I watch as the last forklift moves across the ramp with the container secured. I’ve seen this shit a million times. The waves crash against the dock and beyond that it’s relatively quiet. A few men are shouting in the distance. Vince is quiet next to me with his hands shoved into his pockets. Ava is somewhat settled in a folding chair a few yards from us. It took her a while to feel comfortable after the shit that happened in the office, but she seems to be okay now. Although, her eyes have lost the bit of vibrancy I saw this morning, and a small frown mars her beautiful face. I wish I could take her unhappiness away.

“She’s fine, Kane.” Vince’s words distract me from my thoughts and I turn to face him. “She’s not gonna fucking dive in.”

My face contorts with anger, and I have to bite my tongue.

“What? Is that not what you were thinking?” He huffs a humorless laugh and looks over the bay. “I’d fucking jump before I’d go back to that fucker.” My heart stops beating and my throat closes. It’s so fucked up, but it’s true. She’s such a sweetheart, such a good girl, and the fate she has is such fucking shit. It’s a nightmare.

I feel tears pricking at the backs of my eyes thinking about the hell she’s been through. It’s not fucking right. My jaw tics as I stare off into the distance and watch the waves form and crash along the beach. I want to save her from that shit. But I don’t want us both to wind up dead.

I open my mouth, ready to tell Vince what a fucked up position I’m in. I might as well. Maybe I’ll die for it, but something about him makes me think I can trust him, even if I don’t fucking like him. The sound of fast-paced, heavy footsteps coming closer makes me turn away from Vince and toward the men walking toward us.

I practically growl in anger when I see that bastard Felipe stalking toward us with his gaze firmly locked on to my good girl. That fucker shouldn’t even be allowed to look at her. I clench my teeth tighter to stop myself from saying shit that’ll get me killed. I have to remind myself that I’m on my own, and I’m the only thing standing between all these fucking pricks and Ava. I can’t do something stupid.

“You got this one, or is it on me?” Vince asks, with a touch of humor in his voice. If I was in a better position I’d find it funny, but I don’t.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Felipe yells out loud enough so Ava can hear as he stomps closer to us and it pisses me off.

I don’t like that he knew where I was. My eyes drift to Ava. He was tracking her with that fucking GPS chip in her arm. My jaw clenches and my hands ball up into fists.

Like he fucking owns her. She’s mine.

“She’s right where I told her to sit.” I keep my voice low and even, then cock a brow at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask.

Vince stares Felipe down with daggers in his eyes. All traces of the humor that was there previously are gone now. Felipe doesn’t seem to give a fuck. He’s acting like he’s untouchable. And in a lot of ways he is. But I don’t give a fuck. Ava was finally settling down, but now that he’s here and his eyes are on her, she’s all fucked up again. The men trailing Felipe are Vince’s, which means this prick came alone.

She looked nervous and a bit sad before, but now there’s nothing on her face. She’s staring at the ground with her hands on her trembling thighs. On her face is that blank expression that I fucking hate. I can tell she’s debating on whether or not she should get down from the chair and bow on the ground.

“Stay right where you are, Ava!” My command comes out hard as I yell, and I almost regret it. But she doesn’t belong to Felipe, and I’m not going to let him turn her back into the shell she was when I got her.

Her eyes dart up to meet mine, although her body remains tense and still. Her shoulders rise as she takes in a heavy breath.

“Answer me,” I yell out to her. I fucking hate that I’m giving her a command, but I want the fact that she’s mine and only mine to be made very fucking clear. I’m not going to let her think Felipe’s in control here.

“Yes, sir,” she calls out. My teeth grind against each other and I can feel the eyes of every man out here on me. I know I told her to call me sir when other people were present, but I changed my mind.

I shake my head slowly as I walk closer to her, and her eyes widen with fear. “Be a good girl. Call me Kane.” At my words, tension leaves her shoulders and her eyes soften.

It soothes my heart that the mention of my name can have such a profound effect on her. “Yes, Kane,” she says, with a soft touch in her voice.

I walk up to her and cup her chin in my hand. “Stay here while I handle this.” She nods slightly and closes her eyes as I rub my thumb along her jaw. I can sense her trust in me. I only hope I don’t fail her.

“Good girl,” I say to her, and then stare at Felipe who looks pissed off. His eyes are on her, but her eyes are on me. I smirk at him. He thinks he can control her, but he can’t. I won’t let her be used like that.

“What do you need, Felipe?” I ask, and walk closer to stand between him and Ava. It’s not really a question though, since I’m more or less telling him to get the fuck out. I know it. He knows it. And Vince and his famila know it.

Finally, the fucker looks back at me. He narrows his eyes and smirks as he says, “I saw the bitch had moved and I was informed that you may not have a firm grasp on her.”

