by Jessie Lynn
"Ava there's no way he can hear me, he's all the way outside."
"Ava I will not go away sweetheart, so come open the door and talk to me." Dom called through the door again while looking at Sloan who had a sly smile on his face. They both had heard Marie and Ava knew it.
"Shit!" Ava said marching down the stairs to the door. "Go away Dom I don't want to talk to him." She called through the door.
Dom chuckled. "He is not here, so you don't have to talk to him. It's just Sloan and myself my dear."
"Why should I believe you Dom?"
"Because you know I wouldn't lie to you, and that there is no way he can be here right now even if I were."
"Well you could be here to take me back."
"I would not force you to do anything against your will. Ava open the door please." He said on a sigh. He really was tiring of having to repeat himself no matter how amusing the situation was currently.
Ava cracked the door open and peeked out. "I don't want to talk to him right now Dom."
Dom smiled at Rafe's mate. She most certainly was something else. "Yes I know this as you have made it abundantly clear by telling me several times. And I have told you that I won't force you to every time as well. Now may we come in and talk a moment?"
"You’re just going to try to stall me so that when the sun goes down he can come get me."
"No my dear I will nothing of the sort. I just want to talk a moment, and then I will let you go on your way."
Ava opened the door and stepped back. "Fine come in." She said and shut the door behind them. Crossing her arms over her breasts, she asked. "So what do you want to talk to me about?"
Dom looked around the apartment. It was quite nice and was exactly how he would have pictured their place, very inviting yet sheik showing off their individual style. He looked over and saw Marie come into the room.
"Hello I don't think we've had the pleasure of being introduced. I am Dominic and this is Sloan." He said pointing at himself and his beta.
"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to be friendly at the moment, so tell us what the hell you want and then get out." Marie said to him going to stand by her friend and taking almost the same posture. Dom looked at Sloan and raised his brow. Sloan just shrugged and shook his head. Women.
"It's okay Marie, you actually have to be nice to him, he's actually a really important and apparently powerful guy." She turned to Dom. "Do you even refer to yourself as a guy?"
Dom chuckled. "Yes Ava I do." He said nodding his head.
"I don't care if he's the president of the United freaking States. Him and his boy have apparently helped to get you really upset and I want to know why right friggin now, cause I'm starting to get really pissed off."
"You don't know how close he really is to a president." Ava said half to herself. "Marie just give us a minute okay?"
"No I actually think it might be better if she stayed to listen to what we have to say to you." Sloan spoke up. He turned to his alpha. "Do you agree?"
"Yes I do. Ladies please sit." Dom said gesturing to the couch.
"Not in the mood so we'll just stand. Get to the friggin point before I tell you both to get the hell out and show you exactly how you can do it." Marie said back to them.
Sloan barely bit back the growl that wanted to come out at the ornery woman. She was starting to piss him off with the way she was treating his alpha. She had already been warned and she still showed no respect. He felt Dom lay a hand on his shoulder.
"Sloan it is okay. Once she understands who we are, then she will not be so rude. She is very upset about her friend and she has every right to be."
"She may be upset, but she has already been informed that she is to treat you with respect whether she wants to or not." Sloan said glaring at Marie.
"Damn straight I'm upset. Now what the hell is going on?" Marie yelled.
"What am I aloud to tell her?" Ava asked Dom trying to diffuse the situation before it got any worse than it already was.
"Whatever you like." He said to the shock of both Sloan and Ava.
Ava's jaw dropped. "Are you being serious?" She couldn't believe he just told her to tell Marie whatever she wanted. "What's the catch?" She asked then thinking there had to be something up.
"No catch. You obviously trust your friend, so you decide what it is she should know." Dom told her gesturing to Marie and smiling between the two.
Ava looked at Dom a moment longer to see if she could tell he was lying. Seemed he wasn't, so she turned to Marie and told her the truth.
