Chapter 2

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10 years later..

The school bell rang and it all became crowdy due to students rushing to get home.

A skinny girl walked on the pavements, dragging her feet and huffing moodily. The strands of her red hair, that somehow escaped her hood, shining in the sunlight. Her face not visible due to her hood covering it.

15 years old, Ava was lost in her own thoughts as she made her way home. She couldn't wait to be in the secrecy of her room.

Finally, after some time, the big mansion came into view. It was huge and beautiful but it had always been unfamiliar and unwelcoming for her, except her room.

She went inside and stood in the lobby looking around if her parents were home. And yes, they were. She looked into the kitchen where both of them were having lunch and talking to each other.

They just kept talking while she stood in the doorway. She knew they had already noticed her there, but they kept on ignoring her. Just as they've always done. She just sighed and left to go to her room.

As she reached her big room having an attached walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom, she went straight to her closet. She stood before the mirror staring at herself.

Her hands went to her hair as she tugged at them and the red hair wig fell out, revealing the beautiful brown hair underneath.

She just stared at her reflection, looking back at her.

Her parents could afford almost everything. They bought everything she needed, not that she ever asked them to. They gave her many material things but they didn't give her attention and love, ever.

The only attention she got was when they were drunk or in the mood to tell her just how much of a disappointment and a burden she is.

Ava winston, daughter of Chris and Maria winston, the class topper, the winner in almost everything she participates in. The one who knows just how to do chores around the house and be a perfect woman, was a disappointment and burden.

That's what she was taught. To be perfect. She was always taught to be a woman. To know how to cook, how to be perfect, take care of others and how to clean. Her parents made her learn everything in a young age.

She was always compelled to wear dresses and girly stuff. She was told her body was a property, an asset. It should be perfect. The main reason why she was starved- fat is not beautiful.

For a perfect woman, she needed to be skinny and short and multi-talented.
That's what her parents taught her and expected from her.

She heard the slamming of a door and the sound of car tyres on the stone pavements.
She sighed and sat down to complete her homework before her parents return.

After some hours of doing her homework and getting a short nap, she was woken up by the screeching of brakes then slamming of doors. She was called down for dinner.

Ava's POV.

Oh no!

"Come down." My mother yelled again.

I sighed and got up. I slowly made my way downstairs mentally preparing myself for whatever they had to say or do.

I reached the living room quicker than I expected. Slowly opening the door, I saw them sitting on the couch inside. I shuffled inside, taking in their drunk appearances.

"Umm... Yes?" I asked.

In an instant, I was on the ground, clutching my stomach and trying to gain my breath.

"Why are you so tall, huh?" Mom yelled as she grabbed my hair and pulled them harshly. I let out a scream.

I'm just 5'6. It isn't even my fault.

"That's not very girly. I thought we taught you to be as girly as possible." She said. Her red eyes stared right into mine and her smelly breath fanned my face. Her breath smelled like alcohol, making me nauseatic.

"You were meant to be short and cute. But no. You had to be an ugly giant." Dad said as he grabbed me by the back of my throat and stood me up. I saw him raising his fist and directing it to my face. I closed my eyes, waiting for the hit.

"Not her face, you idiot." I hear mom hiss at him. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw them exchanging knowing looks.

He released me and stormed off to the kitchen as Mom followed suit.

I just looked at their retreating backs sadly. I want love and attention too. But not this kind of attention. They've always neglected me. I'm always told I'm a disappointment, a burden. But I'm still blood. That's the main reason I don't fight back. That's the main reason I haven't left.

"Come on sweetie, let's go. You have to eat something." Aunt Bianca, our maid said as she gently took my hand in hers and looked at my face, slightly worried on seeing no expression.

I just nodded and headed to the kitchen. I sat down as far away as possible. Mom was looking above at the ceiling waiting for the food as she twirled her red hair with her fingers. Dad sat with his eyes closed and running his hands through his blonde hair. I've always wondered why I have brown hair and blue eyes while they have red and blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Come sit here." Mom said as she gestured to the seat next to her, with a crazy look on her face.

I sighed and got up. I sat down just as the food arrived.

