Mafia Desire (Erotica) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37
Ava's POV

I opened my eyes to find the sun shining directly on me. In pain, I squinted and groaned.

I turned my head away from the sun to allow my eyes to adjust.

I felt a familiar bed beneath me and looked up to see that I was in a familiar room. I was in Andrew's room, which was black and sleek with modern furniture.

When I tried to sit up, I felt a sharp pain on the side of my chest and stopped immediately.

I returned my head to the pillow and took a moment to examine myself. The covers covered most of my body, but I could tell my upper body was wrapped in a bandage and my lower stomach was wrapped in another tight bandage.

I must be looking very attractive right now.

I looked around the room for Andrew; he needed to be okay. He was the last person I saw before blacking out, and I couldn't remember what happened or even if what I saw was real.

I was a little disappointed he wasn't in the room with me because I had only blacked out the night before and he couldn't wait for me to wake up.

"An-Andrew," I mumbled quietly, my chest clenching in pain as I spoke.

There was no response. If he was going to hear me, I needed to be louder.

"ANDREW." I yelled with all my might, causing my chest to erupt in sharp pain.

I hoped it was Andrew when I heard someone run down the halls. The bedroom door flew open, revealing Andrew. He dashed over to the bed and knelt.

"Are you all right, kitten?" He spoke softly.

When I looked at him, I noticed that he had bags under his eyes, that his lips were pale, and that his eyes were droopy. He had a terrible appearance.

"Are you okay, Andrew?" I inquired, concerned.

"You're the one who's been unconscious for three days and you're asking me how I'm doing," he chuckled.

"3 days?" I tried to sit up but couldn't because of the excruciating pain on the side of my stomach.

"Wow, calm down over there." Andrew spoke up, his eyes clearly concerned and tired.

I relaxed when he placed his hand on my shoulder. His touch warmed my body and gave me an unknown strength I didn't know I possessed.

"Andrew?" I asked, my gaze fixed on him.

"Yes, kitten." He said this while staring at me with his hypnotic green eyes.

"What happened?"

Andrew sighed and turned to face me, almost defeated. "We were at the ball, and then Robert got you, and you managed to escape. You almost died, but the doctor saved you, and you've been sleeping for three days; the doctor told me you might not wake up."

I put my hand on his face because he looked so vulnerable right now. His eyes were glossy, and he barely appeared to be alive. Did I really have that much influence on him?

"You could have survived without me, Andrew." I stroked his cheek with my thumb.

"No, I wouldn't have, Ava, I need you in my life." Andrew responded by closing his eyes and leaning in for a kiss.

"I promised you I'd keep you safe, but I failed." I allowed this to happen to you, and I will never forgive myself for what he did to you." Andrew stated.

I closed my eyes and tried to forget what Robert had done to me. It was like Sylvester all over again, only worse.

My breathing became labored, and a small tear escaped my eyes and trickled down my cheek. I tried to keep it together, but as soon as I felt the tear, I burst into tears.

"Ava, What happened? Are you all right?" Andrew asked, standing up and cupping his hands around my face.

"It was like the second time, only worse." In between sobs, I managed to say.

"Ava, you need to talk to me, and for the second time about what?" Andrew inquired.

I took a deep breath and stopped crying. I trusted Andrew and wanted him to be aware of everything that had occurred.

"When I was 15, my father got into trouble with some gangs and sold me to a man as payment." The man took me and drugged and raped me for the first few weeks. I quickly realized what was going on, and when I refused to do certain things for him, he would beat me, usually until I was unconscious. So I stopped refusing him and danced at his club for three years until I was able to escape." I said.

"Jesus kitten, you shouldn't have been through that," Andrew's eyes erupted in rage as he tried to remain calm. You are too valuable for this world." Andrew stated.

I realized how much I needed him as he stroked my hair. He was the only person I trusted with the entire story, and I'd never felt safer than in his arms.

"I need you in my life, Andrew." You can't abandon me." I admitted that I was at ease being vulnerable in his presence. In such a short time, he had become the center of my life, something I had never realized I needed but now couldn't live without.

He looked me in the eyes and said, "I will never leave your side." And I'll never be able to forgive myself for putting you in danger." He replied, his voice confident.

"It wasn't your fault, I am stronger now, and I am pretty sure I killed Robert," I said, shaking my head.

"You killed Robert?" Andrew exclaimed as he removed his hand from my hair. He inquired.

"Yeah, I shot him in the stomach, and no one else was in the warehouse." I replied, my attention no longer on Andrew, but on getting out of bed.

"Fuck." Andrew swore.

"I know it w-" I began. "You can't be near me any longer." Before I could finish my sentence, Andrew interrupted.

My pupils dilated as I watched Andrew begin to walk away from me. My heart began to ache as I realized what he had just said. I had just opened up to him and he was leaving me, despite his promise not to.

"ANDREW JAYSON, I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU FUCKING WALK AWAY FROM ME. GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE. NOW." Despite the fact that my body was in excruciating pain, I screamed. I wasn't going to let him leave without an explanation.

He came to a halt but did not turn around to face me. "What on earth are you talking about?" I insisted.

"I couldn't keep you safe, so I put you in a situation where you had to murder someone. I'm destroying you." His voice was raspy as he responded.

"Andrew, please come here." I spoke in a hushed tone. My heart stopped breaking as I realized he was simply afraid of his influence on me.

Andrew sighed and walked back over to the bed, taking a seat at the foot of it.

"If Robert died, he got exactly what he deserved. I would have just let him use me before you, but you gave me strength. Andrew, you are the only reason I escaped alive. Don't blame yourself; you didn't tell me to pull the trigger; I did it myself." I said as I reached for his hand.

He raised his hand and extended it to me. His touch sent electricity coursing through my entire body. "I've never been so scared in my life as I was when he took you."

"I understand, but I'm here now." "I'm not going anywhere." With a smile, I responded.

"Ava?" He said as he stood up and sat down next to me on the bed.

"Yes," I said as I looked at him.