72
Ava sat by Bain’s leg and tried to make herself invisible as she half listened to the conversation between Zane and Johnson. Johnson made her skin crawl and the two other men who were with him were not much better. Ava could feel Zane’s anger as an aura radiating from him. She appreciated it. She knew he was angry because she had to act like a pet and Johnson thought it gave him rights over her. Zane’s anger was like a reminder he wasn’t indifferent towards her and acted as a security blanket as she knew he would keep her safe. But he needed to calm down. Johnson would notice it, and Ava guessed he would use it. She leaned into him in a way she hoped looked like a pet who just felt insecure. Zane relaxed a little, and Ava relaxed with him.
“Sure, I have no issue with that. So, you want to use the block at Roe and Park?” she heard Zane ask.
“Yes,” Johnson answered.
“For what?”
“I would love to tell you, but even though we sit here all friendly, we are competitors. I’m not going to tell you what our business idea is so you can turn me down and set it up yourself,” Johnson said in a calm manner. But Ava had a feeling he was far from calm. She glanced at the woman sitting by Johnson, and Ava could clearly see the signs of malnutrition and faint shadows of bruises that were covered by makeup. Ava realised she could have been in the same state as that woman. She had been with Zane for months and he could have made her starve and he could have beaten her. Instead, she was treated better than she had ever been treated. The woman glanced up and saw Ava looking at her. She flinched and looked scared. Ava tried to give her a reassuring smile without anyone seeing. The other woman looked at her with surprise and seemed to be just as wondering about Ava as Ava was about her. Ava realised it was just as strange for the woman to see how Ava had been treated as it was the other way around. They lived in completely different realities even though they, on paper, should live very similar lives. Ava looked down as she couldn’t stand to see the haunted eyes of the other woman and she pressed a little closer to Zane. He reached out a hand and placed it on her head.
“My family has owned that piece of land for generations. It was one of the first areas we started working in. I’m curious about what business opportunities we have missed. The neighbourhood has no potential anymore from what we can see,” Zane was saying. They were still talking about the neighbourhood Johnson wanted to use.
“I don’t see how you could miss this one,” Johnson told him in a taunting tone.
“You have got me curious. I will give my word that whether I will give you the permission or not, we won’t start up a business like the one you plan in the block or the surrounding ones, if it doesn’t already exist,” Zane said.
“You would give your word?”
“On my honour.” There was a silence following Zane’s statement. No matter what Johnson said, everyone knew Zane was a man of his word. Ava wanted to look up at Johnson, but didn’t want to be caught and undo all the work and frustration Zane had put into making their act work.
“Deal,” Johnson said, standing up. Zane gently pushed on Ava with his leg. She got the message and sat up so he could stand up without kicking her.
“You have my word,” Zane told him, and Ava could see them shake hands out of the corner of her eye. Then they both sat down again.
“It’s quite obvious. That area is a blank spot when it comes to drug trade. It is a lower income area with a high crime rate. It should be a prime location for selling drugs,” Johnson told Zane. Ava could hear from his voice he felt smug, he had figured out something Zane had missed.
“There is a school on the corner of that block and an additional two in the close by area,” Zane said.
“I know, it’s perfect. Not only to get life long customers, but to recruit new blood into the organisation,” Johnson told him with a chuckle.
“Clever plan. There will be no deal,” Zane said.
“What the fuck! Are you going to go back on your word?” Johnson asked. Zane stood up so fast his chair flew back. Jax was also standing. Ava stayed on the floor, gluing her gaze down, desperately wanting to look up at what was going on around her.
“Are you calling me a fucking liar?” Zane demanded. Ava saw the woman by Johnson’s feet glance at Ava. Ava wanted to tell her that things would be okay. But truth be told, Ava didn’t know it would. She knew Zane would do everything he could to keep Ava safe. But she knew he wouldn’t bat an eye if Johnson’s pet got caught in a crossfire. Maybe it should bother Ava, but it didn’t. Ava wished the woman could be saved, but at this point, she wouldn’t sacrifice any of the men in the room who she knew to make that a reality.
“I’m not the one who is backing out of his word,” Johnson threw back at Zane. The tension in the room was quickly rising.
“For fuck’s sake, I’m not going to steal that idiotic idea of yours. I’m just saying you can’t do any fucking business in my neighbourhood,” Zane growled. There was a tense silence. Ava realised she was holding her breath.