"I was kidnapped on my way home from work last night by a crazy midget that is off her meds and wants to get Rafe in trouble by hurting me. And because of that, he's decided that I need to be locked away at Lair until they find her. And of course we both know how well I take being told what to do without being asked my opinion, so we're kinda having a fight and I ran away. So because I don't want to talk to the overbearing jackass right now and I sure as hell don't want to see psycho midget, we have to go find a place to stay."
Sloan looked at Dom and raised his brows. The alpha just smiled back at him and winked. Of course he knew all along Ava wouldn't tell her friend the entire truth. Sloan was sure she was going to and wouldn't have given her the option. Seems both he and Rafe had a lot to learn about the woman and from the alpha as well.
Marie stared at her friend for a moment. Shaking her head, she finally spoke to her. "You expect me to believe that? Ava what the hell? What have they done to you that you can't tell me the truth?"
Ava looked at Dom. "That's the catch." She said pointing at her friend. "You knew she wouldn't believe me."
"It is kind of a hard story to believe is it not?" Dom replied raising his hands in the air.
Ava started laughing. "Yeah it is. Marie I really am telling you the truth and I'm sorry you don't believe me, but I don't know what else to say to make you. So I'm sorry, I guess you'll just have to be pissed at me." She turned back to Dom. "So now what?"
"Now you decide what you need to do."
"You know for being some all powerful alpha dude, you really are no help at all. You know that right?" She told him crossing her arms again and kicking out her hip.
Dom laughed. "If you would like me to give you my opinion, then I will. But if you are looking for me to tell you what to do, then I will not. I told you Ava, I will not force you to do anything you do not want to do."
"I want to find that damn midget and make sure she can't hurt Rafe again, that's what I really want. But we both know there's no way I can do that and stay alive in the process." Ava said pacing to the window.
Sloan smiled a wicked smile at that. "Yeah I like her too I think. She definitely is full of surprises" He told his alpha. "I think I can help you with that actually." He told Ava.
"How's that?" She asked turning back around to face them brows raised. "And really I'm so very glad I pass everyone's approval, but kinda getting sick of hearing about it. Kay?"
Sloan smiled back at her. "Hate to tell you this, but that's just too bad. I kept Carl's phone and was able to trace the locations where many calls were made from. There are three locations I think are likely to be places Rachel would be hiding."
"Who's Carl?" Ava asked.
"Who's Rachel?" Marie asked.
"I told you, the crazy midget." Ava told her friend waving her hand dismissively.
"Ava you cannot seriously expect me to believe you about a crazy midget."
Ava looked at her friend. "Believe me, or don't believe me. It's the truth. So do you have a number that he called a lot too?"
"Actually I do. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm thinking I give her a call and set up a meeting. You can let Rafe know where it is right before we meet. Then he can come take care of his crazy sister and save the night." She snapped her fingers. "Then voilà, fights over and everybody's happy." She finished smiling from Sloan to Dom and back again.
"You know he will not be pleased about this in the least
Ava." Dom told her then.
Ava shrugged. "Yeah well, I'm not pleased with him trying to lock me up so that makes us even. May I have the number please?"
CHAPTER 44
Ava sat in Marie's car looking around at the dark parking lot wondering what the hell she had been thinking. She looked down at her watch. Again. Five minutes till they were supposed to meet Rachel. She scanned the lot again. Man it was dark out now and she could barely see a damn thing. Sloan and Ed were somewhere out there watching them, thank goodness. At least that's what they had promised her and Marie. Dom had gone back to Lair right before sunset to tell Rafe where they were. She had deliberately picked a place fairly far away from the club to give them time to get Rachel here before Rafe showed up guns blazing and forced her back to Lair.
