“Ava? I ever catch you with another man I’ll kill the both of you. Ya got it?”

“Yes, Joseph.”

“Good. Then we shouldn’t have any problems. Now come here.”

Against her will, Ava scooted closer to Joseph, back still turned. His arms came around her waist pulling her closer. His chest pressed against her back. His manhood lay nestled almost in the cleft of her butt. She lay quietly captured in Joseph’s embrace. Soon, he was asleep, his snores filling the room. Ava allowed the tears she’d been battling to escape from her eyes.

This was what she’d signed up for. To allow a man old enough to be her father to use her body whenever he pleased. To lie beneath him whether she enjoyed it or not. Yes, this is what she’d chosen in an effort to save her father from certain death. But now, at this moment, she’d realized her sacrifice had been for naught. Instead of thanking her for saving his life by making a deal with Joseph, her father had disowned her. Called her a whore and told her that he never wanted to see her again.

Her tears fell harder now. Yes, all for nothing. But despite the way Roger had treated her, Ava wouldn’t go back on her word. She belonged to Joseph now and as long as she did, her father’s life was safe. And despite the lack of love Roger had shown to her, she would not abandon him to his death.

Ava was no coward like her father. She was now a woman with a strength she didn’t understand. So she wiped her tears and released a deep breath. This was her life now and she was going to make the most of it.

“Isn’t it cool, Mommy? Mommy?”

Ava snapped back to reality. Maia was standing in front of her holding up a structure she’d just built with her Legos.

“You did a good job on that, baby. What are you building?”

“A mansion.”

“A mansion? You’re going to need a lot more blocks to get it finished.”

“I’m going to work on it every day after school until it’s really big.”

“Good for you, baby. I can’t wait to see it when you finish,” Ava said, smiling at her daughter.

She ruffled Maia’s hair. After seeing the black sedan again, Ava had picked her daughter up from school early. She’d needed to be near her baby to make sure her little angel was okay. They’d gone out for ice cream before coming home and enjoying spending the afternoon together. Just being near her little girl helped put her mind at ease.

Maia leaned in and kissed her cheek. Ava pulled her daughter close and hugged her tight.

“Maia, dinner time. Mrs. Valdez made your favorite, chicken alfredo,” Natalie said, coming into the room smiling.

She sat her Lego structure down carefully on the floor and ran off towards the kitchen. Ava watched her go with a smile. That girl was Italian to the core. While most five-year-olds wanted chicken fingers and French fries, Maia wanted all the pasta she could eat. Chicken carbonara, shrimp alfredo, spaghetti… that little girl loved Italian food. Just like her father.

“Are you eating?” Natalie asked.

“I don’t have much of an appetite, but thank you.”

“Okay,” Natalie said, preparing to turn away.

“Natalie, would you come here for a minute?”

Natalie walked deeper into the room. Ava motioned for her to sit beside her on the couch. The girl’s eyes were wide. Am I really so mean that she expects me to fuss her out every time I want to talk? Maybe I need to lay off a bit.

“Is something wrong, Ms. Hill?”

“I really appreciate the way you’ve taken care of Maia. You came over here today when you could have had the afternoon off. And anybody who sees you and my girl together can tell that you love her and she loves you. So thank you. I couldn’t ask for a better person to look after my little girl.”

“It’s my pleasure, Ms. Hill. I love Maia just like she’s my little sister. Being away from my own family, it was easy to bond with her…and you.”

Ava’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Thank you, Natalie. I’m going to give you a raise.”

“Really?” Natalie’s eyes were wide.

“Yes. You deserve it. And there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Okay.”

“I know that you’ve been living in a dorm room and I’m sure that you’d prefer having a little bit more space and privacy. How would you like to move into the other guest house?”

“Really? You’d let me live here?”

“Of course. You’d have more privacy to study. No crazy roommates keeping up fuss and I can assure you the time you spend with Maia will be the same. No more extra time with her just because you’d be staying in the guest house. So what do you say?”

“Yes. I’d like that. You have no idea what it’s like to be stuck in a dorm with a bunch of crazy college kids who don’t do anything but party. It’s a wonder how any of them maintain the grade point average to stay in college in the first place.”

“See that’s what I like about you, Natalie, your level-headedness. You are going to go far.”

“Thank you, Ms. Hill. Maybe one day I’ll own a business like you.”

“The sky’s the limit. You’re still hanging in there with the double major?” Ava asked.

“Yes. Business and marketing,” Natalie said.

“Smart girl.”

“Natalie! Come eat with me!” Maia yelled out from the kitchen.

Ava and Natalie laughed.

“I guess I’ve been summoned,” Natalie said, rising.

“I guess so. Let me know when you want me to send someone to your dorm to help you move your things.”

“I will and again thank you, Ms. Hill. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” Natalie asked with a look of concern on her face.

She needed to tell someone what was going on and, since she’d just invited Natalie to move in, it might as well be her.

“There’s been a challenge to Joseph’s will.”

“What? By who?”

“A man claiming to be my late husband’s son. He feels he’s entitled to a part of the estate.”

“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry about this, Ms. Hill. What are you going to do?”

“My attorney is looking into it. I just wanted you to know since you’re going to be living here.”

“Thank you for confiding in me. I’m here if there’s anything you need.”

“I will. Thank you, Natalie.”

The girl gave her a smile and made her way back to the kitchen.

Alone, Ava rubbed her hands over her face. She couldn’t say anything about the other mysterious happenings going on in her life. She didn’t need Natalie spooked. Besides, right now she had no idea what was really going on. But she did know one thing, everything that was happening was Joseph’s fault. She wouldn’t be in this mess if he’d just kept it zipped up or used a condom like he did with her. He’d been so careful not to get her pregnant until he decided to marry her. Why couldn’t he have done the same with the other women he was screwing?

Ava had no idea how this protest suit could affect things. She’d already sold the house she and Joseph had shared, as well as the condo he’d bought for her all those years ago. She needed no reminders of her sordid past, but Dominic Sambarino seemed determined to do just that. Ava’s cell phone rang. She picked it up from the couch.

“Hello.”

Silence.

“Hello. Is anybody there?”

Ava took the phone from her ear and looked at the screen. Restricted. How did someone get my private number? Brows furrowed, Ava brought the phone back to her ear.

“I don’t know who you are or how you got this number, but I suggest you lose it and never contact me again,” Ava said in a hard tone.

More silence. Ava felt the knot of tension forming in her neck. Enough of this. She moved the phone away in preparation to hang up, then she heard it.

“I can’t do that, Ava.”

Then the line went dead. Ava stared at the phone in her hand. The voice. There was something about it. Something familiar, but she couldn’t place it.