“Ahh!”
The man fell to one knee and Ava grabbed the knife from his calf. Blood spurted out, coating her hand, but she didn’t care. As the intruder turned and faced her, Ava raised the butcher knife and stabbed it into his chest.
The man roared. “You bitch. You’re going to pay for this.”
Ava scrambled to her feet as the man tried to dislodge the knife from his chest. Quickly she grabbed another knife from the block and raced out of the kitchen. The stairs loomed in front of her. She’d just taken the first step when she stopped. Maia. Her daughter was sleeping peacefully in her room. She had to get to her baby. Holding the knife in a firm grip, Ava stepped off the stair and went as fast as she could down the hallway that lead to where Maia’s room was.
Opening the door, she went inside. Maia was asleep. Her Princess and the Frog nightlight lit up the room. Ava stood over her daughter’s bed. Maia’s face looked so relaxed and peaceful, her small arms clutching her favorite purple rabbit, Timmy. Quickly, Ava eased her daughter out of her bed and into her arms. It was a delicate balance holding Maia and the knife, but she couldn’t leave either. Thankfully Maia was still sleeping.
Carefully Ava eased her daughter’s door open and crept down the hallway as quietly as she could. She heard no footsteps. The house was eerily quiet. Her heart started to slow as she reached the stairs. If she could just get upstairs to Dominic, she and Maia would be safe. The cocking of a gun made her freeze.
“You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you? Turn around.”
Ava fought back tears as she turned to face her attacker. The moonlight showed her handiwork. He was standing in a pool of blood that leaked from the calf she’d stabbed. His shirt was ripped where she’d knifed him in the chest. Blood oozed there, dark and murky.
“Please don’t do this,” Ava whispered.
“Don’t waste your breath begging. I have my orders.”
“Orders? Orders from who? Who wants me dead?”
“That’s not important. What is important is that your daughter will be spared. Now put her down and die with some dignity.”
Ava looked down at her daughter. Maia. Her entire world. The only good thing she’d done in this life. She didn’t want to let her go. No. Not like this.
“I said, put her down before I change my mind.”
“Okay. Okay. Just don’t hurt her.”
Ava dropped the knife on the staircase. Pressing a kiss to her daughter’s forehead, she slowly put her daughter down on the floor next to the staircase, out of the way of the gunman’s aim.
“There. You satisfied now?” she said, with bravado in her voice she no longer felt.
The man laughed. “No. Not really. If I had more time you and I would have a little fun before I smoked you.”
“Just shoot me and get it over with.”
“Gladly.”
Ava stared at the gun pointed at her face. His finger squeezed the trigger and Ava closed her eyes, ready for death. A loud bang signaled to her that the bullet was on its way, but it never came.
Ava opened her eyes. The gunman in front of her was sprawled on the floor. Blood poured between his eyes. He was dead.
“Ava, sweetheart, are you two alright?”
Ava turned. Dominic came flying down the stairs, a silver Glock in his hand. She leaped into his arms. He held her close and she sobbed. The tears poured from her eyes.
“Shh. Shh. Baby, it’s okay. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
“He was going to kill me,” she said, voice trembling.
“I know. I know, baby. I’m so sorry I didn’t wake up sooner.”
Ava leaned away and wiped her tears. She looked up at Dominic. There were circles under his eyes. His dark hair was tousled and stood wildly on end. His chest was bare. Pajama bottoms had been carelessly tossed on. They hung low on his hips.
“Thank God you got here when I really needed you.”
“What are you doing down here anyway?” Dominic asked.
“I came to get something to drink.”
“Next time, wake me up. I don’t care what it’s for.”
“Okay.”
Dominic kissed her hard. She melted in his embrace, so thankful to be alive. So glad that her stubborn pride hadn’t let her push him away. She would’ve been dead otherwise. Ending the kiss, she stepped away.
“Maia.”
She walked down the few stairs to where her daughter still lay, sleeping. If it weren’t for the silencer on Dominic’s gun, there’s no telling what could’ve happened.
“She sleeps like the dead,” Dominic said, coming down beside her.
Ava picked her daughter up. “I know. She’s been a hard sleeper ever since she was a baby and I’m finding myself immensely grateful for that right about now.” She winced as she noticed the bloody handprint she’d placed on Maia’s pajamas.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Ava shook her head. “No it’s not. He said he had orders to kill me. Somebody wants me dead.”
Dominic’s face grew stony. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
He walked over to where the dead man lay. Ava watched as Dominic knelt down over the gunman and rifled through his pockets.
“What are you doing?” Ava hissed.
“Looking for any clue about who sent him.”
Dominic stopped as a folded up piece of paper fell out of the dead man’s pocket. He picked it up and read. Ava waited anxiously.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“If you’re reading this, then I suppose I must give you more credit than I expected, but don’t get too happy. This isn’t over. You betrayed me and you are going to pay for that with your life. So will your would-be protector.” Dominic put the note down.
“None of this makes any sense.”
“It makes perfect sense to me. I think your brother-in-law is behind this.”
“I know Angelo is a jealous asshole, but I doubt he’d go so far as to want me dead.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Dominic put the note down and reached for the facemask of the would-be killer. He cursed when the man’s face was revealed. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” Ava asked.
“I know this piece of shit.”
“You do?”
“Yes. It’s Joey Fergonza. Contract killer. He’ll kill anyone for the right amount of money.”
Dominic stood up. Ava stepped closer to see the man. A pockmarked face. Vacant brown eyes. Pointed nose. The man looked like a weasel. A very ugly, very dangerous weasel.
“So that means we’re no closer to finding out who sent him?”
“Right.”
“What do we do now?”
“You’re going to get dressed, pack some clothes for you and Maia and you’re going to a hotel.”
“What about you?” Ava asked.
“I’m going to clean up here and dispose of the body.”
“Dominic, are you crazy? We can’t just cover this up.”
“The police just got finished looking at us for offing your friend. Do you really think it will go over well that someone was killed inside your house?”
“No. I guess you’re right. But I can’t handle anything else. I’m still grieving for Gina. I’m still trying to process the fact that I can’t pick up the phone and call her. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
“I can’t begin to understand your pain and I wish I could take it from you, but I can’t. All I can do is try to protect you. I’m right, so you need to trust me on this.”
“I do. I’m just scared. I don’t want you to get caught up in this any more than you have to.”
“I was already caught up in it, the first time someone took a shot at you.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“That’s right. Now I’m going to tell your housekeeper and Natalie they need to leave until we get to the bottom of this. Then I’m going to start on the cleanup. Thank God for silencers.”