn his head towards a room. My eyes followed his and I could hear the beating of my heart in my ears. “You see men like him know how to manipulate women like you. He’ll have his fill and then cast you aside just like he does with every other girl he’s ever dated.” His words hurt.
“Oh and I suppose you’re different?” I spat his way and watched him frown.
“No. Not at all.” His dark eyes glimmered and I took in a breath. He looked towards that same door again and nodded towards it. I shook my head. I didn’t want to see what was in there. “See the thing is. I don’t think I’ll ever get him back on my side. I think I’ll always be watching my back if I hurt you. So my choice was easy.” I shook my head and felt a lump grow in my throat. I stifled my sob and pushed his chest.
“Don't you dare." He smirked as I burst my way through the door he kept looking at. My heart sank almost instantly. He was tied to a chair, a normal dining chair. This shit didn’t happen in real life. This happened in films. His mouth was tapped across and he was tied down with thick rope. His head was drooped and as I held in tears I ran and placed myself between his legs.
“Fuck, Haz.” I breathed before I ripped the tape off that was covering his lips. His eyes were sad and cut. His face was barely recognisable as blood had poured down it. He looked fucking terrible. I let out my sob and ran my fingers over his cheek. He offered me a small smile and shook his head. Where the fucking hell was Jay!? I couldn’t control the tears that were now streaming from my eyes. My ugly sob was out of control.
“Don’t cry Av please.” Were the words that left his mouth. I glanced towards Rava who was stood by the doorway with a wide smirk across his face. I was sickened. I sat with my head in his lap and held him there. His hands were behind his back, his hair was wet, his clothes were wet and he looked drained. How the fuck was I supposed to get us out of this?
“What the fuck do you want from him?” I sobbed as I squeezed him, the dripping of water landing on my face, joining my salty tears.
“I want him to suffer Avaya. I want him to suffer like he made me suffer.” He was enjoying this.
“Look at him! He’s suffered.” I stood to my feet and watched him shake his head. He placed his hands around my neck and squeezed a little. My breath halted as I heard Haz growl.
“Rava I swear to God if you hurt her I’ll fucking kill you.” Harry’s voice was low and quiet. I struggled to pull at his arms that were placed tightly around my neck. He planted a kiss against my cheek and my eyes closed shut.
“How’d you plan on killing me when you can’t move from that fucking chair.” Things were starting to blur in and out of focus and he released me. I gasped for air and landed in a pool on the floor. I was horrified and scared. Not really for my own life but for his. “I want you to suffer. I want you to watch her suffer like you made me watch Amelie.” I held my throat where his hands were and exhaled as I stood. “You’ve killed for me, does she know that? Does she know you’ve got blood on your hands? That your job wasn’t just drugs.” I glanced towards Harry who’s eyes were swollen, not through the slits and cuts that were pissing with blood but from tears that were escaping them. I couldn’t get my head around what was being said. “Does she know!?” He bellowed. I shook my head and stood up.
“She does now.” Haz’s words were sad. There seemed to be no fight left in his voice. I needed a plan. I couldn’t see him like that. Defeated. I walked behind Harry and began to un-tie him.
“Avaya stop it.” Rava commanded and I shook my head as I continued to unknot him. There was a commotion coming from outside of the room and I heard Jay faintly shouting in the background. Harry stood up from his chair and wrapped me up in his arms. Rava was now aiming for us. He was coming closer towards us, faster and faster. I’d never seen a look like the one that was painted across his face. He was intent on hurting us. I winced as I gripped Harry tighter. My hands lowered to Harry’s belt and I felt something sharp. I gripped it in my hand and as I turned around with it in my hands there was the most horrific sound. It was an indescribable sound. But it was stifled by shouting and arguing and people. People shouting. People were everywhere all at once. I dropped the knife that was in my hand as I glanced at Rava. He was now on his knees in front of me. The smallest bit of blood escaped his mouth. I didn’t look at his eyes. I glanced up at the door and Jay was making his ward towards me. He wrapped his hands around my face and shook me.
“Run Av.” He whispered. I was frozen. I couldn’t run because I couldn’t move. “Haz take her and fucking run.” Everything else was a blur. None of that seemed real. Not one part of it. What the fuck had I just done?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