“Everything’s under control here, as you can see.”

“Where the fuck’s her collar?” I watch as his fists clench and he leans to one side to look around me. I turn my head to find Ava looking out at the waves like she was earlier, ignoring us. A smile widens on my face. That’s my girl.

“I like the one I got her better,” I say lightheartedly. I watch as Anthony and Tommy walk toward one another with their hands on their guns and their eyes on Felipe. I don’t like this shit, because behind Felipe and me is Ava. I don’t want this to turn violent. I just need her to get the fuck out.

“It wasn’t yours,” he bites back.

“Wrong. She’s mine, and everything on her is mine.”

He cocks a grin and takes a step closer to me. “Not for long,” he says with a smile. Every bit of confidence and happiness leaves me. My heart drops in my chest, leaving it hollow.

“She’s mine right now, and she’ll do as I say.”

He just smirks at me and turns to look at Vince as he clucks his tongue. He looks back at me with his eyes traveling up and down my body like he’s sizing me up. “I guess I’ll be seeing you shortly. We have a meeting arranged for tomorrow. I’ll check in with Abram about your unique handling methods.” His words make my stomach churn with sickness. I can’t fucking stand it.

He brushes by me and I almost turn around and knock the fucker out, but Vince grabs my arm and silently shakes his head. I debate on doing it anyway. I know what he must’ve done to her. The thoughts flash before my eyes and I see red. All I fucking see is red.

As Felipe continues to walk off, Vince starts talking business again. Trying to diffuse the situation, I guess. But it’s not working. I watch Felipe as he veers off his path to make a sharp turn, heading for the exit behind Ava. I don’t like how close the fucker is to her.

“As long as he doesn’t touch her,” Vince speaks quietly so no one else can hear, “don’t fucking make a move.”

I don’t acknowledge him. I keep my eyes steady on that prick as he walks by Ava, slowing his steps and staring at her. She cowers in her seat with her eyes staring straight ahead.

I don’t give a damn about the docks, or the shipments. I couldn’t fucking care less. Instead I’m watching as Felipe walks even closer to her. He stands a few feet away, but just by him being there her entire body is stiff and she’s not okay. I know she’s not.

The water splashing against the docks is drowning out what he’s saying. I know he’s talking to her though. And I don’t like her reaction. Her face is mostly expressionless, save for the slight frown on her lips and the flash of fear in her eyes. And then I just barely hear him say, “You’re going to regret it, you fucking cunt.”

Every ounce of control inside of me snaps. My poor Ava goes pale, and I fucking lose it. He’s not going to do that shit to her. I’ll make sure he never fucking touches her again. I’m quick to pull out my gun and shoot him right in his fucking kneecap. Before I’m aware that I’ve even moved, I’m on him, standing over his body as he’s clutching his leg and cussing rather than reaching for his own gun. Fucking stupid shit.

“Motherfucker!” he screams, as blood covers his hands and pools in the dirt under his knee.

“You’ll fucking die for this, Kane.” I smirk back at him as I hear the Valettis come to stand around us. I’m sure they have their guns drawn and pointed at me, but I don’t look. I won’t take my eyes off this fucker until he’s dead.

“Not before you.” He makes a move for his gun and I shoot his hand as it reaches his belt. I’m a good shot. The bullet goes right through his hand. Blood pours from the wound as he curls inward and covers it with his left hand.

“Fuck!” He screams and winces as blood soaks his clothes and pools around him. It’s gushing from his hand, but also his knee now that he isn't keeping pressure on it.

Everyone around us is silent and still. I can feel all eyes on me. Waiting for my next move.

A small gasp and slight movement in my periphery bring me back to why this prick needs to die right now.

“Ava. Come here.” I keep my eyes on Felipe and he flashes me a nasty look. He reaches toward his belt, and I shake my head. “Don’t fucking think about it.”

“I got it.” A man’s voice to my right sounds out and I watch as Tommy leans in and takes Felipe's gun away from him. Felipe lets go of his injured hand to grab Tommy’s wrist, but Tommy shakes him off and pulls away. Felipe sneers at him as he’s dragged across the dirt, struggling to retrieve his gun before finally giving up and letting go. He curls up on his side, still cussing and grabbing his hand. His face is distorted in rage and pain, but then he sees my face. He swallows and looks around me. I don’t follow his eyes. I know we’re surrounded.

Felipe goes pale, all blood drained from his face and his expression shows the realization that he’s about to fucking die. Good. I’m glad he knows it.

Ava skirts around Felipe slowly and he stares at her with daggers in his eyes. “Puto coño,” he cusses under his breath and then spits on the ground.

Ava’s eyes are closed and her shoulders are trembling as she stands to my left. She’s terrified. I feel like a fucking asshole for not ending him the second I came over here. But I want to give this to her. I think she needs this.

