AVALINE

Their chuckles halted when they heard it. Pascal went silent, but the grin was still on his lips. He licked his lips, and my face contorted.

“Apologies,” his eyes still on me while taking my father's hand that hung too long in the air. “We’re just… joyous. That’s all.”

I watched as my father withdrew his hand and how it flexed before he placed it in his pocket. I assumed he was thinking of a hundred ways he could attack Pascal for disrespecting him in his own territory.

But my father was too level-headed to act on it. Not like certain people…

I internally slapped myself for letting that certain someone into my mind.

The conversation and the party continued. Everyone was trying to ease the tension and make it feel more like a celebration than a battleground. There was a casino somewhere in the party where a woman was standing.

My eyes narrowed. I had never seen her before. Yes, I was sure that some members of the De Greco organization that I saw at our house were not even half of their total number. But that wasn’t why I was taken aback.

It was the fact that she’s a woman. I could’ve mistaken her for one of the underbosses’ wives if she were only wearing a dress. But she wasn’t just wearing a dress; I could swear I saw a black strap on her legs. She must have weapons.

She caught me gawking at her. Instead of being surprised or giving me a dirty look, she smiled and raised her wine glass.

“I don’t appreciate that you’d rather look elsewhere than your husband,” Pascal breathed into my ear.

Not yet my husband, bastard. And will never be.

My lips stretched into a shuddering smile. “S-sorry. It’s just that this is the first time I've seen this many people.”

“Hmm,” he said. “You’ll be seeing this many people often when you become my wife. I’m a capo, so you should always make appearances with me.”

I neither shook my head nor nodded. Shaking my head means calling for danger, and nodding means accepting his assertion.

“She’s smart and well-spoken,” endorsed by my father to him. “She’ll be a perfect companion; you won’t be embarrassed.”

His hand went on my hip and he pulled me slightly to him. “I knew I made the perfect choice.”

“Surely, your children will be beautiful,” said the wife of Pascal’s second-in-command. But no matter how friendly her smile was, she looked conflicted as her gaze swung between me and their boss.

Hmm….

“I could say the same to you and…” I gestured to the second-in-command, asking him to complete my sentence.

“Desmond,” he gruffly replied.

I nodded and turned to his wife. “Do you have children?”

Pascal’s jaw clenched. It’s not noticeable if you’re not paying close attention. But since I was deliberately watching for his reactions, I caught that small movement.

I don’t know what caused him to tick. Does he dislike a questioning spouse? Or is there something else that triggered that reaction in him?

The girl chuckled. “Not in the plans yet, Ava,” she blinked. “Ava, right? Or would you rather be called Avaline?”

“Ava’s fine,” I said. “Though I only allow girls to call me that,” I added. I don’t want Pascal assuming that we’re close enough that he can call me that.

“Then you should start amending that rule,” my future husband immediately announced. “You won’t keep me out, Ava,” he emphasized with a warning.

Demond’s wife swallowed. I quickly asked, “And you are?”

“Verena Diar,” she answered with grace. “Rena for short.”

Her name sounded classy. It reflected how she holds herself. She’s a beautiful woman—long, slightly wavy ginger hair pinned at the sides, blue eyes, and a beautifully freckled pale face. But I bet once she takes off her makeup, she would look soft. I guess that’s a perfect contrast to her husband.

The waiter refilled the wine glasses except for mine since it was still full.

I held my abdomen. “Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”

Papa nodded dismissively as he continued conversing with the Montevals. He was too busy and pleased with the business.

Pascal gripped my wrist. “What are you going to do?”

I gasped and tried hard not to panic. If only I could will my galloping pulse to slow down—more nervousness means more suspicion.

“D-do you really have to… know?” I asked shyly.

His brows drew together.

“You’ll soon be answering to me. Might as well practice now,” he said.

“W-well…” I chewed on the inside of my cheek as if searching for the right words. “If you men need to get hurt to bleed, we women bleed without being harmed.”

Damn! Is that the right description? Does he get it?

He looked unaffected, but if there is any indication that he understood what I meant, it’s when he loosened his grip and let me go.

“Be quick. No funny business, Ava. You won’t like what I’ll do,” he smiled to make it light but there was an underlying threat there.

No, I won’t do anything funny because after this, he won’t be laughing; he’ll light up in fury.

My steps were large as I strode toward the restroom. Before I could reach it, a hand stopped me. I jumped. My instinctive reaction was to ram my elbow backward for the person to let go, but they quickly avoided my attack and stopped my hand.

“I have no bad intentions. I'm your ally,” a woman whispered softly to me.

I allowed myself to take a quick glance at her face. She's the woman I saw earlier.

“And how can I be sure of that? For all I know, you might be one of my father’s goons.”

She scoffed.

“Goons,” she echoed my words sardonically. “Yes, I’m one of the De Greco. But I’m loyal to no one.”

My lips parted slightly.

“You swore an oath. An oath to the De Greco—”

“But I did not swear I’d let them take control of my principles and actions. I will defend this organization against all threats. But you’re not a threat. This is entirely different.”

Maybe she felt sympathy? She’s unlike other women in the De Greco territory who would tell me to just tolerate my marriage. She’s a soldier of the De Greco after all. She took a different route than most women. That means she’s also against these marriages, right?

I still don’t trust her, but I don’t have much time, so I’ll gamble.

“I will leave the De Greco and start somewhere far. I’ll exit through the window here in the restroom,” I said.

She nodded enthusiastically. Too enthusiastically for someone who is not close to me.

“If you could just keep them out of the restroom a little longer, I’d appreciate it,” I added.

We both agreed on the plan. I sucked in a deep breath and finally took my steps toward freedom.

I grabbed the bag I took from the treehouse. There’s a treehouse behind the mansion, so that’s where I decided to leave my belongings. I don’t have much—just my devices. When I brought my laptop bag earlier, Papa didn’t suspect anything. It wouldn’t occur to him that I had plans if all I was carrying were a laptop and cellphone. Maybe I just don’t trust the maids with my devices. That could’ve been a justifiable reason. But if he saw clothes in there, he would’ve been suspicious.

My cellphone made a sound, and I knew that the car was already here. A life outside of the old one that caged me. It won’t be easy; I know that. I won’t have the same level of comfort that Yekaterinburg offered me. But I’d rather be uncomfortable than unfree.

Thankfully, no one has suspected me yet about the reduction in the De Greco funds. Is it really that quick and abundant how money flows into us that they hardly noticed it was reduced? Or do they just suspect someone else?

The money will be enough. As soon as I arrive in Switzerland, I'll immediately look for a job.

I spotted a black Navigator. I didn’t even check the message on my phone; that notification was enough to know they were here. It was already six o’clock anyway.

I quickly pulled open the car door and stepped inside without looking at the driver. The face wasn’t important; what mattered was getting the job done.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the driver’s head tilting slightly toward the rearview mirror, probably trying to make eye contact with me. But I didn’t entertain the gesture; instead, I anxiously checked behind me to see if someone was following.

Once we got through the gate, only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. I've been preparing for this for days, and now I feel tired. The adrenaline from doing the hard part is already over, so I let myself sleep in the backseat.