They started eating as I sat there just staring at the food in front of me. Just thinking of eating it, made me want to throw up.

After sometime, Mom picked up a knife and turned to me.

"Why aren't you eating? Are you too fat to eat all this? Yes, you are." She said, answering her own question and sliding the knife along my arm.

"Don't do it. We don't want permanent marks on her." Dad said as he glared at Mom then at me.

Mom just smirked and put the knife back as I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

You've already left many marks. The emotional torture and staying alone the whole time has made me want to beg for someone's love and attention.

But I can't do that. Every time, I'm going out for school or something, I have to wear a wig and different coloured lenses, and hide my face as much as I can. I don't even know why.

I excused myself and walked to my room, my mind about to burst with so much anger and sadness.

I need to let it out. I locked my room and started looking through my closet.

I got my black leather pants and jacket out with a plain white shirt and doc martins and started putting them on, paying attention to every little sound outside. I put the blonde hair and  green contacts and a mask just to make sure no one sees my face. I was not allowed to dress like this. But I bought these somehow, without them knowing.

After I was ready, I tiptoed over to the huge vase in my room and pulled my gun out. Putting the safety on and after putting it in the waistband of my pants, I sneaked out.

Always being told to be perfect and never appreciating it and ignorance can change you a lot. It made me a rebel.

I climbed down my window, jumped over the wall and started running to the base.

The gang base.

Where I can let out my anger and frustration. The place that helps me escape the suffocating mansion, I don't want to call home.

It took me 5 minutes to finally reach there. I pushed the door open and walked into the abandoned building.

I came across the door to the base, clapped my hands once, then knocked two times, snapped my fingers and knocked again.

The door opened a little as the guard looked at my face for confirmation. He let me in and greeted me to which I just nodded.

"Hey Avy." A very annoying voice sounded.

"I think I told you not to call me that, Daniel." I said, frustratedly.

"But we're friends and I'm your personal assistant." He said. I didn't even have to look to know that he was pouting.

"We're not friends. I've told you countless times. As for my PA, boss never assigned me one. You are just clingy." I gritted my teeth as he gasped.

"Hey!! You hurt me, you know." He said, as I finally turned to look at him.

Tall guy, about 6 feet tall, muscular arms and a built body. His hair are dyed green, which doesn't even look weird at him. Sharp, sculpted face with beautiful hazel eyes. One earring dangling from his right ear and his body covered in tattoos.

No one would believe he's a man child sometimes. Keyword: sometimes.

He's our most trained and experienced assassin. He's deadly when he tortures someone.

"Then stay away from me, if I hurt you." I shrugged.

"There's a two letter word and that is No." He said sticking his tongue out, showing off his tongue piercing then chuckling a bit as I rolled my eyes.

I just ignored him and walked away to the small office I'm given. I settle down on my chair as I prop my feet up on the desk beside my computer. I plan attacks for the gang and do the tech stuff. I can fight too but I don't want to be the fighter of the gang.

A knock sounded on the door.

"What?" I said sharply.

Daniel popped his head in after slightly opening the door.

"I brought this for you." He said as he flopped into the seat opposite me and propped his feet up on my desk, right next to mine. He slid a small juice bottle towards me.

"Drink it and relax." He said.

"Its easier for you to say it. You have one job. I have many." I said as I picked the bottle. I pulled my mask off and put it in my pocket.

"About that. Boss said you have to plan an attack, which is on coming sunday and have a meeting today at midnight. Its an important meeting and he said you are the most polite person here?" He said as his expressions changed from bored to hurt at the end.

"You're never polite to me." He complained as he glared at me.

"Close the door before leaving." I said gesturing to the door.

"Fine. Its 10.45 right now. I'm gonna sit in here. Its warmer than other rooms. I'll be here when you have that meeting too." He said with a slight worry in his eyes.

"Why? I've had countless meetings till now and you never stay for it. What's special today?" I asked after gulping down the juice.

"They're related to the mafia." He said. "I don't want you to be alone with them."

"Fine. What're they gonna talk about?" I said, hiding the fact that I was slightly worried too and the fact that Daniel was worried for me disturbed me even more.

