“Do what?”
“Believe in me. You make me sound indestructible.”
“Because I see it every day, Ava. You’re a fighter.”
Love flowed out of her baby blues. “Like you.”
“Like me.”
“Your little warrior?”
“Damn straight, my little warrior. I love you. I love you so damn much.” I hugged her tightly, still in disbelief of what had just happened and how far we’d come in one day.
“I love you too, Drew.”
I didn’t want tonight to end. God only knew what tomorrow would bring when we went to war with the TC Vipers.
9
Ava
I looked around the two-bedroom suite. Nana and I would stay here while Drew didwhateverhe had to do tonight. His club wouldn’t let the shoot-out go. I understood their position, but I didn’t like it because it would put Drew—and all the guys—in danger. But it wasn’t my place to tell him what to do or not to do. I accepted Drew and his lifestyle wholeheartedly.
He was always firm in his position with Nana, yet respectful. He never failed to impress me when he could convince her to do what he wanted, like stay at the compound.
“What do you think, Silvia?” Drew tugged me into his arms. After our night together, he couldn’t keep his hands off me. He didn’t even try to refrain in front of my nana. “I want you to be comfortable here, so you don’t give Ava any crap. If there’s something you need, tell me now.”
She waved him off with a scowl on her face. “Are you serious about my Ava?”
He growled low in his throat, showing his frustration. Nana often needed to hear something several times before it registered in her brain. Or maybe she was testing Drew. “I know you heard us last night, you dirty old woman. You know I’m serious. I told you at breakfast I’m in love with her. She’s mine. Are you going to give me a hard time or what?”
I covered my mouth and giggled. Only Drew got away with talking to her like that. It was because she liked him, though she acted like she didn’t. Stubborn old bird.
She sighed, with a smirk curling the corners of her lips. “It’s very nice. Does the television have Hulu?”
“I see where your priorities are.” He squeezed me and placed a kiss on my head. “Yes, I made sure to have you all hooked up.”
Nana dropped onto her blue recliner, propped up the footrest, and grabbed the remote on the end table. “Good.” She clicked on the flatscreen.
Bringing her old recliner was one of her conditions in coming to the compound. Drew hadn’t said a word about it, outside of making the prospects get a truck to haul it over. He’d meant what he said. He’d do anything to keep me safe.
“Come with me.” He led me to my temporary bedroom. “She’ll be lost in her show until bedtime.” He knew Nana too well.
“This place is really nice. Bright and cheery.”
He closed the door, then sat on the end of the bed. I perched myself on his lap naturally, looping my arm around his neck.
“You’re worried, aren’t you?” I touched my finger to his pursed lips.
“You know I’d never lie to you, right?”
“Yes.” I sensed an unpleasant conversation was about to happen.
“This run will be dangerous. We aren’t welcome where we’re going.” His stricken expression made my stomach knot up.
“So then why are you going?” I didn’t like it. I understood why he couldn’t give me details, but he needed to provide me with something more than “it is club business”—if only for my peace of mind.
“Because we can’t let those fuckers come into our territory and shoot up one of our businesses. You, Snow, and little Max could’ve been killed. We can’t let that shit go.”