Leon's POV:
The plan, for now, was to lure Max in. And I was bait.
Max and I were always close, and it wasn't stupid to think that he was doing all this just to get his partner in crime back.
I headed back to the house after Alvin told us what he could. Noah and I had separate backup plans of our own which we all discussed.
For everything to go as planned, we needed as many people as we could get on our side. Thankfully, I already had people willing to join in.
I called one of them as soon as I got home.
"Alvin's in town?" Adrian said as soon as he answered.
"How did you know that?"
"Words spread."
"I hope words haven't spread too far."
"Rest assured they haven't."
"I'll take your word for it."
"You should. I am helping you kill the world's strongest mafia gang."
I took a deep breath before I answered. I had to be smart with my words. Adrian was just as dangerous and cunning as Max but he was strong. And his thirst for Max's blood has been high for years. Which meant he had unfinished business with me too for all those times I tried to stop him.
"We have a plan. It's not perfect but it's the best chance we have."
"Please, enlighten me."
I didn't want to tell him the whole truth in fear that he'd turn his back on us.
"And don't lie," he continued.
"We'll all meet at the abandoned warehouse he used to like. You and the rest of the guys will hide while I speak to him."
"Your plan is to lure him in and talk to him? You've gone soft, Leon."
"I'm not soft, just cautious."
"So when do we execute this master plan?"
"Tomorrow. Like you said, words spread. We have to make sure none of the other groups possibly working with him know Alvin is in town, or that we're all working together to plan his death."
"And you're telling me the whole truth?"
"No. Alvin will tell you the rest when you get here."
I hung up.
I turned around to notice Ava standing behind me.
I opened my mouth to call out her name but she just raised her hands in defeat and walked away.
She didn't bombard me with questions. Odd.
I quickly followed her upstairs.
"Ava… Ava, can you wait?!"
She stopped right before turning the knob to her door.
She waited for me to say something. I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know why I followed her.
She gave me a look that said "that's what I thought" and walked into her room. She locked the door, which was annoying to me considering I'd never tried to get in.
Noah called then. I answered as I walked back downstairs.
"I'm on my way."
"Let me guess, you don't trust either of them."
"Do you?"
"Not quite. I'll see you soon."
I hung up and took two glasses and a bottle of bourbon outside to the garden.
By the time I poured my glass, I could hear Noah's car honking from a distance. He had reached the estate gate.
I poured his glass, then stood up and walked to where he usually parked his car.
"Did you fly here?"
I handed him his glass.
"You can see my car, can't you?"
He took it.
We went back to sit down. He didn't wait a second to drop it on me.
"What if Alvin was working with Adrian to kill you?"
I paused.
"Not trusting them is one thing but creating that kind of scenario is another."
"You know it's not entirely impossible for them to do that."
I thought of it, but it was unlikely for that to happen. At least I told myself that to protect my sanity.
"Even if they try, we'll be prepared."
He took another sip of his drink. "What's your plan?"
"You'll know when we get there."
"Doing things alone will get you killed."
"I'm bait for a psycho killer. I think I'll be fine."
He sighed. "What's up with Ava?"
"I haven't told her anything."
"Why not?"
"It's too risky."
"Or you're too scared she'll be judgmental of who you were and call off the contract."
"She can't."
His look practically said "??"
"I told her I was the only one who could do that and if she tried to leave I could press charges."
"Why would you tell her that?"
I stayed quiet.
"And you don't love her? Yeah okay."
"Listen, it's for the best."
"No, it's not. You just don't want to have to tell her you're going up against a mafia group who happens to, or rather used to be, your closest ally."
"Whatever, Noah. I'll tell her when it dies out."
"If your plan is to avoid her hating you, doing that is the perfect cherry on top."
"Can we please talk about more pressing matters? Like how I may or may not survive tomorrow?"
"We have over a hundred more killers on standby. Nothing's gonna happen. Worst case scenario is we fail to kill him and he flees."
"You mean we spend the rest of our lives on our toes? Because if his plan was to keep us alive before then that was definitely changing."
"Try not to overthink. We've already gone through every worst case scenario including the part where Adrian or Alvin go after you."
"You have to go?"
"I've been neglecting the company a lot. I need to work on some things."
"Alright then."
"Try not to pass out in your sleep."
I shot him a small, nervous smile, then watched him drive off.
I sat there for a while, analyzing everything he said. What's worse is I wasn't analyzing the cons of our plan. It was Ava I was worried about.
Eventually she'll realize who I am and the lies I told her. What happens then?
I shook my head. "This alcohol really is hitting."
I can't be worried about her. Not now.
I went back in the house and of course she had to be standing right at the entrance of the kitchen where I could see her.
"Another alcohol bottle?" Her eyes shifted to my hands.
"Does this mean I have to carry you upstairs again?"
"No, I'm fine. I think I'm just gonna lay down."
"I'm coming with you then."
I stood still.
"Don't act so surprised. I'm literally living in your house. The least I can do is do my job and hope you don't press charges for my slip-ups."
"Right… the contract," I muttered.
"Did you say something?"
I shook my head and started to walk towards the stairs. She waited until I had started going up before she followed behind me.
She closed the door to my room and sat at the bedside table.
I was too tired to change so I just laid down and closed my eyes.
I never thought I'd get to say it but I was getting used to the feeling of sleep. I knew I was drifting off as soon as she started singing. All I had to do was prepare for it.
"Any song choice?"
"You always pick," I answered.
"Why are you sweating so much?"
"Huh? The conditioner is probably turned off."
"No, it's not."
"But I'm cold."
She looked at me then stood up and walked into the bathroom.
She walked back out with a towel and a bowl.
I didn't even realize I was sweating. She concluded I was sick while I knew it was just everything coming back to haunt me.
Before I could think, she got in the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Wiping your head. It'll help."
My whole body stiffened. I never thought being close to her would affect me, but it did.
I could smell her, feel her.
It was taking a lot not to hold her.
"I'll go tell Pearl to get you some medicine."
I grabbed her hand before she could get up.
"Stay."
"What?"
"Please. Stay."
She looked at me with worry in her eyes. I had never found the need to open up to someone as much as I did in that moment.
She slowly sat back down and put her arms around my neck.
I laid on top of her.
"Why are you doing this to me, Ava."