Avery’s POVThe atmosphere in the apartment of Jameson was sultry. Even if he was trying his best to hide the details from me, the notion that things were not just getting to be worse was very much apparent. Like he had checked his phone and clenched his jaw, the movements with his barely hidden frustration-the whole thing indicated that he knew more than he let me know.I didn't want to press him. He was doing me a lot already, but then the element of doubt gnawed me. "Jameson," I said, breaking the silence as he paced near the window, his eyes going from the phone to the street.He halted and faced me, his expression slightly softening. "Yeah?""What's going on? I know you're trying to protect me, but I have to know the truth."He bit his lip and then ran a hand through his hair. "Avery, I-""Please," I cut him off. "I can't just sit here and wait. I need to understand what's happening."With a sigh, he sat across from me, leaning forward so that his elbows rested on his knees. "We
Jameson’s POVLisa's confession had turned everything upside down. It was no longer just a puzzle; the pieces didn't match the way it was supposed to be, and now, there was a bigger picture which I couldn't see clearly. "Whom did you contact?" I demanded now.Lisa just shook her head. The trembling voice said: "I don't know their name. Everything was anonymous-calls, encrypted emails, cash drops. They didn't want me to know."Raymond crossed his arms, his expression skeptical, "And so you just went along with it?"Lisa glared at him. "You don't understand. These people are not just dangerous. They are above danger. They know everything about you, your weaknesses, your loved ones. They don't ask for favors; they give orders. Refusing is impossible."My mind raced with sifting through what she said. A little bit too much for Avery, or even me, to swallow. This was bigger, much bigger than calculated."Why Avery?" I asked coldly. "Why catch her in the crossfire?"They didn't tell me why
Avery’s POVThe apartment was oppressive, Jameson walking back and forth like a caged animal producing an overcharged, suffocating atmosphere of tension. The man who was always in control and heroic appeared to have had a major freak out — his face lines deep with recurring grey cloud. I was huddled on the couch a blanket absolutely wasted over me.It was warm, but a cold started to run into my bones— was it fright or exhaustion that I couldnt tell. “You are someone, from your past?Jameson froze, he pivoted to look at me. He relaxed in the face of it, but his eyes were still burning with intent.“My fiancée,” he whispered slowly, admitting it in a barely audible voice.The word pierced like the tip of an ice pick to my heart Fiancée? My heart had a panic automaton – I couldn’t identify the feelings I was feeling, they were confused this is so wrong. Jealousy. I hadn’t been fair,I know that. Yet the idea that Jameson was anyones else love in more than one way my heart.“I never said
Avery’s POVMy drive to Jameson's family estate was one of that rarest of silences: soothing and sinister. Jameson was staring straight ahead, knuckles white at the steering wheel from tension. I, meanwhile only looked out the window as my inner most thoughts rotated like a cogs gears. The past couple days had emotionally zapped me but there was a little fire in me somewhere.“Are you alright?” Jameson clearing the silence with his voice.I smiled, not sure of the answer I was giving. “Just… thinking, basically.”He looked at me, concern laced in his eyes. “We don´t have to do this today. If you want more time—““No,” tested me back stronger than I. “We want answers. If your family is even tangentially connected to this, I want to know.“Tightening his jaw, Jameson sighed. “They’ll deny everything. Them doing right by Everyone else”When we arrived at the house, big and grand, my intestines flipped. The estate was vast, with high iron gates and mown lawns that appeared to go on foreve
Avery’s POVDays after it felt like a week, the next few felt slurred. Jameson and I had gone to the city, just past where we met up at the Hawthorne estate; out of reach of his family. The silence that pooled between us was making me uncomfortable, to know that we were both silent his not ending of course.A dark force was still at play, acting on me and come not just from Jameson's familyWe were totally screwed, apparently.I sat in this tiny café where it was all dark and the wood-walled ceiling glowed pale light. It was so unlike Jameson; he was usually a chatty as hell person and his eyes had the room in them like he was looking for everything to be dangerous. I could still feel the tongue lashing of un-signaled words between us“Jameson,” I murmured and lay my hand on top of his. You don't have to do it by yourself. We are just as capable of facing whatever is on the other side.He snuck a look at me, expression pained and grateful. I am trying to protect you, Avery. I mean me.
