Sinful Alliance: A Reverse Harem Story

Twelve

At some point after sunset, I'd dozed off while reading and was woken up by a beep. My eyes fluttered open just as a hand fisted in my hair yanking me out of my chair causing me to cry out. The sound was cut off by a fist colliding with my face before I was thrown to the ground. My eyes rose to the person standing over me- they had to be at least six foot tall and lanky, and their face was covered by a ski mask. "Who are-" Again I was cut off, this time by a boot clad foot slamming into my side. I kicked my barefoot into their shin causing their legs to buckle then scrambled to grab my phone from the end table and was just able to hit call on Vartan's contact before my assailant grabbed me by the ankles dragging me across the floor. More blows came to my sides, and I could feel ribs break then I pushed myself onto my side wrapping my arms around myself in an effort of protection only to feel something there break from the kicks. Glove covered hands grabbed my upper arms forcing me onto my back so they could pin me down with a knee to my stomach and slapped me across the face causing my vision to blur.

"Get off of her or I'll blow your brains out," a voice growled, and the blows stopped. My aching eyes opened to see Vartan pressing the muzzle of a pistol to the back of the head of the person on top of me. "On your feet, slowly."

The pressure from the fucker's knee left my stomach as he rose and Vartan used one hand to grab his shoulder while the other kept the gun steady. Blue-green eyes that were filled with rage looked toward me as I sat up wincing at the pain that radiated from my arm and my side. He didn't say a word just turned his gaze from me to the window as the alley was filled with sirens and flashing lights. "You called your brother?" I asked with a sigh.

"Yeah," he growled. "If I didn't I would have killed this fucker for touching you."

Outside of my open apartment door I heard the heavy metal doors slam open then footsteps rushed up the cement steps and Arik burst in with a few uniformed officers. "I've got it from here," Arik told Vartan as he approached with handcuffs. Vartan lowered the gun as his brother took hold of the masked guy then the larger twin came over to me and knelt at my side. As he placed a gentle hand on my aching face the rage in his eyes lessened. "Thank you for coming," I whispered, and his face twitched with a little smile as an EMT crew came in.

-VARTAN-

"I'll meet you there," I told Ava as she was loaded into the back of the ambulance and turned my gaze to the EMT at her side.

"We're taking her to Grace Square," he told me, and I nodded shutting the door. When they started on their way I turned as the officers my brother had brought along shoved the guy they'd unmasked into the back of the cruiser- the beginning of an unkept beard covered his face almost hiding the sores from years of drug abuse, salt and pepper hair was balding in places and his red rimmed eyes were looking around wildly. He was stick thin and I could have broken him like he was one, but you have to be careful with junkies they can get really sketchy when they're cornered.

"Ever seen him before?" my brother asked after the squad car headed toward their station house.

"No, this is a part of the city that normally stays clean of drugs. Him breaking in the night she comes home can't a coincidence, I'd bet money he's the one who broke in yesterday."

"Your girl have any enemies?"

"She's not 'my girl' and no, not as far as I know. She doesn't have anyone-orphaned at ten when her parents were killed and neither side of her family wanted her."

"I remember that murder... As bad as I hate to say it maybe that guy is connected to someone trying to get back at Silvano."

I shook my head. "I don't like her being with him, but I know that he wouldn't put her in harms way. If he thought someone would hurt her because of him he wouldn't have left the state."

"How do you know he left the state?"

"He texted me asking me to keep an eye on her. Maybe the person who killed her parents hired him to finish the job."

"I don't think so if it's been this long since the original killing, but we can't rule anything out."

"Let me know what he tells you."

"Sure thing."

He got in his car going on his way and I headed to my SUV; I'll finish the end of the month paperwork once I am sure she's okay.

"Can I help you?" the young nurse behind the reception desk asked when I entered the packed emergency room.

"I'm here for Avalona Silvers, she was just brought in by ambulance."

She typed something into the computer, and I felt the vein in my neck throb as her acrylic nails pecked against the plastic keys. "Miss Silvers is in ER bay five," she said handing me a visitor badge then I pushed through the double doors when they buzzed. I pinned the badge to the front of my shirt weaving my way through hospital staff until I came to the closed curtain of bay five. I pushed it aside to find Ava sitting up on the bed- her hair was pulled back into a makeshift ponytail and her face was swelling and darkening with a bruise.

"Hey," I sighed and her deep purple eyes rose to me.

"Hey," she replied with a ghost of a smile.

"How do you feel?"

"Hurting some but they gave me something to help. They think he broke my arm and a few ribs but won't know for sure until they get the x-ray results."

Rage surged through me again, maybe I should have taught that asshole a lesson. Slowly I moved to settle in the chair at the bedside. "So, who was he?"

"From what I can tell, just a druggy."

Her brow furrowed as she looked down picking at the quilt. "Did he say anything else?"

I shook my head. "Not when they were shoving him into the cruiser, but my brother will keep me updated."

"Again thanks for coming to my rescue."

"You don't have to thank me Avalona," I sighed and looked toward the curtain as it was pushed aside by a gray-haired doctor dressed in dark charcoal scrubs.

"Well, I have some good and bad news," he sighed setting his clip board aside. "The scans showed no sign of a concussion, but you have a few bruised ribs and a fractured wrist." He approached the bed pulling out a Velcro brace from one of his pockets. "You'll have to wear this brace for a few weeks, and you'll need be on light duty for the same span of time while it and your ribs heal."

I watched him slip the brace onto her right wrist fastening it. "Can I take her home?" I asked, causing him to turn his gaze to me.

"I'll get the paperwork started and I'm also going to give her something to help with the pain and swelling."

"Thank you."

He nodded to me then left the bay. A tiny yawn left Ava's lips as she sat back against the pillows rubbing her eyes with the hand not in the brace. "We'll get you home soon so you can rest. I'm sure the medicine is making you tired."
She nodded and looked at me. "Will you stay with me? I'm honestly a little afraid to be home alone."

"Sure thing kid."