Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A very got dressed and made herself a quick bite to eat while Knight got his shower and got dressed. She’d just finished putting some peanut butter on the second piece of toast when Knight came into the room.

She leaned back into him when his arms came around her and squeezed. She turned her head and nipped his chin before kissing the spot.

“Minx!”

“And?”

“Not sure how long I’ll be. If you need anything, give me a call.”

“Go! Delaney needs her big brother’s. I’ll be fine. Come home in one piece. Don’t care how many you leave the assholes in. I love you!”

“I love you, too.”

Avery smacked Knight on the ass when he stole one of her peanut butter toasts and walked away with a laugh. She reached out and grabbed him to place a passionate kiss on his lips. When she broke away, she snuck a quick bite of the toast, giving him a wink before sauntering off towards the bathroom, dropping the shirt along the way.

When she’d gotten out of the shower, she realized she didn’t have any clean clothes to put on. Knowing Knight was busy with finding Delaney, she decided to run home really quick to get clean clothes for herself. She was going to pack an overnight bag and come straight back.

When she opened the door, she started when she saw the guard. Looking around, she figured Knight and Donovan were being overly protective.

“Oh, hi.”

“Ma’am!” Can I help you with anything?”

“I was just going to run home and grab an overnight bag with clothes. Figured I’d also grab some groceries to fix dinner for Knight and Donovan later on.”

“Aye. Mr. O’Rourke doesn’t want you alone. I will need to inform him of what’s going on.”

“Um, can’t you just go with me? Then I won’t be alone. The trip shouldn’t take us long. An hour tops. Please? I don’t want to disturb Knight since he needs to find Delaney.”

“I’m going with you!”

“I’m fine with that. Like I said, we won’t be more than an hour. I promise.”

“I get into trouble, I’m blaming you.”

“I’ll take the blame! Knight can spank my ass red!”

“More information than I needed, miss.”

“Spoiled sport.”

Avery reached back and shut the door and followed the guard down the elevator. She couldn’t help the smile on her face at the man’s shyness when she mentioned the spanking.

“Hey Cross, where are you heading?”

“Hey Blue. Taking Ms. Jones to her house to pack an overnight bag for a few days and the grocery store. What are you doing here?”

“Boss called me in.”

“Alright. See you later!”

Avery got to her car and started to unlock it. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder stopping her.

“We’ll take mine.”

“Fuck! Cross! Make some fucking noise next time.”

“Sorry ma’am. Something feels off. I’d rather take my car to be safe.”

“Okay.”

Avery wasn’t going to argue. This man worked with Knight.

Following his lead, she got into the passenger side of his vehicle. After giving Cross directions to her place, she mentally made a list of what to pack in her overnight bag and what to grab at the grocery store.

When they arrived at her place, she went into her room and started pulling her underwear and bras out of her drawers. She went into her bathroom and got her toiletries and placed them on the bed next to her undergarments.

She had just opened the closet door to grab an overnight bag and a few clothes when all hell broke loose. Avery screamed out for Cross before she was punched in the face.

“Whore! Already cheating on that criminal you’re fucking!”

“No!”

The attacking figure wore black form neck down. His face was covered by a clown mask with rubber sharp looking teeth and fake blood in strategic places on the mask. Something about the voice bothered her.

“Ms. Jones?”

“Cross, run! He has a gun!”

“Shut up, whore!”

Avery saw stars when the intruder punched her in the face again. Avery kicked out, causing the person to grunt and back away.

She grabbed the nearby lamp and smashed it over the person’s head as she pushed away from them at the same time and ran. She ran towards Cross who had his weapon drawn and raised at the intruder in her room.

BANG

“Fuck!”

BANG

“Cross!” Avery screamed out when Cross flew back.

“I wouldn’t do that, Ms. Jones. You’ve caused my boss some serious issues and cost him quite a bit of money.”

“Bullshit! I don’t know who you are or your boss. I haven’t cost anyone shit! Asshole!”

Avery cringed when the man laughed heartily. He was obviously sick in the head.

“Kill that mother fucker! He shot me.”

Avery gasped in horror as Officer Green shoved the mask off of his face, anger and hatred obvious on his face. Now she knew why his voice sounded so familiar.

BANG

“Actually, Officer Green, your usefulness is up. You failed to do your job in acquiring Ms. Jones. Your brother failed to take out both women in the school parking lot. He’s waiting for you to join him in hell.”

BANG

Avery screamed out as she covered Cross’s body with her own. She couldn’t let them kill him. He was Knight’s only way to find her. She had to ensure he remained alive as long as possible.

“Let’s go! Mackey is waiting.”

The man gripped Avery by the back of her head and pulled her up off of Cross’s body. She knew if they suspected Cross of being alive, they would kill him.

She did the only thing she could think of. Well, two things she fought, kicked and screamed as loudly as she could.

Avery welcomed the darkness when she got punched in across the face. She hoped, as she started to black out, that they had forgotten about Cross. Please let them forget about Cross.