She had disappeared when I chased her. I assumed she'd go for a bath. I showered and lay back on my bed. The house was quiet this morning, eerily so and I couldn't help but feel guilty for not turning in for work. A large sigh escaped my lips as I stretched and turned on the television. My phone buzzed and I swiped the screen to see a few texts.
Bandoni: I hope your close to finding her… Times ticking my boy.
My boy. My stomach dropped the second I read it and I instantly felt sick. I'd found her. I loved her and I wasn't going to let him get his hands on her. My chest began to pound and an ache from within started to grip me. I sat upright on the bed and watched my door open. Av was standing in the same shirt only now her hair was slightly damp. Her eyes met mine and I watched as she wandered across the room and placed herself on my lap. I needed to tell her what the fuck was going on. I searched her eyes and felt her run her fingers down my cheeks.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Her tone was so soft as she ran her thumbs over my cheeks. I held her wrists and shook my head. She knew me better than I realised. "Haz?" She raised her brow at me and I tilted my head to kiss her palm.
"Nothing I'm alright." I closed my eyes momentarily and felt her shift on my lap. When I opened them again she was glaring at me.
"Don't hide things from me?" She looked sad and I held her head in my hands before I kissed her slowly.
"Av I'm alright I swear," she placed her hand against my chest and shook her head "I'm craving." That I could admit. Her eyes sprung open and she cuddled me tighter. The familiar smell of her perfume lingered against her skin. "I fucking love you Avay." I muttered against the skin of her neck. It was nothing but the truth. She was the reason I could see making it past 30. I'd be fucking dammed if anybody was going to take her away from me.
Chapter Eleven
Holt - March
We'd been rocky. To say the very least. I was graduating this September and I needed to get a plan together. I needed to sort my life out. We still weren't officially together. We were slightly more affectionate together in public but he didn't hold my hand much. My head spun from my internal thoughts and I exhaled as I wrote in my notepad. Nance nudged my arm softly and offered me a small smile. I knew she was trying to offer me some form of comfort but it didn't do much. I tapped my pen against the desk and remained in my little bubble for the remainder of the lecture. I was happy to do that.
Monday
Anya had stayed around over the Christmas and New Year period and for some reason she was still here. She threw the remote across the room towards me and I chuckled as I caught it. She had arrived at mine this morning looking a little fragile and I'd told her to come in and sober up. She was working for that logistics company now and I don't think she had any plans to go back up North anytime soon. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't enjoyed her being here. The more she divulged information about her 'friend' the more I got the feeling I knew him. An uneasy feeling threatened to consume me as I watched her flex her feet out in front of her. She worshipped him whoever he was.
"Are you going into work today?" I questioned as she yawned.
"Nah I don't think he'd mind me taking a day off." She grinned in my direction and I rolled my eyes.
"Are you banging him?" I raised my brow and watched her chuckle. I wasn't sure if she'd tell me the truth or not, so I just continued to keep quiet.
"So has your mum seen more of Haz in the office lately?" What a fucking bizarre question. Why would he be in the office? I raised my brow as I glanced up from my phone at her. Her head was tilted to one side and I shook mine.
“No? Why would she see him? ” She frowned as she patted my shoulder.
“Did you not know Haz has shares in the business?” I felt my mouth dry up as I glared at her. Surely he'd have told me.
“No I didn’t know that.” My reply was sharp and I frowned at her. How the hell would she know?
“I thought you’d have guessed? They know their way around the law?” She was right they did but I'd never told her what any of them really did. Hell I didn't even know half of it. He never disclosed anything he didn't have to. I folded my arms against my chest.
“How do you know all of this?” I almost hissed.
“Avaya, I’m not going to tell you that.”
“Who’s your friend Anya?” My blood boiled as I stood to my feet. "Who are you staying with?" I placed my glass on the coffee table in front of where we were sat. My hands shook.
“He knew you’d guess and he warned me you'd be like this.” Her tone was mellow as I held back the urge to cry. I shook my head in disbelief. Surely fucking not.
"Fuck off Anya? Are you joking?" I glared down at her blue eyes and my chest constricted. “How long have you known him?” It was at that moment I knew it was him. She shrugged as I frowned deeply.
“Years Av. What’s your issue with Rava?” The world around me stopped. My stomach twisted. My best friend had known
