92

It was time for Ava to deal with things. She had let Zane keep her in their room, with brief visits to the kitchen and the library, for weeks. She felt much better, especially since Zane had stopped thinking she was too frail for sex. Ava almost felt like her old self again. No, that wasn’t entirely true. She felt like a new and improved version, Ava 2.0. Somehow her time with Johnson had given her a little more confidence, and the fact she knew she had Zane and Gabriel in her life left her with a sense of security she hadn’t felt since she was a child. It was time she put this new version to the test.

“I want to see my aunt and uncle,” she told Zane as they were eating breakfast. Ava had convinced him they should start having their meals in the dining room and not the bedroom. It felt like a good sign he had agreed.

“No.”

“You said it was my decision what happens to them,” she objected.

“It is. You will tell me what you want, and I will make it happen. No where is there a need for you to see them,” he told her.

“I want to see them. I need it.” Ava wouldn’t budge on this. Zane stopped eating and looked at her. Ava stubbornly stared back at him.

“I don’t like it,” he finally said.

“I can understand that, but it doesn’t change the fact I need to do it.” He studied her a little longer.

“Fine. But I will go with you, so will Ryder and Tom. If I tell you the visit is over, you will listen and get your ass upstairs without arguing. Do you understand?”

“I can agree with that,” Ava said.

“Okay. Do you want to see them separate, or both at the same time?” he asked. Ava had to think about it. She realised she really only needed to talk to her uncle, but since she had the opportunity, she could include her aunt as well.

“Both at the same time. I don’t want to spend more time with them than I have to,” she told him. He nodded and took up his phone and sent a message. They were just finishing up their meal as his phone dinged and he looked at it.

“They are ready for us. Are you ready?” he asked. Ava nodded and stood up. Zane joined her and put his arms around her waist, making her feel safe. They walked toward the door to the basement and were joined by Ryder and Tom. Ava realised she had never been to the basement of the mansion. She knew there was a gym down there and she assumed there were rooms like the one she had been held in. Tom opened the door and Zane bent down and whispered to her.

“You don’t have to do this. If at any point you feel scared, uncomfortable or sad, you let me know and I will take you out of there,” he said to her. She nodded. Ava was grateful for his support, and she understood why he worried about her. It didn’t take a genius to realise he was worried she would have flashbacks to her time with Johnson, and Ava knew he was afraid her experiences would make her afraid of him and of the life he led. Ava had wondered why it hadn’t. Why she was okay with living with a man like Zane after experiencing the things she had? The only reason she had found was the two men were nothing alike. Zane used violence as a last resort. It was an unavoidable part of the life he lived, and he used it when it was useful. Johnson, on the other hand, used it for fun. He loved the power which came with violence. He used it even if he didn’t need to. Maybe it was a minor detail in the grand scheme of things, but to Ava, it made all the difference.

They walked down the stairs and came into a white corridor, both sides of it had doors. Only two of them were guarded by Zane’s men. Ava walked towards the first.

“Not that one, the second one,” Zane told her.

“Who’s behind the first one?”

“Jasmin,” he answered. Ava stopped walking and turned towards him.

“What will happen to her?”
“She has told us everything she told Johnson. I believe her when she says it is all she said. She’s a woman, so she will not be harmed. I have let the other families know what she did and anyone that tries to get information from her, or help her, will be seen as openly starting a conflict with us. We will drive her a couple of states over and release her,” he told Ava.

“You know that will get her killed,” Ava said. After Zane had taken over Johnson’s businesses, he had become even more powerful. There was no longer any other organisation which could threaten his. The others would not dare to look at Jasmine unless it was to kill her in hopes of gaining a favour from Zane.

“I know. Does it upset you?” he asked. Ava thought about everything she had been through because Jasmin had opened her mouth.

“No,” she said. Zane kissed her forehead.

“Good girl.” They walked over to the other door and the man in front of it stepped aside, gave Ava a smile, and opened the door for them. Ava returned his smile and stepped inside. The room was white. The floor, ceiling, and walls were all bright white. In the middle of a room there was a table and on the other side of the table sat her aunt and uncle. They looked to be in bad shape. Her aunt seemed physically alright, a little dirty and stressed, but had no injuries. Her uncle, on the other hand, looked rougher. He had clearly been beaten, and he sat slumped in his chair. As Ava walked in with the three men in tow, he looked up, and Ava could see hope in his tired eyes.

“Ava! Thank god. I’m so relieved to see you,” he said.

“Hello uncle,” Ava said. Zane had walked up to the table and drew out the single chair which was on the opposite side from her aunt and uncle. He held it out for her, and Ava sat down.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have come to make sure we are let go. This has all been a big misunderstanding,” her uncle tried to say.

“Really, uncle? I don’t see how I can misunderstand you purposely driving me to a warehouse, making me get out and handing me over to someone because he paid you money for me. That is a situation which is hard to interpret in a way that puts you in a good light, wouldn’t you say?” she asked.

