Shoot out

AIDEN'S POV

"Boss! What's wrong?" Stephan came to me, concern evident in his face. I had drifted off once more.

"Lana...She—" I couldn't make up words. "Make sure she never steps foot into this house every again." She dared to drug me, a foul game to play with a mafia. I'm currently in a feud with the Martins, vulnerability isn't what I need right now.

"Yes sir." I could feel him fight the urge to ask what had happened.

"Avery...Where is she?"

"Last I saw her, she was asking to know your whereabouts. I'm guessing you must have seen her earlier." It all came rushing back. She'd seen I and Lana.

"She's probably in her room. Her security team and car are still here." He'd gotten me to my room and helped me to my bed. I don't know how I got my legs to move but now, I couldn't seem to unhook my arm from his neck. My head hurt like hell.

"I got you boss." I mouthed a thank you as i struggled to stay awake. This coupled last night's reckless drinking was doing numbers on me. "Boss, an Intel says the Martin's have plans to attack and rob from our warehouse in Bronx. I've gotten my team ready and I've informed the men there so security is right. We'll arrive there in an hour for reinforcement.

I tried to get up from the bed as I heard the news but I couldn't. "Stephan, help me."

"Don't worry boss, we've got this. Take care, I'll fill you in on everything." He walked away and I drifted back into a deep slumber.

I was awoken by the continuous sound of my ringtone and luckily, I felt much better.

"Yes? What's up Stephan?"

"It was a trap, a distraction boss. The mansion is under attack," my mind immediately went to Avery, "we won't make it in time and most our men joined in to help with the Bronx defense." He paused to catch his breathe and swallow, "I've contacted the Morali's they'll arrive sooner, I know you're not feeling well so I had to make arrangements for your safety and madam's. Security at the hospital where your grandma is has been strengthened."

"Did you take Simon with you?” I asked wanting to know if i had least the second best available.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry I — I should have planned better. I've tried to reach Mrs. Armstrong, she isn't picking up, I was hoping she might be with you. Berry claims he can't find her."

I was up before I could realize it. I had to make sure she was safe, hidden from this crap. I walked to her door and didn't bothered knocking. "Avery are you—" She wasn't there, I checked her bathroom, the balcony and she wasn't there. My heart started racing. I've never been this careless and let my guard down, now Avery might be paying for my mistake.

"Berry, have you found her?" I held my phone tightly as I awaited his response.

"No sir." I'll find her myself. I stormed out on unsteady legs determined to find Avery.

"Boss, I can't let you go out there like this, You're unwell, it's dangerous."

"What's dangerous is you trying to tell me what to do. You have one task, how hard could finding such petite human be?" With the tone I used, he stepped aside immediately.

Just when I stepped out, my phone rang, it was Avery.

"Hello, Aiden I'm outside, somewhere in the garden. I can't explain where, I'm being followed I don't know what's going on and my arm hurts so bad," I was certain she'd been shot. "When are the cops getting here? I'm not sure I can stay up for much longer i—" the call got disconnected.

"Avery! Avery! No no no. Avery!!!" I thought the worst might have happened.

I have to find her fast. "Berry get more men to join me at the garden." Then I hurried as much as I could on unsteady legs to get to the garden as fast as was possible. Where was she?

AVERY'S POV

I can't deny, the food here is always delicious. I needed to clear my head so I went outside, by the pool and had my dinner there. I still hadn't heard or seen Aiden, it hurt that he hadn't tried to apologize or anything but it wasn't surprising. Cool air and music did wonders for the mind. Before long, I started drifting off to to sleep and decided it was time to go to bed and just then I noticed a dark figure pass by but when I turned, I saw nothing. It was probably all in my head. Alarms went off, I could hear shouts and then gunshots. It felt like a horror movie I was scared and my Left arm thought it a good time to start hurting.

"God please, God please." Who ever was shooting for whatever reason, should stay far away from here. I don't want to get shot or lose my life over some stupid shoot out. I heard footsteps, "Security? Help, I'm over here." When I rushed out, it wasn't any of the security here and this man looked strange, dangerous with a look that tells he meant to cause harm. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I got to a spot where I could hide for a while and tried to call Berry, the head of the security team Aiden had left in charge of my safety but the line wasn't connecting so I decided to call the one man I didn't want to speak to, Aiden.

"Hello, Aiden I'm outside, somewhere in the garden. I can't explain where, I'm being followed I don't know what's going on and my arm hurts so bad," She's been shot. "When are the cops getting here? I'm not sure I can stay up for much longer i—" the call got disconnected while I was still talking. "No no no, why now?" I tried calling back several times but it wouldn't connect.

I had to try and escape on my own, it was the only way. Looking left and right to make certain no one was out there waiting to get me, I ran as fast as I could but I stopped by a huge guy who appeared in front of my path, I quickly turned around to take the other route.

"One more move and I'll pull the trigger." I went ice still, fear rocketed through my body. Was this how I was going to end? Loveless, unhappy, zero accomplished goals, no child. I said my last prayer and then I heard sound of gunshot come from behind me. This is it, this was the end.

"Avery!" I turned at the sound of my name. It was Aiden. The man from earlier was laying on the floor lifeless. I ran as Aiden as fast as I could, my legs were shaking, I could barely move them.

Aiden rushed over to me, "Stay with me, Avery don't go to sleep." Why was he shouting? My head hurt like hell and he was making things worse. Somebody tell this man he had no right to tell me when I can and can not go to sleep. I felt him grip my right arm and the pain intensified. "Let go! It hurts...why? My words were slurred. I heard more gunshots as i drifted off while Aiden barked orders that I couldn't process. When would this be over? Will i ever get to safety?