“Ava, baby, open your eyes.” She doesn’t hesitate. Her blue eyes stare up at me, pleading with me to make this stop. “Take his gun.” I tilt my head toward Tommy, although my eyes are still on Felipe. His nostrils flare and he’s cursing in Spanish under his breath. I can’t hear whatever he’s saying due to the loud crash of the waves.

I see Tommy hesitate to give her the gun. I look to him with impatience and he relents, passing her the gun in front of me. She takes it in both hands and points it at Felipe. She steadies her stance and squares her shoulders as though she’s at the gun range. I imagine with her father being the boss, that she should know how to shoot. But she’s probably never actually killed anyone before.

“What did he tell you, Ava?” I ask her. I want her to know this is what happens to men who threaten her. I want to give her this power.

She closes her eyes and I see hope flash on Felipe’s face as he leans forward. I'll make sure he never orders her around again. I point my gun at his other leg and fire off a shot. Bang!

It hits his shin, and judging from the sound of impact, the bullet is lodged in the bone. “Fuck!” he screams out, grabbing his leg. He leans on his side, whining like a little bitch.

“Eyes open, Ava.” She opens her eyes and takes in a ragged breath.

“Did he say he’d hurt you?”

“Yes,” she speaks, barely above a whisper.

I lean closer to her and whisper in her ear. “He’s never going to hurt you again.” I see her fingers tremble on the trigger. She’s reluctant to pull it. I remember my first time. I was only 17. The prick had raped a comare. He had it coming. I wanted him dead, but I still couldn’t do it. My father put his hand over mine and helped me. It was the only time I needed that support. Maybe she needs that now.

I stand behind her and keep my movements slow. I brace her arms with mine and rest my chin on her shoulder, staring down the barrel of the gun with her. I place my hand on top of hers and steady my fingers on hers, holding her hands loosely.

Felipe tries to move, but Vince points his gun at him, followed by the rest of the Valettis. The corner of my lips kick up into a smile. Felipe’s phone goes off in his pocket. An annoying ringtone is the only sound other than the waves and Ava’s ragged breathing.

Just as Felipe opens his mouth to yell out to her, her finger pulls the trigger. The bullet hits his right pec, shoving him violently onto the ground. She points the gun down, with shaking hands, but I help to steady it and she fires again. Bang! It hits his throat and blood bubbles out as his hands fly up, reaching for the wound. And again, bang! His head falls back forcefully and his body goes limp. Blood seeps into the dirt, turning black. The phone stops ringing as I slowly lower Ava’s arms and take the gun out of her hands.

It’s Felipe’s, so I’m gonna need to dispose of it. Tommy walks up to me as I debate on what to do with it. He holds out his hand and I’m happy to pass it to him. I don’t feel like dealing with this shit. We used to put them in acid. Along with people’s fingertips and teeth. I turn to look at Vince, with an arm still wrapped around Ava. I need to square this up with him. I know I fucked up. I directly disobeyed him. It only hits me right now how fucked this is. Felipe is one of Abram’s close men. This isn’t good. And it went down on Valetti property, with witnesses.

“You sure do make a mess for someone who doesn’t have backing.” I turn to face Vince, letting go of my hold on Ava. I stand between the two of them and take a look around. There are at least 10 men standing around, with everyone looking at the two of us.

I take a deep breath in through my nose. I feel like I’ve got their support, but I didn’t have the go-ahead. I know for a fucking fact I didn’t. I noticeably swallow and square my shoulders. “I’m sorry, Vince. I know better.” I return my gun to the holster on my belt and run a hand down my face. As soon as the gun is tucked away several men shift and put theirs away, too. “I fucked up.” Vince gives me a hard look. It’s real quiet for a moment, except for Ava, who’s heaving in air. I clench my fists and resist the urge to go to her. Not until he gives me the go ahead. I already directly disobeyed him in front of his famila. I can’t disrespect him like that again.

“Yeah, you did. You’re lucky I didn’t like that fucker.” He turns to his right and calls out, “Tommy!”

“Yeah, boss?” Tommy walks up to my right with a grin.

“Get the cleanup crew.” Vince looks over his shoulder at the rest of the men. “Get back to work. You didn’t see shit here.”

“I can clean it up, Vince. It’s my mess.”

“No offense Kane, but I like to do shit my way. And where the fuck are you planning on taking the body?” His eyebrows raise, and I press my lips into a line.

“I’d figure it out. I won’t get you into any shit.”

He smirks at me. “You killed Abram’s man on my turf in front of me.” Fuck, I fucking hate that he’s laying into me. I have it coming, though. “You already got me into shit.”

