CHAPTER 17

As Ava was about to get into her car, she remembered something. She walked over to Mia, who handed her some money. Ava then drove off, but Xavier noticed she parked her car near the pharmacy again.

Is she okay? Xavier wondered, feeling a pang of concern.

He saw Ava exit the pharmacy and get into her car. Just then, she received a call. Ava frowned and looked towards a nearby alley.

As Xavier was about to approach her, he saw her disappear into the dark alley. Suspicion gnawed at him, and he decided to wait for a few minutes before following her.

In the alley:

Ava had gone to the pharmacy to buy sanitary pads, using the money Mia had given her. After leaving the store, she got a call from an unidentified number.

"Hey Ava, it's me, Ricky," someone said on the phone, the voice sounding oddly altered.

"Hey Rick, why are you calling me from an unidentified number, and why does your voice sound different?" Ava asked, puzzled.

"I'll explain later, but it's an emergency. Can you come to the alley near your car?" Ricky's voice sounded urgent.

"Fine," Ava replied hesitantly, feeling something was off.

She entered the alley and found herself face-to-face with a group of ten intimidating boys covered in tattoos.

"Hi Ava Jones, hope you didn't forget me," one of them said with a smirk.

Ava recognized him immediately. "I had my doubts when you called me from an unidentified number, but I figured it was worth checking. To answer your question, how could I forget an asshole like you, Tristan Black?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"You're in big trouble. These people are waiting to get their hands on you," Tristan said menacingly.

"You think you can ruin my life and get away with it? Let's see what happens now," he retorted.

"Oh, you didn't tell them how hard my punch is, did you?" Ava said, cracking her knuckles.

Ava's heart raced as she saw some of the boys brandishing baseball bats. Despite her bravado, she knew she couldn't take them all on alone.

"The boys are waiting to rip your arrogance apart today," Tristan said, his voice cold.

Before anything could escalate, a black bike roared into the alley. Xavier skidded to a stop and, without hesitation, grabbed Ava, lifting her onto the bike in front of him.

Xavier's POV:

I had waited for a few minutes, growing increasingly worried when Ava didn't reappear. As I entered the alley, I saw her surrounded by the gangsters.

"What the hell are you looking at? DRIVE!" Ava yelled, her voice laced with urgency as she noticed the gangsters approaching with their bats.

I took off on the bike, speeding away from the alley as fast as I could. Ava clung to me, her excitement and thrill evident even in the dangerous situation.

"WOOHOO!" Ava yelled, her arms wrapped around me. "This is so much fun!"

I couldn't help but chuckle despite the tension. "She's such an idiot," I thought, shaking my head as I continued to drive at high speed, trying to lose the gangsters tailing us.

"Stop swinging your legs!" I shouted over the roar of the bike as the wind whipped past us.

Ava, gripping me tightly, locked her legs around my torso and moved closer. Her warmth and the tight grip of her legs against me were both reassuring and distracting.

"You're too close," I said, trying to keep my focus on the road. "Bend your head, I can't see anything!"

She complied, lowering her head and resting it on my shoulder. I could feel her breath against my neck, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "Xavier, one of them is close. Drive faster," she urged, her voice tense.

I heeded her warning and pushed the bike even faster. The sensation of the wind and the sound of the engine drowned out everything else.

Suddenly, I noticed the fuel gauge dipping dangerously low. "Oh shit, the fuel!" I exclaimed, realizing we were running out. I swerved sharply into an alley, weaving through the narrow space, and then into another alley before cutting the engine.

The bikes that had been chasing us sped past, and Ava and I both exhaled in relief.

I took off my helmet, ruffling my disheveled hair, and glanced over at Ava. She was leaning back, her head resting on the speedometer as she gazed up at the darkened sky.

"What were you thinking going into that alley?" I chided her, my concern evident in my voice.

She lifted her head, meeting my gaze with a mixture of irritation and apology. "I thought it was Rick calling me, but I didn't expect to run into a bunch of gangsters along with that asshole," she explained with a shrug.

"Tristan has been following you for the past few days," I said, my tone growing serious. "I thought I was imagining it, but clearly, I was wrong. You need to be more careful."

Just then, a sound broke the tense silence. Ava immediately scooted closer to me, her eyes darting around nervously.

"Don't tell me you're scared of a cat?" I teased, pointing to a small feline perched on a nearby trash bin.

"It's not that," she retorted, her glare fierce but her voice betraying a hint of fear.

Suddenly, the light bulb overhead flickered and then went out. Ava's anxiety spiked as she looked at me with wide eyes.

"I guess it's just a power cut," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

The moonlight streaming through the alley cast a soft glow, highlighting her features in a way that made my breath catch. Her messy hair, the beads of sweat on her forehead, and the pink of her rosy lips created a captivating image.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. The vulnerability in her gaze, combined with her nervousness, made the moment feel intensely intimate. Ava licked her lips nervously, her gaze darting around but always coming back to me.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can hold back anymore," I murmured, my voice low and filled with desire.

Without waiting for a response, I gently held her neck with one hand, my thumb resting on her jaw. I tilted her head slightly and leaned in, my lips brushing against hers.