UNDER ATTACK

By the time Ava finished freshening up, she was stunned to see that Zac had completely changed into a different outfit and looked like he was going out.




“Going somewhere?” asked Ava while she inspected him carefully.



With six feet something height, strong built structure, sharp jaw, Raven black locks, and an extremely handsome face, he looked like every girl’s dark fantasy.



“I need to attend an important party but I'll be back before you know it,” Zac enunciated softly while he closed the space between them and kissed her forehead.





Ava just stared at him as if what he just said makes no sense. “You’re going to a party without me?”





“Yes, baby. It will be a lot better if you don't come with me,” Zac smiled.





“But I want to come with you and if you keep insisting I musn’t, then it means you're hiding something from me,” Ava asserted firmly, her eyes serious.





Zac scoffed an incredulous sound, “What could I possibly be hiding from you after all we've gone through together? You’ve seen the real me and everything, so what more could I be hiding?”



“There might be another woman aside from me. Who knows?” Ava challenged, raising her brows.



Zac was rendered speechless. ‘Is this woman playing with me?’


Ava then began to give him a so-my-accusation-is-right-look and was about to say something when Zac interrupted her.


“It’s a party you shouldn't be seen with me, Ava. Please don't be stubborn,” his tone was neither firm nor soft. He seemed like he was at the verge to lose it.


Ave sighed softly, understanding the meaning underlying those words but she still persisted. “Nothing is going to happen to me, Jamal. You're going to be by my side, won't you?” she gifted him one of her irresistible smiles.


“Tinkerbell_”


“Wait for me in the lobby. I'll be quick,” Ava cut in, stood on tiptoe, and pecked his lips before scurrying into the dressing room.



Roughly twenty minutes later, Zac was in the living room with Nick, telling him how he intended not to stay long at the party when Ava emerged in the stairs.




His stomach directly dropped to the floor, his flesh shivered with a rush of intensity as he slowly rose to his feet.


She wore this tight black dress that hugged every curve. A slit rode up the side and the neckline dipped low between her perfect tits.


All that devastation wrapped in a black, seductive bow. Blonde hair loose and wavy. A smooth forehead, big eyes, a pert nose and lush lips.


“Wow. So sexy,” Nick drawled, not peeling his eyes away from the pretty woman that strode toward them elegantly.


Zac gave him a glare, “Lead yourself out of this place this instant and go get the car ready,”


“Am I coming with you, boss?” Nick asked with a grin.


“Hell no, Nick. I can't be there protecting my woman and at the same time keeping watch over you too, got it?” Zac snapped but smiled when Ava reached him.


Nick’s lips spread into a wide grin, “Does that mean you care a lot about me too, boss?”


Zac’s gaze moved to him from Ava, “Do you have a death wish?” he pretended to be fierce.


However, Nick knew too well that his boss wasn't angry at all, “No, boss, but I'll be glad to die by your hands rather than some bastard,” he chuckled all through his words.


“Stop it, Nick! What are you talking about? You shall not die by either your boss’s hands or any other person. You'll live long. Don't you know there’s power in the tongue. You should watch what you say, okay?” Ava chided.


“Aw, even the princess care so much about me,” Nick said with a shy smile, covering his face.


Zac bit back a laugh and asked throatily, “Do you really want to die now?”


Nick laughed out and started running along to get the car ready as he was instructed.


After Nick was out of their sight. Zac’s attention went back to Ava and their eyes locked.


“Do you know what I feel like doing to you right now?” He rasped into her ear, kissing the junction of her neck and shoulder.


A shiver ran down Ava’s body along the warmth that spread across her chest at his words.


Her arms slowly went around him as she rested her face against his chest and her eyes went shut that instance soaking into his warmth and scent as if they had their own mind.


“We have a party to attend now, honey. I'll permit you to do whatever you want with my body when we're back,”


-:- -:- -:-

A light glint flashed through Ava’s eyes when they both arrived at the GrandHall. The decor was opulent with luxurious furnishings and decorations. The flower arrangements were ravishing and the chandeliers scattered all over the top were enthralling.


The atmosphere was very formal and glamorous, far from Ava’s expectations.


When Zac had told her about the party which is often called A Mafia Ball or Mob Ball, Ava had reckoned it was going to be a well-not-organized party.


The people present were dressed in their finest attire, dancing slowly to the soft live music going on. Exclusive dining with attendees enjoying expensive champagne, wine, and cocktails.


While Ava enjoyed the high-profile ambiance, the aura the men possessed couldn't go unnoticed by her as most of them really looked dangerous.


Impulsively, her hand that was secured in Zac’s grip clenched and Zac just patted her hand with his other hand. “I’m here, baby,”


He led her to a table where only a few people were sitting and then sat down next to her.


They had barely taken their seats when Zac stood up upon seeing his bosses approaching. There were five men in all-black suits but the one in the middle seemed to be the boss with his dark impression.


He bowed slightly in greeting.


“You haven't entered Mexico for a while, Zac. What's up?” Dante Albert, the ruthless capo dei capi of the most powerful and dangerous Mexican-American Mafia interrogated stonily.