I keep my eye contact with him as I state, “Just let me know what to do.” I’ll make this right. I always do.

He looks at me for a long while, searching for something, and then he looks over my shoulder. I hear Ava take in a deep, ragged breath and it breaks my heart.

“Just take care of your girl.” As Vince says the words, his phone goes off.

Ava’s right behind me, staring at Felipe’s body. Her hands are clasped in front of her. She doesn’t look like she’s doing alright. She’s pale and trembling, like the fucker’s still alive and going to beat her.

I hear Vince answer his phone as I pull her into my arms and against my chest, turning her so she can’t see Felipe's body. “It’s going to be alright.”

“Abram, nice to hear from you so soon.” I hear Vince talking behind me and I turn around with her in my arms. His eyes lock with mine as he speaks. “Yeah, he was just here, looking for the girl.” My heart drops and my blood chills. This is bad. Real fucking bad. He’s quiet a moment. I can’t hear what Abram’s saying on the other end, but judging from the look on Vince’s face, it’s not good. “Kane’s got a good handle on her...Felipe just left. Kane? No, he took off a few minutes after Felipe did.”

I feel the faintest bit of relief. Vince covered for me. He nods at me and then tilts his head to the parking lot. I give him a stern nod in return and start walking in that direction.

I pass Tommy and Anthony on the way out. They both look smug and happy. Probably because their family has me under their thumb now.

I open Ava’s door and gently push on the small of her back for her to get in, but her grip on me tightens. She looks up at me through her lashes like she’s waiting for something.

“You alright?” I ask, and kiss her hair.

She nods her head and asks, “Am I still a good girl?” She’s tense, and waves of anxiety are rolling off of her. It takes me by surprise. I can tell she needs reassurance. She’s worried, and I don’t like that. I'd hoped that Felipe's death at her hands would help her, but the only vibe I’m getting from her is that she’s scared.

“Of course you are. And he’ll never hurt you again.”

She’s still a bit tense but gives me a small smile and says, “Thank you, Kane.” Her fingers twist in her hands and she gets into her seat.

It leaves me with an uneasy feeling in my gut. Something is very wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. I should’ve just shot him myself. I spear my fingers through my hair and stand outside of my door, looking back over to the docks. A few men are shoveling dirt into a wheelbarrow right where his ass was lying when I shot him. They’re cleaning up my mess.

Maybe it was wrong of me. Maybe I shouldn’t have made her kill him. Fuck. I did that. I made her kill him. I didn’t give her a choice. I made her a murderer. It never occurred to me that she wouldn’t take it like I did. She’s a woman, a sweet girl. She’s not like me. Fuck. I don’t know if I made things better or worse for her.

I finally open the door and sit in the seat. My hands twist on the steering wheel as I look straight ahead and ask, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, Kane.” She’s quick to answer and it’s in that tone she used to use. I turn to face her. “Tell me what’s wrong.” I stare into her eyes, willing the truth from her. I don’t want her to wall herself off. I need this to be beneficial for us both.

“Abram’s going to kill you if he finds out.” She chokes on the last word.

“Baby, you don’t have to worry about me.” My lips pull into an asymmetric grin. “He has no idea.”

“He’ll find out. I’ve seen what they do.” She struggles to breathe, and I reach across the console and wrap my arms around her. I pull her into my lap. She pulls up her knees and lays her cheek against my chest. Her eyes are closed and she’s shaking her head. I wrap my arms around her and rock her gently. After a moment, she calms. I keep rubbing her back to soothe her.

“Ava, sweetheart, everything is going to be alright.” I pull back a bit to look at her and brush the hair away from her face. I tilt up her chin and she opens her eyes to look back at me. She’s not crying, but she’s obviously not okay. “I want you to forget about this. I don’t want you to worry, alright?” She nods her head and parts her lips to say something, but I press a finger against them.

The move is more intimate than I intended. A heated spark lights in her eyes, and her lips stay slightly parted. Her chest rises and falls, and the air between us changes. I pull my hand away and resist the urge to kiss her. I search her eyes for a moment, trying to calm my own needs. My dick is hardening in my pants and the urge to fuck her is riding me hard. I push it down.

“Ava, forget about this.” I clear my throat and add, “All of this. I want you to disregard everything that happened today.” She nods her head once and pulls away slightly, the meaning of my words sinking in. My heart falls as she pulls away from me completely, righting herself. I help her move back to her seat and ignore the fact that my dick is digging into my zipper.

I put my hands on the wheel, but before we take off, I have to apologize. “I’m sorry about that, Ava. I shouldn’t have made you do that.”

She slowly shakes her head. “Please, don’t be.”

“I shouldn’t have made you do something you didn’t want to.”

She looks straight at me as she says, “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do that.” She looks forward and adds, “He’s only one of many.”