Miguel's POV The entire ride to the safehouse, I kept thinking about the evening with Ava and the familiar tune she had hummed —the very tune that set me off.How did she know it? Just how? The tune seemed to haunt me everywhere, echoing in my mind and forcing me to remember all the things that I didn't want to.My chest tightened, and my mother's face flashed before my eyes, momentarily, filling me with dread. I didn't want to think about it —about her, but somehow all those feelings seemed to be crawling right to the surface, and I hated it.I hated how fragile it made me feel, so I shoved them back down. Instead, I focused on how fantastic it had felt to have Ava even for a bit.The thought of her was like a drug, and I just couldn't resist it as the emotions rushed into me. The longing still remained, and so did the frustration. It had followed me. I couldn't help it. Leaving her like that after getting to that point hadn't been the easiest for me. It was hard, especially aft
Miguel's POV"DiAngelos?" I repeated, turning to Leonard, and he nodded frantically."Yes, it was them. Please let her go," he begged, focusing his gaze on his half-sister. It didn't seem like he was lying."I've told you everything," he added hastily, but I was only half listening.My mind had strayed off everything as soon as I heard that name —DiAngelos. I clenched my jaw, and the rage that coursed through me was murderous. I hadn't heard that name in a while but it definitely still stung.DiAngelos? They were here. They were back.I hadn't heard anything from them since the day they took the most important thing from me. I had looked for them everywhere but never found a trace of them until now, and suddenly all the wounds of the past seemed to just reopen. I clenched my fist tightly as the blood rushed to my brain.I was enraged, and beyond. I couldn't think of anything else anymore but the rage that burned through me. I needed them to pay. I needed them to pay for what they
Ava's POVThe room was quiet. It had been that way for a few days now, and I liked it—most of the time, at least. Other times, it just got too lonely and quiet, which was boring. Perez had kept his promise and allowed me to move around Miguel's room. However, I wanted as long as Miguel didn't find out, of course, which he hadn't.He had barely been home.I had spent the last few days going through his room a couple of times already, ransacking it for anything and everything. I had gone through his shelf, his desk, and everything in sight.I really didn't know what I was looking for specifically. I just found myself searching his room for anything that could help me get free of this impregnable mansion, but so far, I hadn't found anything here besides books.He had a whole shelf full of them—really good books I wasn't sure he actually read. He didn't look much like a reader. Aside from the books, there were just cigarettes, and just papers lying around.There was hardly anything else
Miguel's POV Cazzo!I barely managed to limp my way upstairs, and the minute I arrived at the door I barged into the room, crashing my weight against the door breathlessly. My head was spinning around the room, and I was so weak, it was a struggle to be on my feet. I gripped the door tightly for support as my legs wobbled, threatening to give way.Shit!My head spun around the room again, and I tightened my grip on the door. Things had turned out unexpectedly at Lino's party tonight, and I was lucky to have made it out with my life. I clenched my jaw, rage coursing through me at the unexpected outcome of events. I had failed.I never could have imagined that things would end this way. I had planned the attack down to the letter and followed through with everything. If only they hadn't been expecting it —If only the party hadn't been a trap itself."Miguel!" Ava's voice pierced the air, a mix of concern and horror evident in her eyes as she sprinted towards me. Her gaze swept over
Ava's POVI crawled out of Miguel's arm in the early hours of the morning —4:00 a.m. It was still dark outside, and I figured this hour was the best time to leave discreetly without being spotted. My eyes were fixed on Miguel on the bed, and I pulled the sheets around him. I brushed off the tendrils on his forehead and gaped at him.He was sleeping peacefully, and it was a sight that one didn't get to see so often. He looked innocently cute in a way, and for a moment I felt a bit hesitant about the plan —about leaving.I lingered with him for a while, it was strange but now that I was about to make a run for it, I felt a bit sad. It was like a part of me was going to miss this —I was going to miss him. My eyes drifted to the cage and back at him.Then I shook my head. This couldn't be my life, and I owed Fernando so much already that I couldn't delay it any longer. I owed him justice, and a proper burial, the same went for my aunt as well as all my friends who died at my wedding.I
Ava's POVI felt the reflection of the sun caress my face briefly, and my heart pounded heavily. They surely found me. I thought. I waited to hear the guard’s voice but when I didn't hear anything I pried my eyes open to see my fate.The trampoline was lifted on the other end of the truck, and I could see the crumpled face of the guard on the other end. He stared at the iron poles, moving them around a little.One of the poles poked my arm. Painfully.But I could only groan inwardly, not daring to make a sound. It was nearly game over for me with all these guards around. I couldn't afford to draw any attention to myself if I didn't want to end up being dragged back to the mansion.The guard's eyes dragged back and forth through the rear panel, “Check the other side,” another guard said and my heart dropped to my stomach. There was no doubt they were going to discover me if they checked this side of the rear panel.I thought of moving but the iron poles weren't going to make that ea