Avery’s POVThe room hummed with the palpable anxiety, each thing Noah said shivering me to the bones. I watched my mind frantically start putting the puzzle together of the pieces of information he just had given us. That my own mother was part of all of this was beyond belief.It didn’t make sense.“Lisa… my mother…” What are you saying Noah? “I said the words, and with them came almost disbelief the possibility of this weight that sank its claws into my fingertips.Noah moved a little, his eyes burning into me but I could tell by the way they were haunted with worry. Avery, I get it is hard for you to believe. Everything that has been going on— the threats, the tape, the vandalism—they are all part of a lot deeper shit. Your mother Lisa… That is their game.I shook my head, stunned by Noah just dropped the other shoe. ”So why? Why would they do this? And why now?”Noah breathed, leaned forward into his chair hands clenched. “Your mum and Lisa… They got themselves into things you wo
Noah’s POVWatching Avery stand, the resolve in her eyes making me feel nauseated. The burden of the truth was great, I could tell the road ahead would pretty much consist of uphill all day long. But I had sworn on her—on my own life that I would be with her, through anything.I saw the echoes of fear turning into resolve as I finally addressed her from behind. Ha, she had always been tough as nails but I was seeing the splinters already. This is way too much for anyone. And yet, i couldn't help but feel proud of her are courage to do it.“I will,” I said with certainty of my voice. “Carefully though. Each step from now on is a function.Avery nodded past me, the fear still evident in her eyes. “I do, it’s just so… Noah. I ask myself over and over why. Why me? Why did they bring me in?I walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “No Avery, It’s not about YOU. About the lies they want to lie on. You were just in the way. Well now we are going to stop taking control of you agai
Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.“I feel like I’m losing it,” I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. “I don’t know,” she said. Well, it's like… “ALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisa… this drive… that blackmail…” She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding her—I reached over. “We can get through this,” I said firmly. “We have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isn’t nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What if—we—“Avery.” I tone was even but firm
Avery’s POVThe weight of Dimitri’s words sat heavy in the room even after he left. Noah had escorted him out, scanning the woods as if expecting Lisa’s mercenaries to materialize out of thin air. When he returned, his face was set like stone, his jaw tight.“Noah,” I started, unsure of what to even say. “Do you really think Lisa will find us here?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he placed his gun on the table and ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I don’t know, Avery. But we can’t take any chances.”I hated this feeling—the constant fear, the anticipation of the worst. It felt like Lisa’s shadow was looming over us, always one step closer no matter what we did.“We need to leave, don’t we?” I asked softly.Noah sighed and leaned against the table. “Yes. Dimitri’s warning wasn’t for nothing. If Lisa has people sniffing around, it’s only a matter of time before someone points her in our direction. We’ll pack up and move at dawn.”I nodded, even though my ches
Noah’s POVI woke up to the sound of Avery pacing. Her steps were light but restless, echoing faintly in the quiet cabin. I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall—it was just past 4 a.m. The sky outside was still cloaked in darkness, but the faintest traces of dawn were beginning to bleed into the horizon.“Avery,” I said, my voice groggy. She stopped in her tracks and turned toward me, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the wood-burning stove.“Did I wake you?” she asked, guilt written all over her expression.“No,” I lied, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. “What’s wrong?”She hesitated, hugging her arms to her chest. “I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking… what if we’re wasting time sitting here? What if Lisa’s already moving against us?”I stood and crossed the room to her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. “We’re not wasting time. We’re regrouping, preparing. If we rush in without a plan, we’ll be playing right into her hands.”Avery nodded, but I