“Well then, glad we cleared that one out,” Johnson said, as if they had changed words over what ice cream flavour they preferred. Ava glanced at the woman again and saw she was still trembling. Everyone sat back down again. Zane’s hand went to Ava’s head. He stroked her hair before pulling back. She took the comfort the gesture offered and did her best to relax and remember all the rules she needed to follow.
“Glad we cleared that up,” Zane told his rival, sounding just as relaxed as Johnson had.
“Indeed. that concludes our business. No hurt feelings, my friend,” Johnson said.
“Glad to hear it, friend.”
“It’s sad to lose an opportunity, but we will survive. Plenty of fish in the sea, and so on,” Johnson continued.
“Yes, so I hear.”
“As the business part is now concluded, let’s talk about pleasure,” Johnson said. Ava could feel the man’s eyes homing in on her. “Stand up and show that beautiful body, pet,” he told her. There was no doubt it was meant as an order. Ava turned towards Zane. She didn’t look him in the eyes, but she knew her part. She needed to ask his permission before obeying anyone else. She knew nothing about guns or self-defence, even though Ryder had been teaching her a little. The way she could protect the people she cared about in the room was to make sure she played her part in the game they were playing. She saw Zane looking at her.
“Do as he told you, angel,” Zane said. Ava got up from the floor and did another swirl to show the room all angles of herself.
“A true beauty,” Johnson said as he gawked at Ava.
“That she is,” Zane agreed, holding out his hand towards her. Ava hurried to take it, and she was more than willing to be pulled in towards him. He placed an arm around her, placing his hand on her ass.
“Interested in a trade?” Johnson asked. There was a tone of want in his voice that had Ava scared. Zane eyed the woman Johnson had brought with him, as if he was thinking about the offer.
“You don’t trade a purebred for a mut,” he finally said. Ava saw the other woman flinch. Again, she felt sorry for her, but again she also felt no guilt at being the one Zane chose.
“I guess not,” Johnson mused and walked towards Ava. He looked her up and down as if trying to memorise every detail of her body. She felt naked and exposed under his gaze in a way she had never experienced with Zane. It made her skin crawl, and she had to force herself to remain passive with her eyes down. Still, she saw Johnson’s hand reach out to touch her and she readied herself for his touch. It never came. She glanced up and saw Zane’s hand gripping Johnson’s wrist. The tension in the room was at an all-time high.
“She belongs to me. No one plays with what is mine if they are not invited to do so. I will end anyone who tries,” Zane told Johnson. It was clear he wasn’t just talking about Ava. He had just sent a hidden warning to his competitor there would be consequences if Johnson didn’t respect Zane’s decision not to give him access to his territory. After another silence, Johnson chuckled.
“I can respect it. Men like us can’t be pussies,” Johnson said to Zane. He pulled back his hand and Zane let go of him.
“How about a whisky to settle the mood?” Zane suggested, motioning to the couches.
“Love one. I could use something to take the edge off after this meeting,” Johnson said. He walked over to the couch and sat down. The woman hurried to stand and follow him. As he sat down, he unzipped his pants. “You don’t mind me relaxing a bit?” Johnson asked.
“Not at all,” Zane said as Ava saw the other woman kneeling down in front of Johnson and continued unbuckling his pants. Ava realised what was about to happen, and she felt shocked and disgusted. Johnson’s two men sat down on either side of him on the couch. Jax sat down in one of the armchairs as Zane headed towards the other one. Ava followed him in a daze. She was trying to block everything out. She didn’t want to see what was going to happen, but she knew there was no way out of it. Ryder was pouring the whiskey and Carlos was keeping close to Zane. Zane sat down in the armchair, and Ava sat down on the floor. Zane’s hand shot out and took a hold of her wrist. “Lap.” Was all he said. Ava hurried to sit down on his lap. He made sure she sat down with her back towards Johnson and the woman. His hand wrapped around her neck and she felt the calmness which always came over her when he showed his dominance in that way. He pulled her head towards his neck and started placing kisses along her shoulder. He worked his way up to her ear, and Ava focused on him to block the rest of the room out.
“That’s right, bitch, suck it.” Ava heard Johnson groan. It popped the little bubble she had created and let reality back in.
“Close your eyes and focus on me, angel,” Zane whispered so quietly in her ear she almost missed it. But she did as he told her. She tried to turn her ears off and instead focus on the feel of Zane’s skin and his familiar scent.