Days became a battering fog for Ava as she remained crouched inside the cold confines of the warehouse. The blackness of her surroundings seemed to resonate with her isolation, each creak of the old building seeming to resonate her fear. It was a cell of silence, where the absence of words suffocated in her chest, strangling out her spirit.
Luca had promised safety and negotiation, but for now, that was a joke. The waiting, which had become a suffocating game, was broken only by the level of her own doubts. Without a word from outside, her mind ran into darker places—places sadder than the last.
Alone in her own thoughts, Ava imagined what the world was like outside the warehouse. She considered Mara, her mother, walking around the family manor, likely at a loss with worry. Her father would be frantically trying to find her, unaware of the true nature of the Rossi family's involvement. She wished to hear what she knew, to feel the safety of her family's presence, but there was only a spooky quiet surrounding her.
As the sun set behind the horizon, spookily peeking through the grimy windows, the door was swung open, disrupting the silence. The sound of Ava's heart racing and her bracing herself for Luca's entry hoping for news of her family and progress in negotiations were heard.
It was not Luca who came in but Dominic, the enforcer who took a first grab at her during her kidnap. He came in with a force that made her uncomfortable. The contrast of the shadows and his robust body weighted down the room.
"Get up," he barked, staring at her.
Ava forced herself up on her feet, eyes narrowed. "Where's Luca? What's happening outside?"
Dominic raised an eye-roll as a response to her defiance. There is no need to know everything. Just follow me."
"Why? What do you want with me?" she fired back, resentment welling up in her.
"Luca is busy. We have been preparing for potential negotiations. But you have to understand Ava the more you stay here alone the closer we are to deciding your family's fate," he said with a low and threatening voice.
"Is that supposed to frighten me? I'm not afraid of you." Ava remained strong and did not move back, even when he moved closer, creeping into her personal space. She could see the set lines of his mouth, the reminder of the cruel world he lived in.
"Fear is an asset and it would be wise for you to embrace it", he said with a wicked smile curling up on his lips. However, at this point, you need a reality check. Your family is in the midst of a dangerous game and you are in the middle of it".
Before she could answer, Dominic spun on his heels and went out of the room, leaving Ava shaken. The silence that ensued was heavier than before, as she thought about what he had said. The pressure outside was geometrically growing and the walls of the warehouse were closing in.
While pacing the room, thoughts whirled around her. What had her father put them into? Would they actually agree or was violence the only language that these families spoke?
After hours of restless musing, the door groaned open again, and this time, Luca entered, and Ava's heart fluttered in a messy combination of relief and terror. He was more rugged than usual – exhausted, and with shadows defining his bright eyes – as if he had been in the midst of battles both in the exterior and in the interior.
"Good to see you're still standing," he said, the note of teasing in his voice that did not gel with the atmosphere in the room.
"Have you come to brag or have you news?" Ava snapped, and she was not able to hide her irritation.
Neither, although I like your feistiness," he conceded, a slight smile creeping into his otherwise sober mien. "I must prepare you for what is to come next".
"What's coming?" Ava demanded, her heart racing.
With a serious expression, Luca took a step closer. Tomorrow, we're negotiating with your dad. You must comprehend what that means. There will be intense emotions and high stakes. This is about your family's and your own survival, so it's not just a conversation. The implication caused Ava's stomach to turn. "And what if they don't comply? What if they come to my aid and everything goes wrong?" Luca said, taking his time and carefully considering what he was saying. The situation will then devolve into total chaos. It's possible that your father thinks he can outsmart us, but he's being stupid if he thinks he can do it without getting caught. He needs to be made aware of the balance of power. Since you are the leverage, he will stop at nothing to keep you safe. "Leverage?" Ava asked again, her tone bitter. "I am not useful. His daughter is me. He arched an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You are both. In our society, power is frequently color-coded in blood, but family ties make matters more complicated. We are both aware of that. Anger began to flare up inside of Ava. "So what do you want me to do? Convince my father to do what you want?" Luca entered her field of vision, the laughter ebbing away and being replaced by a determination that made her shiver. "I'm counting on you to be honest. Be a reasonable voice throughout the negotiation. I want you to be explicit about what will happen if he doesn't. Now is your opportunity to do your part to keep your family safe.