Chapter 51

AVALINE

At first, trying to be fascinated with the place was an effort. But when I saw some gigantic pots, I genuinely squealed. They're cute!

"World's Best Bagoong." I read aloud. I'm not really familiar with bagoong, but it was briefly mentioned by Daria last time.

I looked down at the grass. The green Bermuda grass was sprinkled with a few fallen dead leaves. It would be nice to lay down and have my hair spread out over the grass.

I immediately handed Czar's phone back to him. I could barely remember that I was upset; all I wanted was to take pictures here.

I started sitting on the Bermuda grass when Czar tugged at my dress.

"What are you doing? People have stepped on that," he scolded me.

I didn't hold back and lay down anyway.

"Take a picture of me here! I want a photo!" I spread my hair nicely over the grass.

He continued scolding me about how I'd just showered and got dirty again or how it's not healthy to lay down on ground where bacteria from various people's shoes could have potentially gotten in. Blah blah blah.

"This is a date, right? Just let me enjoy." I smiled up at him, trying poses while waiting for him to take my picture.

Without warning, two large figures jumped over me. I looked to my side and saw a brown and white poodle.

They excitedly barked. Czar misread my startled expression and looked ready to get rid of the dogs.

I burst into giggles and laughter, catching the excitement from the two dogs. Then the white one jumped over me again to get to the other side where they originally came from. The brown one stayed by my left side.

They settled beside me on either side.

I looked up and saw Czar crouched down beside me, tapping his phone with a concealed smile. He shook his head at me but seemed amused despite himself.

Czar and I played with the dogs—mostly just me—until their owner found them and apologized. But there was no apology required in the first place; I loved those poodles.

Both our expressions were light until Czar's phone rang. His face hardened and instantly became alert. On impulse from whatever he heard, he held my hand.

"Someone tried to kill us."

“Do you need to take care of things? Someone can just pick me up here. It’s easier than you driving me home and then coming back.”

According to Eiran's updates, Devika caught the person who attempted the assassination. So that means it’s safe if Czar leaves me here to wait for someone to drive me home.

“Are you serious, Avaline? I’ve already put you in my car and brought you here, and you're still insisting that you’re willing to wait for one of my men to drive you home?”

I looked outside. Oh. We’re already in one of their warehouses. I didn’t realize that because I was too busy trying to convince him not to take me along since I knew I wouldn’t be able to help.

“And the assassin wasn’t the only threat. My enemies would seize the opportunity when you’re out in the open, so you’re stuck with me.”

Inside the warehouse, I was itching to have a look at the one who tried to assassinate us. I can’t believe that one of the happiest moments of my life almost became my last breath. Anger mounted inside me as I thought of what I could’ve lost.

If Devika hadn’t caught the assassin in time, it wouldn’t just be my life that would be taken from me, but also opportunities. The chance to grow and prove myself, the chance to try to get to know the world that my father didn’t let me see, and a chance to truly live.

I glanced at my husband through the strands of my hair.

I could have lost time with him. I know this isn’t permanent. But it would hurt me if I lost the chance to make the most of my few months with him before he lets me go.

It was these thoughts that made me decide that however Czar wishes to punish the assassin, I won’t stop him. I’ll watch with no remorse.

Unaware of the effects of my rage, I was surprised to find myself walking ahead of Czar. As if I were the one planning what to do about whoever attempted our lives.

“Keep walking, wife. I like it when you’re vengeful.”

Someone sitting on a chair is dwarfed by Alaric, Adonis, Eiran, and Devika, who all stood around what I assume is the assassin.

Upon getting a better view, the assassin wasn’t a man but a short dark blonde-haired woman.

Alaric, Adonis, Eiran, and Devika moved aside for both Czar and me.

I expected the girl to show the same fear that others have displayed in the presence of the Levesque brothers. But she didn’t even pay attention to Czar. Instead, she engaged in a glaring match with Alaric.

“Sibley.”

The girl’s head whipped around sharply at how quickly she turned towards Czar. For a moment, she lost her composure. And that made my husband smirk.

“So we weren’t supposed to know your name?” Czar taunted the girl.

Wait. How did Czar manage to get information on her in less than twenty minutes from the park to this warehouse?

Sibley smirked back. “Yes, Sibley is indeed my name. Is that all you’ve got?”

“Whoever you work for made sure that nothing else gets exposed.”

Sibley scoffed. “Damn it. People have such a high opinion of the Levesques. Maybe you're not as skilled as others made you out to be.”

For the first time, Alaric looked just as intense as Czar and Eiran. There was a mix of irritation and curiosity in his expression.

I don’t know what compelled me to speak up. Maybe it’s because my husband stood like a king on his throne despite where we were and the situation we were in—so self-assured that I wanted to match him.

“Good thing you're here then,” I said. “They’re going to make you answer their questions. Spoiler alert: The experience isn’t pleasant. Then you'll see exactly why they are feared so much.”

Alaric’s lips curled into a smile, but his curious eyes remained on Sibley. Surprisingly, Eiran didn’t shoot a hateful look my way.

“Avaline De Greco,” she inclined her head and acknowledged me coolly.

“Levesque,” I corrected firmly.

She simply raised an eyebrow. I turned to Czar.

“Done, wife? I’d like to get to work,” he flexed his fingers as if warming them up for the torture to come. “Threat loses its impact if not acted on immediately.”

I took steps back to give room. Czar looked at his brothers, engaging in a silent conversation. Eiran regarded Sibley as if he no longer wanted to torture her but just cut to the chase and kill.

Then I remembered how intensely he reacted when he thought something had happened to Czar. What happened that made Eiran so protective of the eldest?

“Devika. Escort my wife somewhere in this warehouse except here. Now,” Czar said in a low voice.

“But I want to help!” Devika said at the same time I said, “I thought you’d let me watch!”

CZAR

I wasn’t that monstrous to make her watch me hurt a woman. She may feel the thirst for revenge for now, but later she’d realize how cruel what I did was, then she’d feel guilty because she witnessed it.

“Now, Devika,” I repeated.

Devika hesitantly left with Avaline. She kept looking back at us as if she wanted to abandon my wife and just join us here. So I pinned her with a stare that promised the worst if she let anything happen to my wife.

My brothers, Adonis, and I each took turns hurting the girl and questioning her. Despite the assassin’s bruised face and bloodied body, her face remained calm. I was tempted to kick Alaric out of this; he was the least participative, only asking questions. The more we hurt the girl, the moodier he became. It wouldn’t be obvious to the average eye, but I could see through him.

“Cover her eyes,” I commanded.

Both Eiran and Adonis sprang into action, knowing exactly what I was planning.

Adonis covered the girl’s eyes and restrained her head with his hands. Eiran handed me a water hose.

“Our father must be smiling proudly from hell, Czar,” Alaric commented.

My eye twitched.

“If you’re too soft to watch, just tell us, Alaric.” I aimed the water hose at the girl’s face.

“You’re insane for this, Czar,” Alaric said calmly. “Hurting women was his thing.”

“Hurting innocent women was his thing,” I corrected. “She’s not innocent at all, is she? She almost fucking killed me, your brother, and my wife, your sister-in-law.”

And I cannot believe my wife almost got hurt again. Because I was basking too much in her delight, I didn’t notice anything suspicious.

The assassin choked on the nonstop flow of water hitting her nose. And because I needed her alive, I made Eiran turn off the faucet.

“Why were you trying to kill us? Tell me. Was it the Montevals or the De Greco who told you to do so?”