[AVA]I hold back the urge to bury my face in my palms and pray for someone to take me out of there. The tension is thick in the air, and it’s suffocating me.Mom, however, chooses to ignore it and walks towards Brian with a bright smile. “Good morning, Brian. You’re just in time for breakfast.”“Mo
“Yes. She cried for hours.”I roll my eyes. “Mom, please. I don’t think they want to listen to this story.”“I do,” Brian smirks, looking at me with so much amusement in his grey eyes.“Shut up,” I hiss under my breath, trying hard not to blush.He smiles, his dimples popping out, making me want to
[BRIAN]The moment I step out of the apartment, the smile falls from my lips.I try really hard not to look back and turn around to take Ava into my arms, because the urge to do so is so overwhelming. It’s killing me from the inside out, and it’s only because of the guilt I’m feeling that’s preventi
[AVA]“Okay, I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but I’m really, really, really sorry,” Sean says, looking miserable and meaning everything that’s coming out of his mouth. I have known him for a while now, and I know the pitiful expression on his face is not made up to make me f
[MAX]“Do you want to hang out later tonight?” Brooke asks as soon as I reach for the elevator.Yup. I know her name now. Not because I asked for it, but because she thought I deserved to know after our one-night stand last week.Well, what a way to start a day!I shake my head. “Sorry, but I have a
I blink again. “Oh, sorry. What can I get you?”She doesn’t smile, doesn’t give an order either. Surprising me yet again, she leans over the counter and whispers as low as possible, “Can you meet me in the back alley in like…five minutes? Please?”I stare at her again. My brain is failing me big tim
[AVA]“I can’t believe you agreed to this.”“Trust me, I can’t believe it either.”I chuckle, not able to help myself. I would have loved to see Brian climbing a mountain, but I can’t, and that makes me sad. But maybe I’ll have better luck next time. I just hope Brian will be as willing to take part
We pull back and Brian glares at his twin brother, who in turn, winks at us, making sure we know he has only been kidding. “We are heading to the next store. Think you can take your make-out session on the go?”Brian flips him off and Mason laughs, walking away with Kian in tow.Kian looks over his
[BRIAN]When I pull up at Ava’s old address, I have only one goal in mind.To find Max and get the hell out.Why? Because this place always gave me the creeps. Not only is it the most notorious part of the city, but it’s also slightly dangerous.When Dean and his family went bankrupt years ago, I di
He walks back to the couch, and for the first time, I notice a camera that’s already been set up.My stomach tightens.He grabs the camera stand with one hand and drags it closer to where I am. Adjusting the angle, he makes sure it focuses directly on me. Then he straightens, his gaze locking onto m
[AVA]I might have lost consciousness because the next time I open my eyes, the bright lights make me wince and squeeze them shut again.“Ah…” I whimper, only then realizing my ankle is badly bruised.“You’re awake.”A deep male voice rings in my ears, and I look up—only to find the same staff guy w
[AVA]Once Brian leaves, I sink back onto the couch, my fingers dialing Max’s number again.Maybe if he picks up, I can convince him to drop by on his own, and Brian wouldn’t have to go.But every call goes unanswered. And the more I try to convince myself it’s no big deal—that Max is just being him
I run my fingers through his wet hair. “Because I can’t stop thinking about what happens next. About who’s behind this. About how this doesn’t just affect me but everyone around me.”“You don’t have to figure everything out right this second, Ava.”“I know,” I whisper, but knowing and believing are
[AVA]I finally feel a little better—enough to let Brian freshen up after his long flight.He kisses me on the forehead and promises to join me soon.Maybe he knows that if I’m left alone, my mind will start spiraling again, drowning me in guilt. And once that happens, I won’t be able to focus on an
I unlock the door and pull the door open, only to find his familiar handsome face looking back at me.He’s dressed in a white shirt and blue denim jeans, and I don’t think he could look any better.I know, I know. I probably sound like some horny bitch, but I don’t care. It’s Brian. And being horny
[AVA]After dropping me off at Brian’s penthouse, Aaron insists on staying until Brian returns.But I can clearly see the disinterest on his face—he can’t stand another bored minute with me. So, I do what I know is right.I ask him to leave.Maybe out of formality, he insists once more that he doesn
[AVA]“I’m sure she didn’t mean it, Ava,” Miranda tries to say, but she might as well accept that her daughter will never see me as someone to be trusted.Whatever I’ve done to piss this woman off, one thing is certain—I don’t care anymore. I neither have the time to bother myself with her nonsense