Ava's Pov:
The phone was a higher model. The one I always wanted. He didn't know that obviously, but I still appreciated it.
I felt guilty instantly. I was reminded of how much he was struggling too. He probably hasn't been sleeping. I couldn't resist it, so I went to his room and knocked.
He didn't answer so I went to his office.
He was seated, backing the door. I slowly walked in.
"Thank you."
He spun around. "Oh for what?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't be a flirt."
"Uh, I'm not following."
"The phone."
With a smile, he said, "How did that make me a flirt?"
My heart fluttered for a split second. I almost didn't notice it.
"You did something sweet and now you're trying to play it off like some nonchalant mafia boss."
His eyes flickered.
"Me and nonchalant shouldn't be in the same sentence. I just didn't know that was what you were talking about."
"That lost in thought, huh?"
"Well."
"Leon, I won't feel settled if you keep hiding things from me."
"I'm not hiding anything, I'm protecting you from whatever is out there."
"And you don't know what that thing is?"
He hesitated. "I don't."
I nodded, slowly and then walked out of the office. I wanted him to call me back and just say something, anything. But, he let me go.
I went back to my room to call Alicia again. The phone had a new number so I knew if she picked up then she was definitely still mad at me.
After three rings, I couldn't suppress the nervousness anymore. I wanted to hang up, but she answered seconds before I did that.
"Alicia speaking. Who's this?"
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I didn't know what to say or where to begin.
Do I just go 'hey Alicia, I got kidnapped yesterday but I'm safe now because Leon is protecting me.'
I couldn't do it. I hung up.
I stood up and paced the room, holding my chest tight, hoping it'll somehow stop the thumping.
I didn't even know what I was so scared of. Abandonment or disappointment.
She called again.
I took a deep breath then answered.
"Hey, Alicia."
She stayed quiet for a while. It made my nerves worse.
"Ava?"
"You don't sound too happy to hear my voice." I said.
"I'm working Ava, what is it? And whose phone are you calling me with?"
"Uh, mine. I got a new phone."
"Oh really? That's nice. Is that what you wanted to tell me?"
I hesitated. I wanted to tell her the truth so bad, but I feared criticism more than I feared telling another lie.
"Uh, yeah, yeah I wanted you to save the number and delete the old one."
"Sure thing. We'll talk later. Duty calls."
She hung up fast. Faster than she had ever done.
I went back to sulking and wishing I had done things differently.
"I need a drink" I said out loud.
The distance between my room and Leon's office wasn't that far and it was close to the stairs so hearing his conversations while passing was normal. I just never cared until then.
"We need to keep her safe, Noah."
"We need to keep ourselves safe!" Noah, as Leon called him, yelled from the other side of the phone.
"I don't think you understand. Every single one of us isn't safe. We can't protect ourselves anymore, we have to do something."
"So what are you saying?"
Leon sighed. "We have to kill him, and we have to do it before he kills Ava."
I gasped, loud enough for him to notice me.
"Ava?" he called out.
My hands flew to my mouth as I ran downstairs.
He kept calling my name but I didn't answer. I just kept running. Before I could make it out of the gate, he grabbed me.
"Ava."
"Let me go!"
I struggled to break but his grip only got tighter.
"Ava!"
I paused.
"Do you trust me?"
"You really expect me to trust you?" I replied, sounding oddly calm.
He slowly let go of me. "Yes, I do."
"I can't trust a liar. You told me you didn't know who he was."
"And you aren't a liar as well? You're living a double life but I hired you anyway."
I stared at him.
"What did you just say to me?"
He gave that look again. The look that said he regretted what he said, but I wasn't buying it.
"I'm sorry Ava. I didn't mean it like that."
"Yes, you did." I adjusted my shirt. "And what does that have to do with anything? I'm a fake socialite and so what? I'm not a murderer unlike you. And you'll be damned if you think for even a second that I'm going to stay here and wait to be killed under your protection."
He held me back again. "Ava you don't understand."
"Then explain it to me!"
I waited for him to say something but he just covered his face and turned his back on me.
"Exactly."
"If you walk out that gate there's no guarantee you'll live to see another day."
I stopped, but didn't turn around.
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a warning."
"Ha. Wow Leon."
"I promise I'll explain it all to you. You just need to be patient."
I turned around.
"I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you, ever."
I didn't know if it was the look in his eyes or the way he said it but something made me my heart flutter again.
"Okay."
I don't know why I gave in so easily, but I did.
I'm glad I did.