Over 200 reads!! Eek, you guys are amazing!

***
A V E R Y
'Again? Really?'

Damien crossed his arms. 'Yes, Avery. You have to go again.'

'But why?' I moaned.

'You know why,' he said, casting an exasperated look to Maddie at my side. 'We have to get those papers. If we do, the next two months' worth of illegal business and trade will be avoided.' He paused, as if considering whether to carry on. 'I would only send my best. But if you're not up for it...'

'Of course I'm bloody well up for it!' I snapped, slumping back in my chair. 'I just don't want another run-in. The last one was annoying enough.'

Damien nodded, and went on to explain how we'd break in and get the files. It was all very dull. Letting him talk and pretending to listen, I thought about Mason - when Damien had asked who the intruder was and what he looked like...

I lied.

In my defence, I felt really bad for doing it, but something came over me. I wanted to protect Mason. But I had no clue as to why.

So as far as Damien was concerned, the guy who stole the fake papers was around 20 years old, had dark brown hair and was quite small. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?

Maddie, bless her soul, did not comment or interrupt once when I gave the report to Damien - she confirmed it when he asked her. For whatever reason, she was on my side.

Back to Mason, there was something about him that intrigued me. I wanted to know more about that blue eyed boy with his gut-wrenching dimples.

'That's it,' Damien's voice snapped me out of my reverie. 'Enter the building from here it here,' he said, pointing to two doorways on the blueprint spread across the table. 'I'll disable the security cameras by then, but keeps these on throughout.'

Damien chucked me and Maddie an earpiece each. They were small enough that they'd be undetectable, even if my hair was up.

'That's fine,' Maddie said breezing, already halfway to the door, looking behind to see if u was coming. I got up, winking at Damien.

'It'll be fine, Damien, I promise. Don't worry too much or you'll get grey hairs long before you should have them.'

He grinned, settling into his chair and picking up some paperwork. 'All right, all right, get out before I kick you out myself!'

I laughed. Damien was a father to me. And in those kind of moments, when we got each other, or had banter, I wished my real dad could've been there, so we could have that. But it was wishful thinking.

'Why are you so depressed?' The question came from Maddie.

I paused. I should tell her about Mason. We told each other everything - it was an unwritten rule of ours.

'No reason,' I muttered, sweeping my hair up into a ponytail. 'I'm tired, that's all. See you later.'

I felt sick at the lie. Why couldn't I just tell her, for God's sake?

Maddie nodded, turning the other way and walking off. I sighed through my nose, hating the long walk home; Damien or Martha would normally pick me up, but they'd always ring to tell me. And if I got no calls or messages... I'd have to find my way home alone.

Walking out of the Salvation always left me a little uneasy - it was a place where I knew everyone and everyone knew me. It was a safe haven. But leaving it made me uncertain, as if anything could jump out of the shadows at me the moment I stepped out. Brushing my concerns away, I began a brisk walk in the direction of my house.

I felt chills stir on my neck, the goosebumps rising up on my skin.

A sudden wind blew past, cold and biting, and I crossed my arms over my chest in a meagre attempt to get warm. It was pretty much useless.

RING RING. RING RING.

Bloody hell. If it was Damien or Martha calling to offer a lift, I'd say yes before they even finished calling. But it wasn't them.

The caller was named as 'Sexy Saviour'.

Oh, for fuck's sake, if it was Maddie being stupid, I'd scream loud enough for the whole town to hear.

'What?' I snapped, fingers gripping the phone held to my ear.

'You need to listen to me, Avery. Listen very carefully.' Who the fu-

'Who- Mason?' I was shocked. Flabbergasted.

A pause. 'Listen to me. You can't go on that mission, Avery, it's a tr-'

I scoffed. 'You're the goddamn enemy, Mason. And you're giving me warnings? Seriously?'

Nice one. Saying something you both already know. Real witty.

He snarled through the phone, 'Listen, for god's sake! They planned this all along.'

'Who did?'

'You know who, Avery.'

'The Damnation,' I breathed, eyes widening as I quickened my pace. A few more roads until I got home. 'How do you know this?' I said sharply.

'I overheard a meeting - my dad didn't notice I listened in.' He sucked in a breath. 'Don't go, Avery. Tell your boss you think it's dangerous. Make up any damn excuse, but I wouldn't be able to deal with it if you-' Mason's voice stopped. He'd said too much.

'If I what?' I whispered, barely able to hear the words myself. 'If I what, Mason?'

'Nothing.' In the background, the twins' voices could be heard.

'Oi, Mason, get your arse over here.' That was definitely Jacob.

'Yeah, who are you talking to? A lady friend?' If I closed my eyes, I could almost see Josh waggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

'Oh shut up, I'm coming.' He said. I smiled to myself.

'Well, um, thanks for-'

'Yeah, no, I-'

Oh god, this was awkward as hell. I decided to hang up. 'Bye.' I pressed the red button on the screen, but not before I heard the words, 'Please be safe, Avery.' I shook my head as I pocketed my phone and ran the last few steps to our house. I probably imagined it.

***

A few days later, I went to Damien alone, telling him my suspicions. He agreed to look into it. I was summoned once more, hours later.

Mason was right. Damien had sent a team to scout ahead and they'd found bombs and extra guards around the clients' place. It was enough for him to call the whole thing off - if any of us got caught... Death would be better, I thought with a shiver.

Thank you. I texted, biting my lip in anticipation. He probably wouldn't reply, but-

You're welcome, love. After all, aren't I your sexy saviour?

I snorted. That boy was a piece of work.

And yeah, I was fucking up so many rules and regulations, but I didn't care. I honestly didn't.

It seemed to me like Mason, my enemy, was one of the only good things in my life at the moment.

I wasn't going to just give that up.

And he annoyed me to hell and back, but...

There was a radiant smile on my face for the rest of the day, unfaltering even in the face of a coming storm.

***

Hmmm... It seems our sexy saviour is doing some meddling...

Comment, vote and SHARE!

-M