Ava's POV

"I think it's a terrible idea," I stated for the sixth time and Diana agreed. However, Deniska and Mr.Eliz continued to insist. "It's a publicity stunt. Think about it? Dmitri and Deniska are always together. Dmitri and Ava go sneak away on some trip, look a little romantic, huh? Dmitri looks separated from his sister, so he's easier to handle, Ava's live bait for Diana and Diana's a straight link to Mr. Eliz. Jing would have to show his face," he explained for the seventh time.

"Or kill us on spot.." I replied and his face dropped. "Where is my brother anyway?" Deniska asked taking out her phone but damn near on cue he walked into the house with a huge smile on his face. "Sorry I'm late, had some errands to run. Are we still talking about Ava and I disappearing and then reappearing as if we're some runaway couple?" he questioned and Mr. Eliz nodded.

"I'm not putting Ava in that kind of danger. The idea is dismissed , meeting over?" Dmitri said quickly yet calmly and Mr. Eliz chuckled lightly. "And who do you think you are?" Mr. Eliz asked and Dmitri started to become irritated. He turned completely to Diana's father and put his hand on his hips. "I could ask you the same.. You just show up here all close and quiet with Ava ... stuck Diana.. oddly enough Deniska was sick the other day and you .. a doctor. Did nothing," Dmitri said sitting on the table and Diana rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

"Well honestly I feel a grown woman could deal with the common cold," he replied and Dmitri grabbed him by his throat and slammed him into the wall. "DMITRI!" Diana, Deniska and I yelled and in the midst of them fighting they both told us to stay out of it.

Dmitri overpowered Diana's father sure but Diana's father was skilled with years of experience. He would slip , dodge, duck and counter and he was faster than Dmitri. He fought as if he had mastered martial arts, sometimes palms, sometimes fists, a kick every now and then but he did it calmly and made Dmitri look like he was throwing some childish tantrum. Dmitri did get his hits in however and they did damage if landed.

"Who are you?" Dmitri asked while choking him and Diana threw her father her beads. He caught them, kicked Dmitri off of him and then spun them quickly doing some weird chant. Dmitri began to look winded and almost searching for oxygen. He soon fell to his knees and Deniska ran to her brother, not sure what to make of anything at this moment she shot pleading eyes in the direction of Diana. Diana was in a trance of her own almost in a different world. "Diana?" I nudged and she didn't even flinch. Dmitri now collapsed and was grasping onto Deniska with the little bit of energy he had left. He was about to die.

I ran and threw myself at Diana's father knocking him to the ground. When the beads hit the ground I could hear Dmitri take a deep breath and start gasping for air. Deniska and Dmitri confused and infuriated, Diana and her father shared a glance of concern and when I looked at her father as I got up from the ground his eyes were blue , just as bright and extraordinary as Diana's.

"Eliz..." Dmitri said as he stood. "Eliz... Anan Pharoah Eliz. In the flesh," Diana's father answered straightening his jacket. Dmitri looked at me with a very betrayed look to me, "You knew?"

I stuttered and lost my voice and any track of my thoughts. Diana looked at them with a smile and said, "Now what?"

"Excuse me? Your father just tried to kill my brother!" Deniska shouted.

"He should be honored. You searched and searched for the living myth and now he's here. Screw all of this beating around the bush. I want Derek dead! Then I want the Jai Jing massacred," Diana roared and I looked at Diana in an emotion I could not identify.

How did I get sucked into all of this? Just maybe a little over a year ago I was on my way to flunking out of college.. a billionaire daddy's brat. Yet here I am now ... in the crossfire of two mafia's... was my lust for Diana my deal with the devil?

"I have to go.." I mumbled before trying to leave the room. "She can't leave," her father said and Dmitri grabbed me roughly and spun me to the floor so I was on my knees.

"She just saved your life!" Diana screamed and her father silenced her by holding up his hand. "Alright now.. relax. I trust Ava understands that everything that has been done since her accident has been for her. What I'm asking is if that understanding needs to be ensured?" he asked turning to me and staring straight into my eyes. He truly was Diana's father.

I looked behind him at Diana and I saw everything at once. My mistress, Diana, and a murderer. I held my head not in submission but in disappointment at the situation in its entirety. "We go with the original plan only this time Ava ... you're kept under close watch," he said glaring at Dmitri and Diana.

Diana looked away from me .. but it was too late. I had already seen the tear fall.