The Ones Who Saved Us

Chapter 31

Hunter's POV

I couldn't take my eyes off of Ava as choked sobs left her lips, muffled as she pressed her face into Arya's chest. The girl who I saw as nothing less than a sister was curled on the floor of my apartment, a girl who had experienced the most vicious acts of violence that I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy. Things she had thought were a distant memory only for those same feelings of terror to be triggered by a boy who sought revenge against a child—a fucking child who never asked to be involved in this mess.

Anger coursed through my veins, intensifying as the realization grew that there was nothing I could do to ease Ava's pain. I had already done too much to hurt her by agreeing to work for Nikolai in hopes that I would be able to convince him not to hurt Ava once I gained his trust.

But that never happened. Nikolai's walls were built too high, higher than Ava's were when I first met her. I had hoped that after a few drinks with him, Nikolai and I would establish a trust between us, like what had happened between Ava and I.

But I failed, just like I failed at preventing Nikolai from hurting Ava.

I was a pathetic excuse for a friend.

As I leaned against the wall of my apartment, I ignored the murderous glances Ava's friends were sending in my direction. I didn't blame them, though. Based on what they had seen just an hour earlier, I was a loyal servant to that Russian boy Don.

A Russian Don without a fucking Mafia, I scoffed to myself.

While Arya continued comforting Ava, Jamal and the D'Angelo siblings stood in a separate corner of the room speaking in hushed tones. I stood distant from them from listening in one their conversation, cautious of the disdain they were showing me.

"A fucking Mafia?" Jamal asked, his tone expressing evident fear and confusion. "I've known you guys for two—no, three—years, and I never would've thought that! That's something you see in movies or read in books, not in real life."

Cara sighed. "We've already gone over this, Jamal. Get over it already."

"Get over it? How the fuck—"

Raphael interrupted Jamal midsentence. "That's enough." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed something on it before showing the screen to his siblings and friend, aware of the microphones they were forced to wear by Nikolai. Marco pulled the phone out of his brother's hand and typed something on it.

I returned my attention back to Ava as the four teenagers' conversation grew nonverbal. She had visibly calmed down, her sobs turning into quieted hiccups. The arms that were once crossed over my chest dropped to my side as Ava stood up from the floor, removing herself from Arya's embrace.

The room stilled when everyone noticed Ava's change in composure. Her quivering lip, shaking hands, and unsteady feet. Everything that informed the world just how hurt and scared she was had completely disappeared, replaced by a hardened and cold expression that kept every emotion locked up with no chance of escaping.

Marco tried approaching her, but Cara placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him, shaking her head when he sent a confused look in her direction.

Ava's eyes glazed over my face as she muttered, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Where...?"

Ava's voice trailed off as she stared at a point on the wall behind me. I nudged my head in the direction of the hallway. "It's down the hallway next to my room."

Ava gave a slight nod of the head as she walked towards the bathroom. When she passed me, I gently grasped her hand, causing her to flinch. "Ava, are you— Can I do anything for you? Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"