She looked over at Marie and saw she was just as antsy as Ava and she kicked herself again for dragging her friend into this mess. Ava had tried to keep Marie from coming, but she had insisted on coming to help. Although she had made it abundantly clear, she still didn't totally believe the story Ava had given her. She said she knew there was more to it than what Ava was telling her, and she wanted to know what so she was coming whether Ava liked it or not. Ava was glad her friend was here with her, but she was scared something would happen to her and Ava would never be able to live with herself if that happened.
"I cannot believe I let you talk me into this Ava." Marie said to her for the hundredth time.
"I told you you didn't have to come. That you actually shouldn't come."
"Whatever. We are not having this argument again. You know damn well, there was no way I would let you do this alone. Whatever the hell this is."
"Well for what it's worth, I am glad you’re here." Ava said smiling at her friend and squeezing her hand.
Rafe was about to go crazy. He'd been pacing the club for the last few hours waiting to hear from Dom and get Ava back here where she belonged. The sun was mostly set now and he'd had enough waiting, so he headed for the garage and his Harley. Ethan, Marcus and Nate followed him out. They knew not to question him on this now even though he was still pretty badly burned, cause he was damn close to blowing up again. Just as they were starting to pull out, Dom came riding in.
"Where the hell have you been?" Rafe yelled. "You were supposed to get my mate and bring her back home to me."
Dom raised a brow at him. "I told you I would not force your mate to do anything she didn't want to do." He replied.
"No you didn't." Rafe shook his head. "Dammit I don't have time for this. I'm going to get her myself."
"Well I would not bother going to her apartment then." Dom replied way too calmly for the mood Rafe was in now.
"Dom, don't fuck with me. Where is she? I know you know where she is and since you couldn't bring her home to me, then you can lead me to her now."
Dom nodded his head. "Yes you are absolutely right, I do. And I must say I am very impressed and amazed by her as well."
When Rafe just glared at him clenching his fists Dom threw his head back and laughed.
"Oh Rafe I truly am going to enjoy watching your mate teach you a great many things." He said shaking his head.
"Dom you’re fucking with me and you’re wasting my time. Now where the hell is my mate!" He yelled.
“She is actually making sure your sister can't harm her again, and therefore harm you in the process. Again I am very proud of her my friend."
"She what!" Rafe yelled almost going after the alpha, but Ethan and Marcus caught him in time and held him back.
"Shit!" Marcus exclaimed as he grabbed Rafe.
"Aw hell, now you've done it wolf." Ethan said. "Mind giving me the Meat Locker before Rafe rips your head off?"
"Rafe, we can either stay here and fight, or we can go help your mate. Your choice." Dom said ignoring Ethan and shrugging nonchalantly.
"Where is she?" Rafe grated out through clenched teeth.
Dom smiled. "Follow me vampire." He turned his bike and headed back out of the garage, hearing the vampires bikes come to life behind him as he knew they would. Rafe was pissed now, but at least he would soon know his mate was safe and actually more proactive about her safety than he gave her credit for.
Ava watched the black car pull into the parking lot and felt her heart leap into her throat. This is it. She thought. She hoped she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life and said a quick little prayer for good measure. She looked over at Marie and saw the same thoughts reflecting in her eyes as well. She took a deep breath and squeezed her best friend's hand again.
"Well here goes nothing." She said.
Rachel got out of her car and walked over to the stupid human still huddled in her car. Like that was going to protect her from a vampire. She laughed when she saw the friend sitting right next to Ava. Wonderful now she wouldn’t have to go hunt her down as well.
"What's the matter little mate? Not so brave now that you have to face me for real instead of over the phone?"
"No I never said I wasn't afraid of you on the phone."
Rachel laughed. "Well at least you’re honest. Get out of the car now." She said back to them.
"Um I think I like it in here just fine. We were supposed to talk remember."
"No you said you wanted to talk, I merely said I would meet you. I apparently failed to mention that I had no intentions of talking."
"Dude she is an evil midget." Marie said. "We could so take her, what are we waiting for. I want to smack that smile off her damn face."