“I haven't gotten a message to do so, Capo,” Zac responded in a polite manner.


Then the capo nodded slowly and took a glance at a timid Ava sitting beside Zac before walking off with others trailing behind him.


“Oh, my goodness. I can't believe I nearly peed my pants by that man’s appearance,” Ava expressed as soon as Zac sat back down.


“Why does he look so scary, Zac, and what’s up with those ugly scars all over his face? Oh, my. I think I need to use the restroom first,” Ava got to her feet as she spoke, beating her chest softly.


Zac chuckled, and thought in his mind that she hadn't seen anything yet.


“I’m here by your side, Tinkerbell. You don't have to be scared,” he assured her once again, guiding her out of the table and heading out to look around for the restroom.


“Take your time. I'll wait here,” Zac pecked her lips and watched her go into the washroom.


“Tsk, tsk, tsk, I wouldn't have believed it if I'm not seeing it with my own eyes,” a gruff voice filled with mockery filled the air followed by a tall familiar figure.


Zac had no change in his expression as he continued staring at the only enemy he had left in this world.


“So it's true that you've been enchanted by a bitch lately?” the man drew nearer to where Zac stood.


“You'll be packing your teeth from the damn floor if you call her a bitch again, Walker,” a muscle of his jaw ticked— his nose flaring.


Walker then raised his hands up in the air, holding back a laugh. He looked like a man pushing into his sixties but his style of dressing made him appear like a man in his forties.


With his hands in his pocket, he stood right in front of Zac with only a tiny space between them. “What about we settle our old score with your girl, huh? No, it's not only an old score. You killed my cousin, Igor,” Walker gritted out.


Zac’s enraged countenance when he’d mentioned his girl immediately shifted to a surprised one when he talked about his cousin.


He scoffed, “How should I have known he was your cousin? And why the fuck did your cousin chose me over you? I'm not sure you guys were in unity,” Zac raised his head wilfully and said indifferently.


Walker narrowed his eyes slightly and there were turbulences at the bottom of his eyes, “That’s none of your fucking business, fucker! I left you all this while because I was mourning my mother but now I'll show you the stuff I am made of,”


Ava came out of the lavatory and was stunned to see Zac and an unknown man caught in a heated staredown. They seemed like they would be tearing each other apart soon.



This only heightened Ava’s nervousness to another level. It was at this moment she started regretting why she followed Zac to the party.


“Uhm, Zac,” she managed to call his attention.


Before Zac could turn to face Ava, Walker had looked over to her first, his mouth slipping into a spine-chilling smile.


“A pretty young girl like you,” his creepy smile grew, “Such a waste,” with that, he whirled around and took off.


Ava’s body froze, and anxiety erupted in her heart. What did he mean by his words?


“He’s someone you shouldn't pay attention to if you come across him in the future,” Zac instructed, taking hold of her hand and then started walking back into the hall.


Halfway, Ava stopped walking and held his hand that was holding her, “Let’s go home, Zac.


Without a moment’s hesitation, Zac replied, “Okay,” and turned toward the courtyard that leads outside.


He was about to unlock his car door when a voice stopped him from behind.


“Leaving already?”


Zac knew who it was without turning around. He ignored him and proceeded to open the passenger door for Ava.


“We’re having a meeting after the party. You can't leave,” Walker persisted.



Zac spared him a glance but didn't say anything and then finally rounded the car and got in.


As the car drove the car out of the premises, he could see the gloating smirk embedded in Walker’s lips.



His muscles bunched and unbunched as he tried not to think of what Walker had gotten up his sleeve.



It didn't take long before Ava noticed his hands clutching around the wheel tightly and his jaw kept clenching and unclenching.



“Are you okay?” Ava asked, touching his arm.


Zac exhaled before leaning forward to open the compartment and then fetched his handgun.


“Ava,” he called gruffly, meeting Ava’s worried eyes. “Anything could happen anytime from now but I want you to be rest assured that I won't let any harm come to you,”


Now, Ava was terrified. She was really scared as she'd never seen Zac looking so nervous before.


“W-What’s happening, Zac? You look…frightened,” Ava pronounced, her voice shaky.


Zac nodded against his better judgment. “But it's okay, Tinkerbell. They will have to come to me first before getting close to you,”


After his words, he looked through the witness holes to confirm the number of ammo he'd left in the gun.


However, it seemed not satisfying enough as he let out a string of curses and checked the compartment, Central console, and everywhere for more ammo but he couldn't find any, and his fear became evident now.



He suddenly stepped on the brakes and parked the car.


Ava swallowed hard, saying nothing as she only watched him in dread. In her mind, she kept reprimanding herself for going to the party in the first place.


She watched as Zac pressed his phone hurriedly and dialed a number.


“I’m under attack, Reid. Out of bullets and Ava is with me. So you've got to hurry. I'm along the road in Spine Estate,”


He had not finished talking when a gunshot rang out in the air.


“GET DOWN, AVA!” Zac ordered gravely.


Ava screamed, holding her head, and quickly lowered herself.