51

An hour later, the SUV stopped in front of the small house in the suburban part of the city. Zanes men had arrived half an hour before to make sure the aunt and uncle wouldn’t be home. They had been encouraged to go out and eat their dinner outside their home. Zane helped Ava out of the car, and she smiled as she looked at the house.

“They have repaired the front step and the porch,” she said in a cheerful voice.

“I told you it would be done,” Zane reminded her and followed her up onto the small porch. Ava was about to reach for the door handle and stopped.

“It’s okay, Angel. The house is empty.” She looked up at him.

“No one’s at home?”

“No, not a soul. It’s just you and me.” She nodded and opened the door and invited Zane inside. Zane had never been in a place like this. He had grown up in a mansion, the few friends he had growing up were also living in mansions or were children of his father’s men and would come to the mansion. As he got older, his lifestyle wasn’t one which had