Page 89 of Ava: Part Three

He couldn’t trust these people. Allowing that vampire into his private space would be like confessing to Hansson directly. They were his minions, and they did their job. They’d said so themselves.

The knock came again, and it was Ava who opened the door. She didn’t wait to discuss it with him first.

Andrei zoomed in and shut the door after himself.

The vampire only threw a cursory glance down the stairs before he looked at Ava.

“Do you know how a man like Hansson has Diego, Iulia and me falling all over ourselves to do what he wants?” Andrei said. “Because we tried to fight, and it didn’t work. He killed everyone we’ve ever cared about.”

“You warned us about that already,” Zeke growled.

“He killed everyone except the ones we truly love,” Andrei said. “Those he kept for a special kind of hell.”

“Why are you here, councillor?” he growled again.

“Because I know the type of wolves you are, and I know you think this would be the end of the world. But look at Diego, he’s okay. We do a few jobs, and he leaves us alone most of the time. All you have to do is this one little thing, and you’ll get back to your studies and training. He’ll leave your families alone.”

Like he was expected to believe that all their advice was from the kindness of their hearts.

“This thing is bigger than just the two of you,” Andrei hissed. “You can’t take him down alone; you’re just children. Don’t fuck it up for everybody else who might have an actual shot.”

Well, hello.

He cocked his head as he looked the vampire in the eye.

So it wasn’t all peaches and cream in Camp Hansson.

“Who did he take from you?” Ava asked quietly.

“My brother,” Andrei said. “He’s got Diego’s little sister and Iulia’s mother. And if you defy him, he will have your father, too. He’ll trap him in his mind and... I know you think I’m heartless, but it’s better if you pick five people you don’t give a shit about than wait until you lose everybody.”

Andrei looked down the stairs again.

“I almost left because I didn’t think you were here. Whoever set this up for you is good. Maybe you have strong connections and feel you can do this, but it’s not your time yet. You’ll have a shot in the future when you’re stronger. And because of what you are, you may be our greatest asset. But for now, please, just fall in line.”

Then he opened the door and took a moment to assess the situation before speeding out of the room.

He looked down at Ava and saw the look on her face. She had bought into all that bullshit.

Chapter 52

Avawasstillthinkingof what Andrei said when Zeke took her hand to follow out of the basement.

“Wait,” she said, closing the door so they wouldn’t be overheard. “We should trust him. He and Iulia trapped me in the library and told me that we’d get killed if I shifted and came after you. They saved our lives.”

Zeke shook his head, and his eyes glowed.

“But why, Ava? Are you thinking of that? Why are they helping us? I doubt that Alpha Diego is so sentimental that he doesn’t want wolves like him to die. And Andrei slit Emily’s throat without blinking. He doesn’t know you or owe you anything; he’s going to slit your throat, too, if he’s told to.”

“But if they are on our side... Come on, Zeke, you know we can’t win,” she said quietly.

“We won’t win if you think like that. You promised we wouldn’t just give up, Ava. Please, at least speak to your wolf because she has a say in this, too.”

Zeke didn’t wait for her to say anything else as he opened the door. She followed slowly, her mind going back to the look on her father’s face. How could he lie that he was okay? She’d seen the pain in his eyes. How could he still want her to fight this when they had him in their grasp?

She followed Zeke outside and found his focus somewhere in the woods.

“I was going to take you for a run, but it seems they’re everywhere right now,” Zeke said.

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