It begins with us.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Yaakovs POV

"Well, that was quite entertaining brother"

I grind my teeth as I look out the car window with frustration, we were travelling at a steady pace down the strip while I prepared myself for another talk from Danial that I knew was coming sooner or later. When the fuck did he become the advise giver of the family? How did this playboy know so much about a woman? Just because he fucks them, doesn't mean he knows them. For me it has proven quite difficult, trying to understand Ava was like messing with an unstable Atom, one wrong move and the whole thing becomes nuclear. What a fucking disaster. I wanted to answer her questions, even though I knew she had a thought about what it was I did for a living, but I got distracted by her little tantrum. She looked so fucking adorable with her arms crossed over her chest, foot hitting the pavement below that I couldn't help but grin like a fool in love. My eyes cut to Danial, seeing him stretched out in front of me while he looks behind us through the window, making sure the other car was travelling safely. How can he look so relaxed after the events of today? Like he has not a care in the world while he nods his head to the soft music coming from the speakers.

"So glad that my misery entertains you," I growl out in frustration, my body twitching to turn itself around and see the car she was in. I know that she is safe travelling with Mama and Rivka, but my mind needs visual confirmation to settle itself down. I hated that she wasn't sitting next to me, that I couldn't be surrounded by her magnificent scent, watching her from the corner of my eye as she threw subtle glances my way. I loved the feeling of her teal eyes on me, the glow causing a tsunami of emotions to flow through my veins that left me holding onto every last bit of sanity I had left when it came to her. Her voice soothed the very darkest parts of my thoughts, settling them down to a quiet slumber.

"Watching someone not follow your orders entertains me brother, but not the rift you are creating between yourself and Ava"

I roll my eyes stubbornly as if this wasn’t the first time that word had been thrown around. "I am not creating any rift, Danial."

"Ok, so you are taking the path most travelled then?"

I look at him with confusion, wondering what the hell he is talking about now. Why does he have to talk in fucking riddles?!

He sighs while shaking his head. "Denial brother"

"I am not in denial about anything." I grind my teeth as my grip tightens. I was not in denial about Ava and me, nor about the questions she had. It was just....difficult.

"Yes, you are. And the sooner you accept it, the more you will let your guard down and understand what it is she is asking for"

I bring my fingertips up to my temples, rubbing them slowly as I begin to feel the effects of a headache attack my mind.

"Welcome to relationships brother." He chuckles before pointing at me in amusement. "Those headaches will be a constant from here on out." His laughter only fuelled my frustration more, adding to an already disastrous situation that I needed desperately to understand and solve. I loved the back and forth between Ava and me, she always kept me on my toes when she opened that mouth of hers, and not knowing what to expect excited me greatly. I wanted a woman who spoke her mind, who wasn't afraid to put me in my place and challenge my decisions. That was Ava. And I didn't want to lose that because I was too stubborn to listen to what she wanted.

"How do I fix this" I sighed desperately, looking towards Danial as he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Simple, you answer her questions brother." Speaking as if it was the simplest task, looking at me as if it were all that easy.

"I can't explain it all, you know I can't. I have my family to protect, YOUR family. It isn't that black and white." It was true. I couldn't explain it all to her fully without risking the attention from unwanted parties. Ava didn't grow up in this lifestyle. From birth, we have been instilled with the duty to protect and honour our families and those of our citizens. She didn't understand what it was like for us growing up, being trained at a young age to handle, control and fire a Beretta 9mm handgun. What would she say about our father throwing his Nine and Seven-year-old sons into the ring, teaching them to defend and attack men that were three times older and ten times stronger than us? I have lost count of the broken bones and fractures I had received. How would she feel knowing that Rivka was subjected to the same intense training we had endured? I have never questioned my upbringing, nor have I ever felt ashamed of it. This was the way of life for us, and I will always carry my childhood with honour and pride. It was always about making sure we were able to defend ourselves, and in this line of work, it was a necessity. You wouldn't survive if you were all talk and no action, so the three of us were put through hell to become the adults we were today. And this would go for any children the three of us would have.

"Don't you think she has a right to know? I mean, you won't let her go, but you won't tell her anything of value? I'm not saying to expose everything to her just yet, but your job? You know you could have answered that question." Danial states a matter-of-factly, raising one eyebrow in my direction. "Ava isn't stupid brother. She has eyes, she knows you don't work a normal 9 to 5 job."

"I understand that Danial, it's just..." I sigh heavily before running my hands down my exhausted face.

"Just what? Do you think it will scare her away? That once she finds out who you are and what you do for a living that she will want nothing to do with you? Because if you, covered in Cohan’s blood didn't scare her, then I think you will be just fine."

I smirk slightly at the memory in question, remembering her eyes widening with shock and fear, but it was over in an instant. She wanted me just the way I was that afternoon, and not once flinched away from the slight of me. When I ran my blood-soaked fingers up and down her delicious body, she moaned wanting even more that I happily delivered. Just the thought of her warms up my veins. She feels incredible in my arms, her skin is so soft and silky I could trace her with my fingers all day. I want nothing more than to taste her again, feeling her soft body against my own, licking, sucking and kissing every inch of her as we inhale each other, pulling her close to me as she rides my swollen cock into oblivion. But I knew I was being selfish with Ava because I would have to come clean with what our lifestyle meant. Fear was clogging up my throat while I closed my eye's in pain, imagining her running far away from me when I spilled everything to her.

"Brother?"

My eyes snap in the direction of Danials, the memory fading away as I lick my lips, feeling the aftereffects swell inside my pants as I cross one leg over the other.

"You need to have this conversation sooner rather than later with her." All playfulness has disappeared from his voice, his face cold and serious as he leans forward, resting his forearms on top of his knees.

"Uri has shown interest in Ava Yaakov, and we both know that isn't a good sign."