Chapter 7
1045 Words
Ava’s pulse pounded in her ears as she stepped out, the acrid scent of burning rubber still clinging to her senses. The wreckage of her car smoldered in the driveway, flames l*****g hungrily at the shattered glass. Whoever had done this had wanted to send a message. And it was loud and clear.
She had to leave.
Heart racing, Ava hurried back inside, grabbing only the essentials, a burner phone, cash, and a g*n she had hidden in her dresser. She knew she couldn’t go to Ray’s estate. Whoever was after her would expect that. Instead, she needed somewhere unexpected, somewhere she could gather her thoughts. I finished picking all she could and was about to run out when someone blocked her way.
“Sarah.”
Ava’s stomach clenched. There was something different about her sister’s stance, she couldn't figure it out but she didn't think it mattered to her.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Sarah said, voice eerily calm.
“Get out of my way, Sarah.” Ava tightened her grip on the g*n in her bag.
“You should have left this alone. You had to keep digging, didn’t you?” Sarah tilted her head, a slow smirk spreading across her lips.
“What are you talking about?” Ice crawled up Ava’s spine.
Sarah took a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I warned you, Ava. You should’ve stopped asking questions. Now, they’re going to finish what they started.”
Realization slammed into Ava like a freight train. “It was you,” she breathed. “You’ve been working with them.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you? But you have no idea what you’re up against.” Sarah’s smirk widened.
Ava didn’t hesitate anymore. She shoved past her sister, bolting for the door before Sarah could react.
“Why are you so stupid Ava?” Sarah shouted and Ava heard her sister’s curse behind her, but she didn’t stop running.
She needed to get to Ray. Now.
~~~
Ray sat in his office, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk as he stared at the encrypted message flashing on his laptop screen. It was from Harrison Vance. The slimy bastard had finally agreed to a meeting.
Ray didn’t trust him. Not for a second. But he had no choice. If he wanted to get ahead of the syndicate’s next move, he had to play the game.
A buzz from his phone snapped him out of his thoughts. A call from Ava. Relief flooded through him until he answered.
“Ray… i…” Ava’s voice was cut off by a sudden, dead silence.
Then another voice came through.
A deep but familiar voice. One that made Ray’s blood run cold.
“You thought this was just business,” the man said, his tone soft, almost amused. “This is personal.” and with that the call disconnected.
Ray shot to his feet, muscles coiling with tension. He dialed back, but the call went straight to voicemail.
“Ava.”
“Oh my God Ava.”
~~~~
“Ah!”
Ava’s head throbbed as she regained consciousness, the metallic tang of blood on her tongue. The air was damp, thick with the scent of mold and gasoline. She blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light filtering through the cracks of what looked like an abandoned warehouse.
She was tied to a chair, wrists bound so tight that the ropes bit into her skin.
And then she heard a slow measured clap.
“Well, well. Look who’s awake.”
“You finally came around and decided to grace us with your presence.”
The voice sent a shiver down her spine. She knew that voice. Knew it intimately.
A figure emerged from the other side of the hall, stepping into the faint glow of the single overhead light.
Caleb Vaughn.
Her ex-boyfriend. The man she had once loved. The man she had thought was dead.
“No,” she whispered. “You’re supposed to be dead.” Her breath hitched.
“Oh, sweetheart, you should know by now. I don’t die that easily.” Caleb smirked, amusement dancing in his black eyes.
“You’re behind this?” Ava’s pulse hammered against her ribs.
Caleb shrugged, stepping closer to her. “I told you, Ava. You should have stayed out of this. You should have stayed with me.”
Anger flared in her chest, burning away the fear. “You’re working with the syndicate?”
“Working with them? Oh no, I am the syndicate.” His smirk widened.
Ava’s mind reeled. ‘No. It didn’t make sense. Caleb had been a street-level enforcer years ago. Plus he died. How had he risen to this level of power?’
Caleb crouched beside her, trailing a finger along her cheek, his touch sending a wave of revulsion through her. “You still taste like mine,” he murmured.
“Ray will come for me.”
Ava jerked her head away, disgust twisting her gut.
“Will he? I’m counting on it.” Caleb’s smirk didn’t falter.
He stepped back, pulling out a phone. With a few taps, he initiated a video call.
Ava’s breath caught as Ray’s face appeared on the screen. His expression was murderous, his jaw clenched so tight she thought it might shatter.
“Hello, Ray. I believe I have something you want.” Caleb grinned.
Ray’s eyes locked onto Ava’s, his eyes were dark and furious. “If you touch her…”
“Relax. I wouldn’t dream of harming her. But if you want her back, you know the price.” Caleb chuckled.
“You want my empire.” Ray’s fists clenched.
“Not just your empire. Your loyalty.” Caleb’s grin widened.
A beat of silence stretched between them. Then, Caleb leaned in close to the camera, his gaze gleaming with something wicked.
“You have twenty-four hours to decide, Ray. Give me everything… or watch her burn.” Without another word the screen went black.
Ray exhaled, his mind racing. He had fought wars, struggled to build an empire on blood and steel. But this? This was personal.
And he would burn the world to the ground before he let anyone take Ava from him.
- Writer