“Ava, I made a mistake. You know I have a gambling problem. You know I can’t help myself.”

“I know. I just can’t let that keep ruining my life,” she told him.

“I promise when you let us go, we will disappear. You will never hear from us again. We will go someplace else where no one knows us. Just let us go and give us a little money so we can start over.”

“Think of your uncle’s health. You know he is poorly,” her aunt added.

“I can’t believe after everything; you still ask for money.” Ava was stunned.

“Just to get us started in a new place. Some money for rent and food, to keep us going until I can find work. That’s all.”

“You are assuming you are being let go,” Ava said. Her aunt and uncle looked at her like it had never occurred to them there was another option.

“You are going to keep us locked up in the basement?” her aunt asked.

“Of course not. I can’t ask Zane to keep you fed. You tried to steal from the mafia, what did you expect the punishment would be? A slap on the hand? A light beating and then a new life fully paid?” Ava shook her head in disbelief. How could they be so stupid?

“But we are family,” her uncle said.

“Really, uncle? Do you remember what you told me every time I had to give something up for your sake? Every time you needed money? You told me that family looks after each other,” she said.

“Yeah, that’s right. I have always said that,” he agreed, nodding.

“I used to think you were full of… something, when you said that. But, it turns out, you were right, and I was wrong,” Ava continued, her uncle eagerly nodding. “Turns out, family does look after each other. The thing I got wrong is you were never my family. You are just two relatives
who had to take care of me. My family is Zane and Gabriel, they would do anything to keep me safe. Jax and Linda who is there when I need them, no matter what time of day it is. It’s Ryder, Tom and Carlos who would give their own life for me and all the other men in this house who all came to get me, putting themself in danger. It’s Anna and the staff who make sure I have what I need and is always there to listen when I need a chat. That is my family,” Ava said. She felt Zane’s hand on her shoulder, giving her a squeeze.

“We are family, Ava. How can you say we are not? You are my brother’s only child. We have raised you,” her uncle protested.

“You took me in so you could live off my inheritance. You got a free house and living expenses and shoved me to the side. You sold me as a sex slave, twice! How can you say we are family?”

“I know we aren’t perfect. But we love you. We love you as if you were our own daughter,” her uncle pleaded.

“In that case, I’m happy you never had children of your own,” Ava said, standing up. “I need to protect my family. If I let you go, you will find a way to try to get more money, or sell information about the organisation or about me. I won’t risk my family’s safety for your sake. Zane has put the decision of what happens to you, in my hands. You will not leave this house alive. We don’t kill or hurt women, but I’m going to ask that we make an exception for you, aunt. As you are my father’s brother, and you did take me in when I needed it, I will ask them to make your death painless. There is no need for you to suffer,” Ava said. She then looked at Zane. He nodded and put his arm around her and escorted her out of the room. On their way past the man at the door, Zane gave him a nod. As they were walking up the stairs, Ava could have sworn she heard six soft thuds in quick succession. Zane took her to their room, made her sit down in an armchair as he got her a glass of whiskey.

“I’m fine,” she told him.

“I know,” he simply said and sat down on the coffee-table in front of her. Ava smiled. “What?” he asked.

“It reminds me of when we first met. You were sitting just like that, you looked intimidating, and I was questioning my own sanity why I wasn’t more afraid of you,” she told him as she sipped the liquor he had handed her. Zane smiled back at her and brushed his fingers over her cheek.

“One of the luckiest days of my life. I never expected you to accept my offer. I still can’t believe you did,” he confessed.

“Speaking of which, how do we go about getting the contract cancelled?” she asked.

“I think I have an idea. If you changed your last name, it wouldn’t be your name on the contract anymore,” he said.

“I don’t think that is how it works, if you could just change your name to get out of contracts you don’t like there would be chaos in the business world. And why would I change my last name?” she asked.

“I was kind of hoping you would take mine,” Zane said. As Ava looked at him, not understanding what he was telling her, he went down on one knee and took out a small velvet box. “Angel, from the first time I saw you, I knew I had to have you in my life. I was a fool for not seeing how much you mean to me and how meaningless life is without you. But I know now, and I don’t want to spend one day without you. I need you the same way I need air. Angel, Ava, my love, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” he asked, and opened the lid. Ava looked down at the beautiful pink diamond in a snowflake setting, with clear diamonds in a halo. Then she looked at Zane and she realised her hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold on to the glass.

“Yes,” she told him.

“Yes?”

“Yes, there is nothing more I would like than to be your wife,” she said. She saw tears in Zane’s eyes as he reached out for her. He drew her into his embrace, knocking the glass out of her hands. Zane kissed her with passion and love and so much joy it knocked all sense out of Ava. He sat her down on his bent knee as he put the ring on her hand.

“Mine for ever,” he told her.