Miguel's POVMerda!She was gone.The first few minutes that passed after Bella’s shocking disappearance felt like a nightmare. The guards had scurried out searching everywhere for her while I went to check the CCTV. I watched all the records from around the time I got home till this morning, rewinding and forwarding. I checked every angle of the video and found nothing. There was no sign of Ava. It was like she just vanished without a trace which wasn't reasonable. There had to be a trace but I just couldn't find any. So basically, checking the camera was useless and it didn't yield anything aside, making me more upset.I barged out of the room and headed back to mine to search for clues. Anything that she might have left behind that could give me even the slightest inkling of where she was right now. I turned the room upside down and found nothing still.It deeply upset me and I lost it for a second, kicking and smashing things around the room. I was furious. This was the sec
Ava's POVThe car came to a halt outside a small cabin an hour or so later. I was in the backseat. I had spent the entire ride here fighting the urge to doze off. I was quite tired. I had missed this morning’s sleep just so I wouldn't miss my chance to escape, and it was affecting me badly. But with the way things had turned out, I didn't regret it.“We are here,” the man, Lino announced, slipping off his seatbelt, and glancing at me in the backseat briefly before alighting from the vehicle.I reached for my door, but before I could grab it he pulled the door open for me, “Thanks,” I grinned, stepping out of the car, and turning to the small cabin, “Where are we?”“Our place. You can stay here for a few days while we prepare your passport and flight,” Indira answered, coming up behind us, and placing her hand on my back.The first thing I noticed now that we were standing next to each other was her height. She was pretty tall.“Come on, let's go in,” Lino said, taking the lead, and
Ava's POVIt had been a week since the Jet incident, and Mason's death.The cops had done their part with the investigation and had managed to connect the hospital explosion, and the van explosion together linking it to Lino.They had also traced some of his illegal businesses to Naples among other crimes and shut it down but since there was no one to punish that was all they could do.Angela, on the other hand, was arrested, and sentenced to ten years in prison for impersonation, fraud, and for being Fernando's accomplice which was a lot less than she deserved.Miguel and I had stuck around for the investigation, and I was pretty glad when it was finally over and done with. There was nothing more that I wanted in my life than to put the hellish past behind us and focus on the promise of the future.Whatever was in store for Miguel and me was something I was dying to see.The days after the incident at the Jet
Ava's POV Miguel was there, sleeping peacefully with Mary Grace cuddled into his side.My heart felt hurt and I wished for just one second I could turn back the hands of time —just to make myself worthy again.But all of those were just wishes.I couldn't risk another moment around them for fear of causing them more problems. It was clear that I was the secret ingredient for trouble. And for the people I loved to be safe, I had to be far from them.I scooped Mary Grace from her bed quietly not wanting to wake Miguel. I kissed her forehead, tears gathering in my eyes as I whispered. “I love you, sweetie, and I'll always be here. I'll always be watching you like a hawk but for now, mama has to go,” I pressed my lips to her head again, and again.“I'm going to miss you, darling, but don't worry you're in safe hands. Your dad will take good care of you,” I squeezed her in my arms and then finally laid her in the crib, not wanting to risk waking Miguel up by dropping her by his side as s
Ava's POV A gun rolled to the entrance of the cockpit and I only hesitated for a second before handing Mary Grace to Gracie. I knew what I had to do.I walked over to the door and picked it up as Lino stretched out his gun to Miguel. I stood behind them but none of them noticed my appearance in the room.The weapon was heavy but that didn't matter much. It was now or never, and I had to make a quick choice —a scary one but I didn't have much of a choice. I had never fired a gun in my life until this moment. But I had to do it, our lives depended on it.I focused my vision on him and the gun went off in my trembling hands.Lino's body dropped to the ground with a loud thud.If I had been just a second late he would have killed Miguel. I saved him. I saved the man I loved. Something about that numbed the guilt that came with taking a life.The gun slipped out of my hands to the ground as tears rolled down my face. Miguel's eyes met mine.I saw the worry etched on his features as I rush