I'm still waiting and hoping for him to drop the nice guy act and start ignoring me. Whatever he does, I'm not letting him in.

"I don't know. You figure out. You are the mastermind of the gang." He said leaning back in his chair and pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"You still don't have a phone?" He asked, not looking up.

"No." I answered.

"Why?"
"None of your business." I snapped as his head snapped up.

"Woah!! Chill. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or something." He said raising his hands up in surrender.

"Get out." I glared at him.

"Fine. But I'm staying during the meeting." He said standing up and sliding another juice bottle towards me.

"Drink that and cool down. Don't want you killing mafia men." He said as he closed the door. I just ignored him. People are so nosy.

I gulped the second bottle of juice before leaning back and closing my eyes.

A knock was heard.

"What?" I snapped.

"We have a meeting, remember?" Daniel said popping his head in.

'Wow, time flew.'

"I have a meeting." I said as we both rolled our eyes.

He came inside as I looked into my blank computer screen to check if my wig and contacts were still on.

"Here, I brought this for you too. You don't have cool ones. You just have plain boring ones." Daniel said passing me a mask. "Besides I don't want them looking at you. Wear this one, or yours, I don't care."

"It doesn't even concern you if someone looks at me or not." I retorted as I glared at him.

"Stop being a brat, Ava and do as I say." He gritted, glaring at me.

"There's a two letter word and that is no." I said mimicking him.

"Do it." He said snapping his fingers once and pointing to the mask.

"What part of no do you not understand?" I asked looking at my nails, with my arms folded.

"Its dangerous Ava." He sighed. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Fine. Please wear the mask." He gritted as I smirked.

"If you insist." I said as I put it on and he took a seat beside me.

"Just so you know, you don't have to act like you care. Just stop already." I said while staring into distance.

He was about to say something when the door flew open and two tall men entered the room, like they owned the world.

One of them had brown hair with bright blue eyes while the other had brown eyes and dirty blonde hair.

I stared at them as they matched my stare with their own and took their seats.

Suddenly, my head started hurting. It was like I was getting an electric shock inside my head. I looked away as the pain seemed to reduce. It didn't hurt that much. It was just a faint pain.

I leaned forward on the desk and clasped my hands.

"I'd appreciate it, if you came straight to the point." I said.

Brown haired one moved his hand forward as I took his big hand in mine.

"Mason Costello." He said as we shook hands then leaned back again.

"Aaron Williams." The other one said extending his hand forward. I shook it, then said,

"Ava." I said.

"Nice name." Aaron said. "You have beautiful eyes." He commented, a smirk etched on his face.

"She knows that. Can we talk about business, now?" Daniel gritted and glared at him.

"We want you to tell your boss to shut the gang." Mason said. "Or..." He trailed off.

I knew exactly what he meant.
Or we are gonna attack and its not gonna be a beautiful site.

"And why do you think we'll do that?" I asked as he smirked.

"Because then we will have to use different ways to destroy this gang." He said, nonchalantly.

"We are not shutting the gang." Daniel stated from beside me.

"You can still rethink that." Aaron said. "Even if we are the mafia, we still try to find ways to prevent attacks."

"We don't need to rethink that." Daniel said.

Honestly, I want to leave the gang. At the time, I joined the gang, it helped me release my frustration. But if I even say I want to leave. I'll be killed. As selfish as it sounds, but if I joined by my choice, I want to leave by my choice too.

"I thought you were the most important and the cleverest here." Aaron said, mocking me. "It doesn't seem so."

"She is. Its just hard for idiots to see that." Daniel gritted.

Mason suddenly stood up and in a second, pulled his gun out and pointed it at Daniel. All of us stood up in an instant. I pulled my gun out and pointed it at Mason. Daniel just stood there, a smirk on his face and amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You think you can scare me with that. I play with them everyday." Daniel's deep voice rang through the room.

"Put it down." I gritted.

He huffed and put it back into the waistband of his pants.

"See you soon." He said looking at me, a smirk etched on his face. I noticed Daniel clenching his fists. They left and I flopped back down.

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