Ava went still, her body caught in the gravity of Leo's presence. The room seemed to shrink around her, the walls fading until all that mattered were the sharp glint in Leo's eyes and the slow, cruel curl of his mouth. Every movement, every smirk, seemed calculated, as if the space itself obeyed him.
"What?!" The word tore through the air, raw and panicked, a sound that echoed against the silent walls. Leo watched, unflinching, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at his features. To him, fear was currency, and Ava's trembling made her valuable. The thought that he could discard her like an object once she had served his purposes hovered over the room like a shadow.
Leo's smirk widened, leisurely, cruel, and unnervingly calm. "Can't you hear me?" he said softly, almost casual, as though discussing the weather rather than the fate of a young woman trapped under his gaze.
Before Ava could drown in panic, Jessica stepped forward. The air snapped taut as she moved, placing herself between Ava and Leo. Every man in the room registered the shift: Mason leaned forward slightly, arms folded, eyes calculating, John remained motionless, jaw tight, Dylan and Luke were near the back, silent, their presence a low hum of tension, David exhaled smoke and simply watched. The predators were assessing.
"No," Jessica said, voice sharp and unyielding.
The words were a shield, small but fierce. Ava's shoulders loosened a fraction, though she wasn't the only one affected. Some of the men exchanged glances. David raised a brow with mild interest. Dylan simply observed with his usual stillness. Mason watched from the wall, arms folded and unreadable, while Luke tapped a finger against his knee, assessing how much this would matter.
"She is not going to live with you, Leo. Find someone else." Her words were a small, defiant shield, fragile yet undeniably strong.
Ava exhaled, her shoulders loosening just enough to draw a shaky breath. But Leo's face darkened, storm quick, the room feeling colder in an instant.
"But Jessi-" he began, a charm in his tone meant to disarm, meant to manipulate.
Ava straightened as best she could, as though her pride alone could anchor her. "Don't you hear her?" she said, voice louder than her fear. "She's my friend. I will not stay here."
Leo's eyes flashed with icy precision. "Shut up. I'm talking to my sister." The room seemed to obey the command, silence pressed in from all sides. Then he leaned toward Jessica, deliberate, measured. "Jessi, I know this girl is your friend, that's the only reason I'm offering to let her stay here. If she weren't your friend…" His grin sharpened, predatory, hungry. "I would have killed her already."
The threat lodged itself in Ava's chest. Jessica's jaw tightened, but she didn't waver. She had faced men like Leo before and knew that his words were not empty.
"Why? What did she do wrong? She is not even Jennie" Jessica demanded, her voice a mix of fury and disbelief. Her fist curled tight, trembling with controlled energy. Listening her Ava nodded enthusiastically hiding behind Jessica demanding answer from him.
Leo shrugged, casual yet menacing. "Because now she knows us. She knows our plan to kidnap Jennie. She knows where our house is, close to the café where she works."
Ava's protest burst out, uncontrolled. "No!!!, I didn't know your house was near the café!"
Leo smiled slowly, clearly savoring the panic in her voice. "Now you do." There was no slip, the statement was deliberate, meant to cage her with knowledge.
"If we let her go, she might tell the cops," he continued, voice measured, dangerous. "Wouldn't that be a problem for us?"
The men in the room watched silently, eyes sharp, evaluating, measuring. Ava felt minuscule, prey among predators.
Mason shifted, eyes narrowed. John remained silent, jaw tight but unreadable. Dylan and Luke watched like wolves waiting to see who bled first. David exhaled smoke into the air and said nothing.
Her gaze shifted to Jessica, reading the tightness in her jaw, the exhaustion etched into her expression. Jessica had only known her a day, yet she carried a responsibility heavy enough to anchor Ava in the storm.
"I won't tell anyone," Ava said, trembling but sincere, words clinging to Jessica as if her friend alone could hold them safe. "I promise."
Leo's eyes flicked between the two of them, hunting for weakness. "You said she's your friend," he murmured, almost teasing. "You shouldn't have a problem with her living here, right?"
Ava's stomach twisted. "B-but I have my own place," she stammered. Her excuse sounded fragile, meaningless even to her.
Jessica softened for a heartbeat, but then something resolute hardened in her gaze.
"I'm sorry, Ava. Leo's right." Her words fell like a verdict, final and unyielding.
Leo's lips curled into a triumphant, mischievous smile that made Ava's skin crawl. The cage tightened, invisible chains wrapping her closer to the inevitable.
"I won't tell anyone," Ava repeated, louder this time, desperate to assert herself. She could see the weight in Jessica's eyes, the strain of being forced into impossible decisions. Tears streaked her cheeks before she could stop them.
"Don't worry, Ava. You're safe here," Jessica said quietly. The words, though fleeting, were a lifeline in the middle of chaos.
Leo stepped closer, invading the space around Ava, the air thick with menace. His breath ghosted past her ear. "Let's go, honey." He seized her wrist.
The world tilted as he pulled, every movement precise, controlled, terrifying. Panic surged, and Ava twisted, clawing for freedom, but Leo's grip was iron.
"Let me go! Leo, let go!" Ava screamed, voice raw and pleading, unfamiliar even to herself.
Jessica moved like a storm, intercepting him. "Hey, what are you doing?" Her voice cracked with outrage and authority simultaneously.
Leo feigned innocence. "Didn't you agree---?"
"I agreed to let her stay in our house," Jessica snapped, steel threading her words. "That doesn't mean she gonna stay inside your room. Remember, she's my friend. Let her go."
Leo's jaw flexed, irritation flashing, but Jessica's presence left no room to argue.
To be continued