Breaker
“Stay down,” I tell Ava, but I can sense she is about to freak out.
Rain pelts the windshield as we leave Ava's apartment behind us. She is still trying to persuade me to go back, but I know it’s not safe.
"Please," she pleads, her voice shaky with fear. "I just want to go home."
"Your apartment isn't safe, Ava," I tell her firmly, my gaze flicking between the road and the rearview mirror. I could scent all sorts of trails outside her apartment, none of them good. There's a group of people lying in wait inside and too many unmarked cars with heavily tinted windows in the parking lot.
Ignoring her protests, I drive on as Ava begins to calm down.
"Breaker... what's going on?" she asks, her eyes wide with confusion and terror.
"Your apartment was a trap," I confess, my head thumping. "Ava, you're not just being watched—they’re using you as bait for me." The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check. I need to stay focused if we're going to get through this.
"What?" she gasps, tears welling up in her eyes.
“They’re using you, can’t you see that?” I say, anger breaking into my voice as the suffocating fear I feel pounding down the bond begins to creep into my head.
“No,” she tells me, but is that the truth? This whole thing is so messed up, and I need to make sure I tread carefully.
"Tell me about your life since the accident," I demand, my voice barely above a growl. "The people close to you, why you moved to Grand Rapids... everything."
"Wh-what are you trying to say?" she stammers, her eyes darting nervously between me and the road. "You're getting on like Billy."
"Like Billy?" My hands tighten around the steering wheel, anger bubbling under my skin. "He was a pawn, Ava. He was part of this. I'm not the enemy here—I'm trying to protect you."
"Protect me?" Her voice is small shaky. "You keep fucking saying that, but what exactly are you protecting me from?"
"From whatever the hell is going on," I snap, my patience wearing thin. "I don't have all the answers, Ava. And I’m sorry about that. But I need you safe."
"Safe?" she echoes, her eyes welling up with tears again. "How am I supposed to feel safe when I don't even know who I can trust?"
"Believe me, right now, I’m the only one you can trust," I need to start putting my foot down here, or we’ll both be dead.
"Look..." she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "Since we’ve met, you’ve kidnapped me, and you killed my ex-boyfriend. It’s not exactly the start of a trusting relationship.”
And she’s right, and we both descend into silence.
The constant tap of rain fall on the windscreen and the beat of the wipers is the soundtrack we drive through the city to.
I glance at Ava's face, her expression a mix of fear and confusion. I can feel the tension emanating from her as she wraps her arms around herself.
I can’t give up on her. I work through my tempter as we continue through the streets of Rapid Falls. The bars and restaurants are filled with people living out their lives in peace. At the same time, some of us are cast aside like stray dogs, hunted and caged.
"Listen, Ava," I begin, my voice low and urgent. I need to say it, she needs to understand. "I think you've been manipulated. Your accident—it must have been staged. Something isn't right."
She whirls to face me, her eyes blazing with anger. "You've been saying that all along! But how am I supposed to know that YOU aren't the one manipulating me?"
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