Avery’s POVIn the morning when the sun filtered in through the thick curtains and lit up small room with soft golden light. Sweet but the heat in my palms distracted me from the never ending cycle on thoughts busy inside my brain.Noah was by the window looking for movement in the treeline, he hadn't said much since we got here last night but the mere fact that he was there put me a little more at ease even as the edge of sanity started to get gnawed open.“Trouble?” I sounded, my voice piercing what little silence there was.“Nope – but again, not in the morning. Still it does not stop it from arriving.I swallowed hard and looked at the opaque in my mug “Do you think they are already hunting her?”“Never did,” Noah said eventually turning to me. But his eyes were so very tired “Lisa does not hang up.“And what does she want?” I pressed, this time confident with my guess.You are,” Noah said bluntly.Those words made a deep fog descend over me. I put the mug down, the coffee taste m
Noah’s POVFinally, “We need a plan” Avery said her voice even but firm.“I do,” I said, white knuckling the steering wheel. “First we shall wait for Dimitri to tell us the data has been disseminated. After that we will be set in reality and you can start timing it. Until then, you continue to blend in.“And then? ” she prompt, moving over to me. They were wide, full of fear and bravery.‘After?’ I exhaled slowly “Then we protect you in the endHer eyes browed thinned. “Ok, you too? Can you not just play the god for me Noah? Lisa will hunt us both.“You think she targets you first,” I purred bluntly, pointing at her. You are number 1 She WILL try to hurt you for my sake. My focus is to prevent that.She turned away, mouth pursed to a thin line. “I hate this,” she stated, almost to herself. She hated being this way.“Not helpless, you’re not,” I stated. You’re surviving. That is not nothing Avery; That shits will take power.She did not answer, and I let the silence reassert itself. We
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.“Morning,” I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. “Pardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. “Well, I have been thinking about our choices,” he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive — not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on it’s head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.“ B
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.“Morning,” I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. “Pardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. “Well, I have been thinking about our choices,” he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive — not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on it’s head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.“ B
Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.“I feel like I’m losing it,” I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. “I don’t know,” she said. Well, it's like… “ALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisa… this drive… that blackmail…” She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding her—I reached over. “We can get through this,” I said firmly. “We have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isn’t nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What if—we—“Avery.” I tone was even but firm
Noah’s POVWatching Avery stand, the resolve in her eyes making me feel nauseated. The burden of the truth was great, I could tell the road ahead would pretty much consist of uphill all day long. But I had sworn on her—on my own life that I would be with her, through anything.I saw the echoes of fear turning into resolve as I finally addressed her from behind. Ha, she had always been tough as nails but I was seeing the splinters already. This is way too much for anyone. And yet, i couldn't help but feel proud of her are courage to do it.“I will,” I said with certainty of my voice. “Carefully though. Each step from now on is a function.Avery nodded past me, the fear still evident in her eyes. “I do, it’s just so… Noah. I ask myself over and over why. Why me? Why did they bring me in?I walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “No Avery, It’s not about YOU. About the lies they want to lie on. You were just in the way. Well now we are going to stop taking control of you agai
Avery’s POVThe room hummed with the palpable anxiety, each thing Noah said shivering me to the bones. I watched my mind frantically start putting the puzzle together of the pieces of information he just had given us. That my own mother was part of all of this was beyond belief.It didn’t make sense.“Lisa… my mother…” What are you saying Noah? “I said the words, and with them came almost disbelief the possibility of this weight that sank its claws into my fingertips.Noah moved a little, his eyes burning into me but I could tell by the way they were haunted with worry. Avery, I get it is hard for you to believe. Everything that has been going on— the threats, the tape, the vandalism—they are all part of a lot deeper shit. Your mother Lisa… That is their game.I shook my head, stunned by Noah just dropped the other shoe. ”So why? Why would they do this? And why now?”Noah breathed, leaned forward into his chair hands clenched. “Your mum and Lisa… They got themselves into things you wo