Bonding

Lily's POV

Daughter?

I froze not knowing what to do. Ava, still in my arms, began to squirm.

"Daddy!" she cried, hand stretched out to him as he began walking down the stairs.

His eyes relaxed, the creases around them easing, but then his jaw clenched, and his gaze hardened again.

"Put Baby down," he ordered, his gun trained on me.

I pointed my gun at him, but my hands were too sweaty, so it kept slipping off.

"Ava, sweetie, is he your daddy?” I whispered in her ear, wanting to be sure they didn't kidnap her too.

Ava sniffed and stared at me. “Yes,” she whispered back.

"Don't think you can manipulate me through my daughter," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

"Put. Baby. Down." He cocked the gun.

I knew I had no choice, so I gently lowered Ava, and immediately, her feet touched the floor; she launched herself at her father, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Don't hurt her, Daddy," she begged, looking at him with tears in her eyes and showing him her knee. “Look, she healed my knee.”

His eyes went to the spot where she'd been injured, and his expression softened. But then, his expression hardened again.

I took a step backwards, but he raised his gun, warning me again. "Don't move," he snarled, his eyes flashing with anger.

I froze and swallowed hard. Should I shoot and run? I didn't even know how to aim correctly or handle a gun.

He handed Ava to one of his men and nodded to someone behind me. I felt the gun being knocked out of my hand, and in a swift motion, I was hanging on someone's shoulder.

Ava's father followed, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. As we entered the room, he banged the door shut behind us.

He tied me to the chair, the ropes digging painfully into my skin. I struggled, but it made the pain worse. He took my hands and spread my fingers on the table.

“I don't hit women, but I have ways to torture you before sending you to Gabi.”

He paced around me, his eyes narrowing as he took off his shirt, revealing his toned muscles and arms full of tattoos.

"You blew up my warehouse," he growled.

"Please sir," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "I don't know anything I swear."

He leaned in closer, his eyes glinting with a sinister light as he pierced my fingertips with needles that had tiny wires connected to them.

I let out a scream.

His breath was hot against my ear. "If you don't tell me who you're working for you'll suffer the consequences alone."

I shook my head, shaking uncontrollably. "I'm not lying."

He straightened up, his expression unyielding. "We'll see about that," he pulled out a small device.

As he pressed the button, pain exploded through my fingertips. It was like thousands of volts of electricity crushing my nerves and I saw my life flashing before my eyes.

Nana's frail smile, her weary eyes, and her warm touch. I might never be able to experience this again because of this man.

But he just kept staring at me, his eyes cold and hard. "Tell me what you know," he demanded, releasing the button

My fingers spasmed, twitching like crazy. "P-please, I-I arrived today for a competition."

A cold pit formed in my stomach as he raised the device again. ”Then it would be a shame if you're not able to use your fingers anymore Lily,” he said, his finger hovering over the button.

"Please, sir" I begged, my voice barely audible. "Don't do this."

But he just smiled a cruel smile and pressed the button again.

My body ached backwards, straining against the restraints. The sound of my scream echoed through my ears.

Just as I felt my vision begin to blur, the door burst open.

"Kael! Stop!" a voice shouted.

Ava's father, Kael, released the button. I recoiled, taking deep breaths.

"What is it?" Kael growled, his eyebrows creasing.

"We've found the real culprit," the intruder announced, his eyes locked on me.

Relief washed over me, followed by a wave of tears.

Finally, I'll be free.

Kael's expression darkened, and he turned to face the intruder. "What are you talking about Finn?"

Finn hesitated before speaking. "His name is Willy, he was caught close to our cargo in Auckland a few minutes ago."

"Then what is SHE doing here?" Kael snarled, pointing at me.

“Willy disguises himself as a girl to seduce the guards. Unfortunately, he matched Lily’s description.” Finn replied, staring at me.

“You have 1 minute to get answers from him,” Keal announced then signaled Finn to leave.

“C-can I go now?” I asked.

Just as Kael's eyes locked onto mine the door swung open. Ava walked in smiling, struggling with her doll, a plate and a small book.

But her smile fell as she took in the scene: me tied to the chair, needles still lodged in my fingertips.

Her face twisted in horror and she rushed to my side, letting go of everything she held.

"Lily!" she exclaimed, tears flowed down as she removed the needles from my fingers.

Kael's expression darkened. "Baby, you shouldn't…

“W-why? Y-you promised you wouldn't do bad things to her!" she cut him off, her voice rising.

I swallowed hard, “Ava, I'm fine. It's just a misunderstanding and I'm about to leave now.”

“L-leave?” Ava stammered, her lips quivering. “But I like you, don't you like me too?” she cried.

My heart ached for Ava. Just as the silence became uncomfortable, the door banged open, and a woman stepped in. She looked older than me but very much younger than Kael. The way her eyes lingered on Kael’s shirtless body made me think something was going on between them.

Maybe she was Ava's mother. I signaled Ava to look up, and when she did, her face twisted in disgust.

The woman's eyes darted to me, her gaze lingering. I saw something there, something that made my skin crawl.

Ava, still by my side, glared at her. "Leave Lily alone Gabi."

"What do you want?" Kael asked, his tone curt, as he cut the rope binding me. Giving space for Ava to jump on my lap and hug me.

I watched as Gabi handed Kael a flash drive, her finger brushing against his, “Evidence of Mr Andrew's embezzlement and involvement in selling out our unreleased products to Elixir Inc"

Kael's expression darkened. “Dig out more information on Elixir Inc. and bring Andrew to me.”

I felt Kael's gaze on me as I patted Ava's head. “Prepare a room for Lily,” he said.

Gabi's eyes went wide and then relaxed. "Of course, Sir."

Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, pure jealousy and anger flashed in her gaze. My heart sank.

And why did Gabi's reaction unsettle me more than Kael's torture?