Jesse's Girl

Tragedy

Jesse Olivera took a swig of his whiskey and then threw the glass across the room, shattering it to pieces. Carter Vincent made it known that he would destroy Jesse with all he had, even if it meant coming after Jesse's most important person in his life; Ava Jenkins. Jesse and Ava had met when he was seventeen, and she was fifteen. She grew up in an abusive home, and Jesse had just started his gang with his best friend, Nicolas Estrada. They had been coming out of a meeting, and she ran right into Jesse. Her face had been beaten and her clothes were torn but she was beautiful to Jesse and he knew right then, he had to have her. From that moment on, they were inseparable.

Jesse escaped his thoughts and picked up his phone to call Ava. "Baby, where are you?"He asked, making sure she was safe. "I just left 'Mama's', Kia, and I met there for supper," she said softly. 'Mama's' was a local cafe that had become Ava's favorite. Jesse could hear car horns and noise in the background. "Are you walking?"he asked, a little sharply. "Uh, yeah. I let Kia borrow my car. But I'm okay Jesse, I promise, "she's replies nervously, knowing Jesse would be pissed. "Damn it, Ava. I'm not trying to yell, but you can't do that shit this late at night. I'm coming to get you. Go back to 'Mama's', and wait for me there, "Jesse said and then hung up. Ava was naive to the world around her. She thought everyone was good in their own way. Jesse grabbed his keys and then called Nick in case he was closer. "Yo, J, what's up?"Nick asked from the other end of the phone. "Are you close to 'Mama's'?" Jesse asked. "Yeah, actually, I'm two places down at Jim's," Nick answered. "Great, can you go and wait with Ava until I get there? She let Kia use her car and was walking home, "Jesse said, agitated. "Geez, yeah, man, I will," Nick said and hung up.

Jesse drove over to 'Mama's' and parked on the side of the street. "Hey babe," Ava says with a smile when Jesse enters the cafe. Jesse glares at Ava and lets her know he's not happy. "Oh come on, J, don't give me that," she whines. "Thanks, Nick," Jesse said, giving him their normal bro shake. Suddenly, the doors to the cafe bust open, and gunshots blasted in the air. "Ava, get down!" Jesse yelled. Ava crawled under a table and hugged her knees to her chest. There was yelling and shooting and then sirens. Everything was a blur.

"Ava... Ava...come out Ava, "Nick called. Ava had covered her ears and closed her eyes, blocking out everything. "Jesse! Where's Jesse?!" she yelled, crawling out from under the table. "Ava, wait!"Nick yelled, but it was too late, Ava stood before Jesse's bloody body on the floor. "Jesse! No!"she screamed, falling down by his side and checking for a pulse, but he was gone. "Nooooooo," Ava cried.

Flashback

"I'll keep you safe, Ava. No one will ever hurt you again. One day, you and I will get married, and I'll be the best husband you could ask for. You deserve the world, and I'm going to give it to you, "Jesse said as he got down on one knee. Ava gasped in shock as she looked at the ring Jesse placed on her finger. "Marry me, Ava Jenkins," Jesse said, his voice emotional. "Yes! Yes, I'll marry you!"Ava cried. Jesse stood up and pulled her to him, kissing her with as much passion as he could. He loved this girl, and he would spend his whole life making sure she knew it.

Nick pulled her away and into his chest, trying to comfort her and shield her at the same time. Coroners and friends of RR came and took Jesse away. Everything happened so fast, and Ava was hysterical, so Nick had to carry her to his car and back to Jesse's. Jesse was his best friend, and he was hurting like hell, but he had to take care of Ava. She was his priority now, and he made a promise to Jesse that if anything happened to him, Nick would take care of Ava.

The gang met at Jesse's to figure out a plan. Nick laid Ava in Jesse's bed. He had given her a sedative to calm her down. "Okay, listen up. This has been the worst night of our lives. Our friend, our leader, our brother; was killed. This was Forsaken, and there is no doubt. Vincent swore he'd destroy Jesse, and he's already completed his first mission, "Nick said loudly for everyone to hear. "He's dead, Nick. What other part?"One of the members, Garret, snapped. "I understand you're pissed but you respect me, or you're out," Nick said. "And to answer your question, Ava is the second part, "Nick replied. Many of the members started cursing and making threats on how if anyone touched Ava, they were dead. Ava was a sister to everyone in RR, and they would protect her with their lives. "That's why we are having this meeting now. Jesse knew this might happen, and he knew Vincent's plan. Jesse has been getting threats for months. As you know, the majority of gangs around here have certain rules. If the leader dies and has a girlfriend, fiance, or wife, the second in command steps up and takes the gang and the girl. Before you ask, Ava knows this rule, but it doesn't mean she will accept it easily. Jesse will be buried tomorrow, and then Ava and I'll marry the next day. Ava is to have two guards at all times. She is not to be go anywhere without my permission, either. It's for her safety, at least until we kill these sons of bitches", Nick says and then stops when he hears someone behind him. "Nick?" Ava whispers hoarsely. "Ava, you should be in bed", Nick says sternly. "This isn't real! I'm supposed to marry Jesse!", she cries. "Y'all are dismissed. Funeral tomorrow at 3", Nick says and then turns back to Ava who is visibly shaking. "I'm sorry Ava. I'm so sorry about Jesse. This was his last wish and a promise I made. I won't back down. You don't have to like it. But I'll take care of you and I'll keep you safe, you know that" Nick tries to assure her. Ava shakes her head. "And then what Nick? You die too and then where will I go? Huh? You gonna pass me downtown to Carlos?", she snaps. Nick clenches his fists and takes a deep breath. "You're in pain right now so I will let that go but don't you ever speak to me that way again Ava. You don't have to like me but you have to respect me. You think I want this anymore than you? Everything is falling on me right now!"he yells, his eyes watering but refusing to let then go. Ava's face softens because she knows Nick is stressed, but this is all happening too fast. She knew the rules when she made the commitment to Jesse. She just never thought she would be here. "I'm sorry Nick", she says quietly. "Just go to bed, Ava. I've messaged Kia. She will be here in the morning to help you get ready for the funeral. I'll make the arrangements. Leave a list for me, and I'll see to it that it's done, "Nick says before walking into Jesse's guest room. Ava stands there, letting more tears fall. Everything was falling apart. Her heart had been crushed. Now she had to marry her fiance's best friend. Nick was a good guy, but he wasn't Jesse. Ava wasn't meant for him. She was meant for Jesse; Jesse's girl.