My Bad Boy's Secret: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (195 page)

That felt good, but what felt great was what happened after I stood up to my father. Standing up to him had an effect on Zak, it was then that it happened. Once we were in the apartment and alone he grabbed me and said "Ava, what you did back there… standing up for me so that I would stay with you. That took guts. I admire you, and… I love you.

I was stunned. I knew that he must love me, but I was not expecting him to say it. Hearing it made me feel so good it was beyond words. I felt like nothing in the world could stop me from being happy ever again. I almost didn't believe it so I said, "You do? Are you being sincere?"

"I am, I know now that I could never be away from you. It is more than just me wanting to protect you as a contractor, it is no longer just a job. It is my life, you are my life. I love you so much," he said.

I was so filled with happiness that I threw myself into his arms and began to sob, "I love you to Zak. I don't know when it happened, but I do. I felt scared that my father would separate us, but I can't do this without you. If I was here in this apartment alone, I wouldn't survive the heartbreak. I need to, I love you."

That was the moment. It was my defining moment. Everything would be great after this no matter what happened with the trial. Now I can get through this with the love of my warrior, my protector, my bodyguard… Zak Flynn. He is everything I wanted, and he had just told me that he was mine. We made love that night, and every night after that. The next few days were absolutely epic and filled with laughter and joy as we enjoyed each other's company playing games and making love. I cooked many meals for him and felt like a loving wife, it was almost too good to be true playing pretend this way. We were tucked away in our own alternative world, deep within the earth. I was almost happy that we were being forced to hide out, because we had to entertain ourselves, and his company was all that I could want. Then it all changed when something happened that we were not prepared for. There was no way that anyone could've seen what was coming, not even my father.

It was one of these fun nights of watching movies and eating a heavy dinner that I stayed up a little late. Zak had already gone to bed, and I was watching television. There was a light knock on the door. That was strange, hardly anyone came by except for my father and his secretary who often brought us more food to stock the kitchen. I looked at the time. It was 3 AM, there must be an emergency, I thought. Perhaps it was my father or a message from him. I went to the door and looked out the peep hole and saw a familiar face. It was the man that had first met us in the hallway when we first arrived. It was the man that had praised my father while we were in the elevator. I sighed in relief, obviously he was one of my father’s men and had a message for me. I opened the door. "Hello, is everything all right? Did my father send you?" I said opening the door wide. Before I got an answer, two men rushed in and it was obvious that I was in danger. This wasn't right. "What's going on here?! Zak! Zak!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

One of the men grabbed me and pulled my arms behind my back while the other one looked at him and said, "I thought you said she was down here alone?” Then I watched as he went to the bedroom door, waiting for Zak to come out. Within seconds Zak was rushing out of the bedroom. I yelled his name, "Zak look out!"

But it was too late. As Zak cleared the wall, the man hit him on the head with a lamp. Knocking Zak out cold on the floor.

"No… oh no! Don't hurt him!” I yelled

The man that had my arms behind my back pushed me out the door and said, "you're coming with me. You will act normal in the hallways. You will not struggle. You will not scream. You will do anything to draw attention to yourself. When we are out the door you will get in my car calmly."

"No, I will not. Get off of me!” I yelled at him.

"If you do not, my partner over there will kill the man on the floor," he said sternly and menacingly enough for me to believe him.

"No, don't hurt him. I will do as you ask. Just don't hurt him, I'll do anything,” I said quietly and calmly as I stopped struggling in his arms. I took one look back at Zak out cold on the floor and the menacing man hovering over him.

"Tie him up. If this one doesn't keep her word, I will call you, and you know what to do with him." The agent said as he walked me out into the hall. The other man nodded and the door closed as I got my last glimpse of Zak, possibly the last time I would ever see him. I would not have his death on my hands. I would do whatever this man wanted me to.

"Let's go, calmly now.” The agent said.

I walked alongside of him through the empty agency. It was sparsely lit as it was in the middle of the night. Though a spy agency never went to sleep, most of the people went home.

"I don't understand,” I whispered to the agent. "Why are you doing this? Where are you taking me? You work for the agency… You are one of my father’s men!”

"Yes, But ten million in cash can make a man betray anyone. I am going to take you to Donica, and claim the reward myself. I'm tired of living the spy life and the pay is shit," he said quietly.

"Ten million? What are you talking about? "I whispered trying to keep calm and not make any sudden movements. I didn't want anything happening to Zak.

