It begins with us.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Yaakov's POV

"I'll do it."

It was just below a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear as Ava's voice spoke behind me, making me whip my body around to face her as I stared down at her in utter shock. I had just been enraged at what Mama was proposing, using Ava as bait to lure the people responsible out at the desert diner. I could feel every nerve, every cell in my body exploded with fear and outrage that she had become a blur, along with everyone else in the room that were voicing their opinions and concerns. But to have Ava fucking agree to this dangerous plan had caused my heart to stop beating. I felt a part of me die the moment she whispered those sinful words, and I struggled to suck air into my lungs. She looked completely broken, her eyes were vacant of the light that had captivated me, lips trembling uncontrollably has her arms hugged herself protectively around her center. Her tears that had stained her cheeks were now resting at the bottom of her chin, waiting to drop to the floor as she trembled openly.

"What? Ava... no."

My voice was laced with agony as I moved to wrap my arms around her tiny frame, pulling her into my chest as she her cries became more painful against my broken heart. Just taking one look at her should be enough for Mama not to go through with this. She was broken, and I had done this to her.

"She is stronger than you give her credit for Yaakov. Ava has agreed so the matter is settled."

The ice-cold tone dripping from her mouth had sent adrenaline to spread like wildfire, enraging me further while she looked board being here. Mama loved Ava, saw her like she did Rivka, so why speak to her like this? Why treat her this way when she has little to no training of our world.

"The matter is not settled! Can't you see she her current state?! or are you so blind and heartless that you would use her when she isn't properly trained to go up against the monsters in our world!"

I was shaking, rage and desperation clung to my body like chains, wrapping themselves tightly around me while squeezing the air from my lungs. I had never spoken to Mama like this before, never used the words that had so easily spilled from my lips, but I was done being polite to the woman that wanted to use Ava like a fucking pawn on a chess board. I knew Ava was strong, capable of so much but, she lacked the training necessary for something like this, not to mention the time it would take for her to control her emotions when facing off with the enemy.

"And I thought your Papa and I raised you better than to believe what is in front of you son."

She sighed heavily before walking over and standing close to Ava's side. Her eyes however, never wavered from mine as she began to speak again.

"Ava isn't crying, or trembling because of what I asked her to do Yaakov... She is crying due to the thought of losing you."

I narrowed my eyes at Mama, watching as her intense gaze never faltered while I began to pull away from Ava slowly.

"Ava?"

I spoke softly, seeing her beautiful teal eyes look up into mine. They were red and swollen, her cheeks flushed while her bottom lip trembled. I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat, scanning her features from the creases on her forehead down to the way her fingers were gripping my shirt tightly, her knuckles white while I exhaled a sharp breath. Ava's breathing pattern was different, not that of fear, but of panic. I moved my fingers down to her wrists, pads resting on her pulse point giving me the indication that Mama was right. Ava wasn't upset because of what had been asked of her, she was upset because of me. Losing me.

"I have agreed Yaakov, and I am asking you not to change my mind."

Her voice came out stronger than I had ever heard it before, and all of a sudden, the pain in my chest was replaced with pride and love, so much love that I couldn't help but touch her lips with mine. The thought of Ava trembling and crying was the tipping point for me, seeing how she reacted to what Mama had said I was sure she wasn't capable of such a request. Being bait in the middle of a mafia war was not something that had to be taken lightly. You could be killed, or worse, taken. I would choose death every time, because the monsters that hid in the shadows were capable of horrid things if they got you still breathing. But Ava was doing this for me. Risking her life for... me. I know I should be feeling anger, devastation or any other emotion that came with the love of your live risking her own for me, but I didn't, because Mama was right. I had, for a brief moment doubted what she was actually capable of. And I felt like I had let her down. I removed my lips from her before giving her a small smile as I brushed her tears away with my thumb.

"I am so sorry I doubted you... I know you are strong, and I shouldn't have made you feel as if you weren't."

She smiled up at me while shaking her head, pulling at my shirt and tugging me down as her lips claimed my own in a passionate kiss that left my cock harder than ever. Her kiss was needy with tongues and teeth licking and sucking as I gripped the side of her head with my large hands. She brought life back into me with every kiss, every touch that I wasn't able to control myself.

"Now that's all out of the way, I will be taking over Ava's training starting tomorrow." Mama voiced, making us both break away from our kiss and turning over at her. "I will meet you in the kitchen at ten o'clock. Dress as you are now." She then turned her attention to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The other families will be here soon, make sure you are presentable before meeting us in the library."

I closed my eyes when I felt Ava nod her head, hearing Mama's heals hit the floor as she walked out of my office and down the hall. Rivka followed shortly after while Danial, Salim, Kemal and Mohammed stayed behind, waiting for me to dismiss them.

"I think she hates me now."

The disappointment that dripped from her mouth had me shaking my head as I placed my fingers underneath her chin, raising it up so that her was looking at me.

"Mama does not hate you Ava... but she is very disappointed in me for allowing this to happen."

"You didn't allow any of this to happen Yaakov, this isn't your fault."

I chuckled while wrapping my arms around her middle, resting my chin on the top of her head as I breathed her in.

"But it is my love. It was my job to make sure you were protected. What kind of man does that make me? If I cannot protect the women I love..."

My ability to run this family will come into question now, and I know that Mama will not let any of this slide now that Ava was involved. Lossing Ava will not be an option for Mama.

"I let my guard down, and that isn't your fault... my Papa managed to stay in control when he first met Mama, so I should be able to manage the same... in this life you cannot lose focus, even for a moment or everything you have built will come crashing down around you."

I pulled away from her, seeing the turmoil swimming in her eyes as I kiss her softly on her forehead.

"It will all be ok Ava, I promise."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek before nodding her head in agreement.

"Ok... You better be going if you want to make your meeting on time."

She let out a small chuckle, but I could see the guilt written on her face. She felt like my position as King was at stake. That if she hadn't let her guard down with me the night on the beach, then I would have seen the person responsible for the photos. But none of this was her doing, and after the meeting I would show her just how wrong she was.