Page 16 of Capturing Ava
A loud crash rumbles the tunnels. “keep moving,” I instruct.
“What was that?” Miles asks.
“Well, that was the house we just escaped from being blown into a million pieces. Bet you are glad for this rat-infested tunnel now, aren’t you?” He just nods as he jogs to keep up with Damon and Gage, who are walking at a fast pace to get out of this dank place.
It was dark down here and the only light that paved the way were the flashlights on our phones. As we trudged through the dark tunnels, our senses were filled with the echoes of our footsteps, the squelching of water beneath our shoes, and the rats’ squeals as they hurriedly fled from us.
It felt like we had been walking for hours and the damp stench had made its way around us. The stench would in grain itself into my soul. I would be smelling the damp, musky smell for days. I’d never get it out of my clothes. It annoyed me I had to move on the day I was supposed to start my new job. A smirk fell across my lips. Ava’s bodyguard. It was almost—too easy.
“I’m glad you find this amusing. Any other grand adventures you want to take us on, Chase?” I look in front of me to see Damon glaring daggers into my soul.
“Oh, come on, did I ruin your busy schedule?”
“You put a target on all our backs and I still don’t know why,” He screams at me.
“Rossi was trafficking children—children, you would have done the same.” I sigh.
Footsteps approach me and I feel Gage slap me on the back. “Wow, so you have some humanity—you never cease to amaze me.”
“Fuck you, keep moving if you want to get there before light.” He sneers at me while turning his back and walking the way he had come. I wasn’t heartless. I could kill a man and feel nothing but not a child. They were innocent. Why would you want to harm something defenceless? That would be like harming an injured bird.
“Chase,” I look up to see my brother waiting for me and a groan leaves my throat because I’m just awaiting the lecture that I know will follow once he opens his mouth. “This thing with Ava.” He moves his hand through his hair. “It needs to stop.” Ah, there it was, the start of a lecture I didn’t want to hear.
“Why are you so interested in the well-being of the little beast?”
“Fuck, you’ve given her a nickname?” He stares at me. “What is wrong with you?”
“Like today or in general,” I smirk.
“You’re not going to stop, are you?”
“Why? When I’m having so much fun taunting the little beast.”
“This is going to end badly.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what you always say. Come on, we can’t allow those two to win the race home.”
* * *
By the time we had come to the end of our destination, we were all muddy and black from our underground walk. Damon had done nothing but complain the entire way, and after a while, I had learned to just turn it off. Block him out like a white static noise. The peace was blissful. Sure he spoke, but I didn’t catch a single word he was saying.
I made my way up the steel steps that led to our gardens. A sense of relief washed over me once the frosty night air filled my lungs. It’s strange the things we take for granted. Now that I’m in the open air, I can breathe freely, unlike in the confined space where my breathing was restricted.
“How long until he comes here?” Damon scowls as I enter through the main door. I have walked into the estate and he’s already breathing down my neck.
“Have a day off.” I grit.
“A day off? We’ve just been hunted and you want me to have a day off?” He screams like I’m not standing right next to him.
“I already told you, I will sort it.” I rub my temples to let the tension of Damon drip from my body.
“When? When are you going to sort it, Chase? And what are we supposed to do in the meantime while you play house with your plaything?”
“I have a plan.”
“Oh, well, that changes things.” A wide smile appears on his face, and I watch as he turns to Gage and Miles. “He has a plan. A plan. Wonderful.” He claps his hands together and his head snaps back towards mine. “I would love to hear your fucking plan.”
“Not now.” I grit out.