Ava grabbed onto Marie. "No trust me she's a lot stronger than she looks. Just stay right here, Rafe should be here any minute."
Marie looked back at the psycho bitch outside their car. "Seriously what is your damage?" She asked her and immediately regretted goading the woman when she raised a gun at them.
"I said get out of the car now." Rachel growled at them.
"Rachel put the gun down now baby." Michael said coming up behind his mate.
Rachel wheeled around. "What are you doing here?" She shrieked.
"Stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life apparently. Now put that fucking gun down before you piss me off anymore and I add more to your punishment than you've already racked up baby." Michael growled at her stepping closer.
Rafe and his boys followed Dom into an abandoned parking lot just on the other side of town. As soon as he pulled in his blood pressure skyrocketed. Ava had used herself as bait to draw Rachel out in the open. Holy shit! He was never going to be able to sleep again. He was going to make her ass so sore she wouldn't be able to sit down for a week for this. That is if he could get their asses out of this one now too. He pulled to a stop and jumped off his bike running right for Ava's car. Just as he started coming toward them Rachel turned and fired at him hitting him in the chest and knocking him backward. His last thought was that he needed to see his beautiful one last time.
CHAPTER 45
Michael lunged for Rachel trying to get the gun away from her before she could fire at Rafe, but he was too late again. He wrapped his arms around her and ripped the gun from her hand. He watched Ava jump out of the car and ran for her mate screaming his name.
"Shit! What have you done baby?" He said turning her to him and holding her face in both her hands. She was crying hysterically.
"Michael, I'm so sorry he scared me." She started to turn to look at her brother, but Michael stopped her.
"No baby don't look at him now." He said pulling her into his arms and holding her tight against him. "I'll find a way to fix this, I promise." He told her as his mate finally held onto him just as tightly.
"Michael." Rachel whispered finally feeling complete now that she was in his arms. Dear Fates what did she just do?
"Rafe!" Ava screamed jumping out of the car and running towards him. "Rafe. Oh God no!" She cried dropping to her knees and pressing on his chest trying to stop the bleeding.
"Ava move let me help him." Ed told her as he kneeled down on the other side
of Rafe.
Marcus went for Rachel and Michael. "Rachel Di Luciano you are hereby taken into custody for the attempted and possible murder of Rafael Di Luciano League enforcer." He told her as he reached to take her from Michael. "Michael hand her over, I'll take her from here so you don't have to deal with her anymore."
"Marcus back the fuck off now or I swear I'll kill you. She will not go to trial." Michael growled at him.
"Michael don't make me take you into custody as well. Hand her over now." Marcus said advancing on them again.
Rafe was having a hard time breathing. He could hear Ava crying somewhere, but he couldn't see her.
"Ava baby, stop crying. What's the matter?" He tried talking to her.
"Sshh don't try to talk Rafe, be still baby." She said to him.
She looked up at Ed the supposed demon. "You said you were like an angel, but way cooler. Prove it right now dammit."
Ed smiled at her. "Way ahead of you sweetness. I was trying to get you out of my way so I can, so back off the vampire so I can do my awesomeness." He started to put his hand over Rafe's chest, but stopped and looked back at Ava. "You might not want to watch this sweetness."
"Quit yakking and do something asshole!" She yelled at him.
"Kay I warned you." Ed said shrugging and changing to his true form.
Ava sucked in a breath and fell back. "Holy shit!" She said covering her mouth with her hand. He really was a demon. He was bright red and he was almost see through, but his skin looked like it moved like flames dancing. He had horns that came out the sides of his head and curved almost like a ram's would. His eyes looked like they were black holes in his head. But when he looked at you; you could tell they were just solid black eyeballs. He looked like he had long hair, but his hair was actually fire. The flames moved around his horns and down his back. His feet were huge hooves and on each of his fingers were sharp black claws. He had a long tail that looked like it could be a lion's, but at the tip where the hair should be was fire ball as well.