Page 68 of Rise By Sin

“When are you gonna stop being pissed off with me?” he asked softly.

“Not yet,” I snapped back. “I’m still really pissed at what you did Jack. It wasn’t fair on me or Colt.”

“I just wanted the truth to come out once and for all. I cant lose you again Ava, and you were thinking about running. Don’t try and deny it. I’d do anything to stop that from happening again.”

“I’m not leaving,” I told him flatly. “Not yet anyway, but even if I do, you can’t stop me Jack. I’m an adult and I’m allowed to live my own fucking life!”

“Just know that there won’t be any running from me this time, love. You go, and I come right after you. I meant what I said. I love you and I am hot letting you get away again. You, me, and Mason were always meant to be. I know that. Mace knowns, and you do too if you’ll just stop fighting it.”

“I’m not fighting it anymore, but you make it a fuck of a lot harder to embrace what we could have when you act like you did earlier. If we’re together then we need to be a team. What you did…it hurt me. It made me feel like you didn’t trust me, and I don’t like feeling that way.”

“You ready, Jack?” Ky asked, breaking whatever Jack was about to say.

“We’ll talk later. Just stop being angry with me. I am always on your side. I love you,” Jack told me as he kissed my cheek feather light.

“Love you too,” I whispered. He wasn’t forgiven and he knew it, but we had come to a truce for now.

Just as Ky and Jack started for the door to leave, Mace walked in and stopped them.

“You guys leaving?” he asked.

“Yeah. I need to shower and I’m dropping Ky at his place on the way,” Jack answered.

“Just hold up a minute. Did you tell them?” Mason asked as he looked to me. I just shook my head. I should have, but I hadn’t really had chance yet.

“Tell us what?” Jack asked as he looked between Mason and I.

“Ava and I went back to crash at your place. The security alarm was triggered while we were there. No one came into the apartment, but someone tried. The fire escape window was jimmied and the lock broken,” Mason explained.

“Are you both alright?” Colt asked as he sat forwards and reached for me. I took his hand in mine and smiled.

“We’re both fine. Like Mace said, no one got in. The alarm must have scared them away.”

“Who do you think it was?” Ky asked. He was back at Colt’s other side, looking terrified all over again. “Not the guy who hurt Colt?”

“No. I doubt it. If he wants to finish the job he started, he’ll know Colt’s still in the hospital. I was thinking the Owen’s,” Mace answered as he looked to me with a weak smile.

“The Owen’s? The crime family?” Colt asked.

“Yeah. When Ava found that file you made we had suspicions that they had been the ones to grab you. They had already sent goons after Ava in search of you, so it seemed possible,” Mason went on.

“What? Did they hurt you? I thought I saw bruising on your face. Did they do that?” Colt asked all at once. The bruising on my face was barely even there any longer, having faded over the time I’d been in the city so I was surprised he’d noticed anything.

“It was nothing. I handled it,” I brushed him off. “When I went to see Owen’s he told me he’d back off. I assured him you knew nothing about their business and he seemed satisfied, but maybe he wasn’t. He may still be looking for you.”

“Fuck! How did I make such a damned mess?” Colt sighed.

“I’m on it. I have forensics dusting Jack’s window for prints as we speak. We’ll beef up security there if Ava’s staying there for now and we’ll keep her close. You’re safe with the security Ky hired, and I’ve spoken to them so they know to be even more vigilant.”

“I want Ava to have a security guard twenty-four seven. There’s no way this shit storm I created is touching her again,” Colt raged as he looked around at all of us.

“I can arrange that, Colt. We’ll keep her safe, Just try to stay calm,” Ky fussed as he pressed Colt to lie back again.

“I don’t need security. I can handle myself, plus one of the guys is usually with me. I’m safe, Colt. Ky’s right. You need to stop getting so worked up,” I warned.

“Mason?” Colt looked to his best friend.

“She’s right. Jack, Deak, or I will make sure one of us is always with her, and she’s carrying too. She’ll be fine,” Mason agreed, and when I smiled gratefully over to him, he gave me a panty melting wink.

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