Miguel's POVI raked a hand through my hair, listening to Perez fill me in about what happened at the hospital, and the men he had lost in the van explosion on their way here.Bastardo! My blood stirred.“Those were good men,” I mumbled, reeling in the loss as I ground my teeth and clenched my fist, “Lino. That scumbag,” I cursed, fuming inside.“I have everyone looking for him, and Mason. Perhaps he could lead us to him—”The sudden sound of the engine roaring to life echoed from behind us, and my head swirled to the Jet which was getting ready to take off.What the hell? I thought. Stunned.I creased a brow at the unbelievable sight before me. I could hardly believe it. I had no clue what was going on but that Jet was definitely not supposed to take off without an order from me.I couldn't understand it but Ava and my kids were in there, and that was all that mattered.Instantly, I sprinted towards the Jet, and Perez joined me as we raced to the aircraft. I grabbed the entry door be
Ava's POV“It's you. You're the traitor,” I mumbled as the realization hit me. This was why Perez couldn't tell me. It was Mason.How could this be? Even I couldn't believe it.It suddenly felt like my brain was processing in slow motion.My eyes darted to the injection in his hand, then to my daughter, and my eyes widened in shock.Panic washed over me and my hands began to tremble.“What were you trying to do to her?” I flared, clenching my fist tightly, “Were you going to hurt her—”“No, Ava—” he tried to cut me off but I didn't want to hear anything right now.“Get away from her!” I raised my voice. “Mi—” I opened my mouth to scream for Miguel but before I could make a sound Mason grabbed me quickly, pressing his palm to my lips tightly as he pushed me against the wall behind me.He sandwiched me to the wall, “Quiet,” he said, “Don’t scream, please,” he whispered against my ear, “Please,” he repeated, staring me in the eyes for over a minute.I tried to shove him off me but I fail
Ava's POVI bolted upright, my heart pounding against my chest as though it was trying to rip itself out of my body. I was anxious. No. More than that I felt unsettled and for no reason too. I just had this bad feeling in my gut that I couldn't quite shake. Something felt very wrong but I didn't know what it was.I sat up in bed, staring into the darkness with the only source of light being the moonlight spilling in through the window. The air in the room felt heavy, suffocating, as if laden with an ominous foreboding that I couldn't quite place, and the uneasiness tightened in the pit of my stomach. I suddenly felt stuffy and needed some air.I slipped out of bed and glanced over my baby’s crib to see if I had woken her. I hadn't. Mary Grace was still sound asleep.I sighed with relief and made my way to the door. I stumbled towards the door, but my heart jumped again as I heard the sudden sounds of hurried footsteps.My stomach tightened and I pushed the door open gently, peeking
Miguel's POVLino was alive? That couldn't be.I had set the place on fire. I had watched it burn. It had to be a lie. Nando was definitely lying. I glanced at him, “You're lying,” I said.“I'm not!” He yelled with desperation in his voice and words, “I swear it. Mason is involved. I can prove it. Where is he?” I hesitated and turned to one of my men, “Where is Mason?” I asked, right in front of Nando.The man shook his head, “I haven't seen him all day. None of us have,” he responded.The words echoed in my head, and Nando's voice echoed beside me, “He knows... he knows you're onto him, and he's made a run for it.”Nando’s words made sense, and my mind was starting to churn with all sorts of thoughts. There had been something off about Mason since we caught Nando— maybe even since Lino.He hadn't come down to the cell for once, and I had barely seen him. It was almost like he had been hiding away all this time, and I just never really noticed.Everything was starting to align in my
Ava’s POVIt was midday, and Gracie helped me with a napkin to wipe the breast milk that spilled down Mary Grace’s clothes while I was breastfeeding her. I wiped it, cleaned her face too, before lowering my shirt.I pulled her to my chest and cradled my precious baby in my arms as I began to hum a gentle lullaby. Miguel’s favourite one and I hoped it would one day be her favourite one too.The melody flowed from my lips like a soothing river, wrapping us in its tender embrace like a blanket and its effect was tremendous on my baby. Mary Grace fell straight to sleep with her palm clutched tightly around my finger. I noticed she loved to do that, and I loved the feel of her palm around my finger. It was warm, and it made me feel a tremendous amount of peace. I rocked her back and forth, with the rhythm of the lullaby, and Gracie grinned beside me, wrapping one hand around my arm while caressing Mary Grace with the other, although she let her be the minute she was asleep so she wouldn't
Miguel’s POVI walked out of the underground cell, making my way up to the ground floor. Perez spun around the second I entered the room, “I was just coming to see you,” he said as he slid his phone in his pocket.“I spoke with the doctor, he will be here shortly,” He reported, and I regarded him with a nod. “How’s he holding up?”“He’s still a long way from hell but I'll make sure he gets there,” I replied. Perez smiled, “He's more than earned it,” he remarked, “Care for a drink?” he gestured, raising the bottle for a second before going on to pour himself a glass.“Sure. I haven't had one in a while,” I motioned towards him, taking notice of the room. “Where's Mason?” I asked after a minute of not spotting him anywhere around the room. “I’m not sure but he should be outside,” he said, and offered me a glass of scotch. I gulped it all at once and lowered the glass to the table.“Any lead for the antidote yet?” He asked.I shook my head, “Not yet,” I paused, “But I was thinking, per