Chapter Five
Belle wasn’t used to anyone caring about her. Her father simply saw her as something he could use and trade for more money. She wasn’t a pretty woman, nor had she been a beautiful child. In fact, many times he’d called her ugly, useless, disgusting. They’d been words she was used to, so she knew she wasn’t special. It was why she lapped up the attention like she was desperate when Ava’s father came to her with all his sweet lies.
Affection and love were things she craved and wished for, even as a little girl. Giving birth to her daughter, it had felt like a lifeline to her. She could give her daughter everything that she, herself, was denied.
Drago.
Staring into his fierce eyes, her heart raced. He covered her hands with his and smiled. “I’m pretty unforgettable,” he said.
“I didn’t want to come back in, you have to believe that. The fighting. The bullshit. I … I wanted out. I’ve been wanting out since I was in it as a kid. This is all wrong. It shouldn’t be happening.” She felt tears close again, and she quickly pulled away. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she took a deep breath.
“Your daughter’s safe,” Drago said, drawing her attention once again.
“What?”
“She’s not with your father, but I know exactly how these assholes think. They’re not going to harm their precious collateral.”
“How do I get to her?” Belle asked. If Ava wasn’t with her grandfather, then that had to mean she could go and get her.
The look on Drago’s face let her know that going to get her daughter was not part of the plan yet.
“I know you love her and that you want her more than anything.” He stood up and paced the room. “I won’t even stop you if you head out that door this second and try to find her. Even if you succeed, you’ll be running for the rest of your life.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You failed the tenth fight, Belle. Your name was on the death list. They were going to kill you, regardless. I think it has to do with your father and that man running for office. We need to get things in the open,” Drago said.
It was all too much.
She felt a migraine coming on. Maybe it was one too many hits to the head, but all she could focus on was getting Ava back.
“I don’t want to hear this right now.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but I need you to think about it. Do you want to finally be free or to constantly be looking over your shoulder?”
She ran her fingers through her hair, feeling panic creep in. Deep down she knew what he wanted her to do, and she hated it. “It’s not our job to figure all this out. I just want Ava and to get away from it all. Can’t you see that? Don’t you get it? No, I guess you don’t. You’ve never had a kid, have you? You don’t know what it’s like to be completely filled with despair at having her torn away from you. I had her, Drago. She was in my arms, and I promised to love her for the rest of my life. To protect her. Now I don’t even know where the fuck she is!” She finished the last part nearly screaming.
Seeing the devastated look on his face, she covered her mouth and felt her emotions bubble up again. This was the second time her control had shattered in such a short time, and she hated it more than anything.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” she said. She’d promised herself to be better than this. He was only trying to help, and she’d cut him to shreds.
Drago caught her shoulders, holding her in place. “There’s a reason I don’t have kids. Why I don’t have a family. You think I didn’t want one? You think I didn’t crave to have a child of my own? A wife? I wanted it all. I’ve been in this fucking world for a long time, Belle. I know what they’re like. I know for a fact that there is no out for us. You think I want my son, my daughter, any of my family, anyone to go through what I did? I don’t.”
“So you think I’m selfish?”
“I think you’ve been used, Belle, in more ways than you’ll ever realize. You’ve got no idea what they’re capable of. Ava’s safe for now, but in five years he’ll be training her the same as he did with you. I’ve seen them kill kids who couldn’t take a good beating.” He shook his head. “No one cares about street kids.”
She saw the despair in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I … I think I’ve had one too many punches to the head.”