The agent laughed a hearty laughed and said, "Oh I see. Dear daddy didn't tell you. There is a price on your head darling. Ten million to anyone that brings you to Donica, dead or alive. Haven't you wondered why men have been hunting you relentlessly? Why you have to be buried deep in the ground to hide? As soon as I learned of the reward I started to plan, I deserved that money. Of course I didn't know you had your little boyfriend with you, but that worked out to my advantage didn't it? It gives me leverage. Now shut up and follow me."

I walked slowly in shock. I didn't know about the ten million. A part of me was glad that I didn't now. I can only imagine what men would do for that kind of money. My life was at stake all for this massive amount of money. I guess that is all my life was to these people was a big payday. Then I snapped out of it. I would not let Donica win. If I could get to the agents phone before he called his partner, and still got away, Zak could be safe. I started planning in my head. I turned behind me quickly and saw something that made me very happy. It was Zak. I could see that he had blood on him, so I assumed there was a struggle with the man holding him yet he got away. I needed to help him sneak up on this agent. I needed to be a distraction. I stopped in my tracks and yelled as loud as I could "help! Help! Help me!"

"Why you little… What did I say?” The agent said as he put his hand on the back of my neck ready to lead me out in a forceful way. But it was too late, Zak tackled him to the ground.

"Help! Help!” I yelled as I ran out to the security camera. No doubt someone would've seen all of this, and heard it by now. I know help is on the way. I knew my father would've been called by now. I watched as Zak fought with the agent. I didn't know if the blood on Zak was his or the other guys. It had me worried. The agent slammed Zak against the wall and began to choke him. I ran up to the agent and kicked him hard in the back of the knee which made him lose his balance backwards. Zak took this opportunity to punch him very hard it knocked him out cold. Just then security toward us in the hallway, fully armed with their guns blazing. They were followed by my father who jumped out of an elevator.

"Ava! Ava! Are you all right? What happened here?" my father yelled frantically. He looked absolutely worried.

"Your agent tried to kidnap me, and take me to Donica. There's another man in our apartment… He’s the one who attacked Zak, but he got away from him and saved me,” I said as I ran into Zak’s arms. He held me close and tight.

"I am so sorry he got you this far. I am a disappointment. I should have been more cautious. I should have never let my guard down," Zak said as he frantically looked me over to see if I was hurt.

"No, it was my fault. I should never have opened the door while you were asleep. You taught me that much. I just thought we were safe here. But it seems the reward was too tempting for even a loyal man," I said looking at my father.

"Ava I am so sorry. I had no idea that agent even knew about the apartment. Or the reward. I should've told you, I didn't want to worry you anymore. Zak, I owe you everything. You saved my little girl yet again. If you had not been in the apartment, he would have walked out of here with her. All of my gratitude is to you. You are such a brave man," my father said to him. I saw some pride swell up in Zak as he had my father’s approval, not only as a protector, but as my partner.

I watched as security arrested the agent. My father went with security to grab the other man in the apartment. I held Zak close as he slumped down on the wall.

"Are you hurt? You need to go to the hospital…” I said worried as I looked him over.

"No, I am fine. Just a bump on my head. This is the other guy’s blood. He will not be walking out of here. I will not leave your side," he said as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Ok, but let's get you to the medic here at the agency. We will go together," I said as I looked up at a security guard who nodded and escorted us down the hall to the elevator.

An hour later, Zak was all bandaged up and we were back in the apartment. My father had stationed two guards outside the door, and Zak was given a couple of guns. I was given strict instructions to never answer the door. Although it was a very scary ordeal, I was glad to know that Donica would not have me. His attempt had failed, he must have been desperate to get me if he was able to buy the agents at the agency. The trial was two days away. I smiled knowing this would all be over soon, the worst has passed.

ZAK

The moment I heard Ava's voice yell for me, I was enraged. I ran out of the bedroom straight into a trap. I didn't know there would be men waiting for me. Then everything went black. I don't know how long I was out. But I thought I heard the slamming of the door to the apartment, and that's what jolted me awake. But I didn't dare move. I faked being knocked out so that I could catch my attacker by surprise. It worked. I reached out and grabbed his ankle and pulled it out from under him and he slammed to the floor. I quickly grabbed the lamp he had hit me with, and started bashing his face in. No one would cause harm to Ava. I wanted to stay and finish him until he was no more, but I had to rescue Ava.

I jumped up and flew out the door quietly going down the hall, I would have to catch the man off-guard. When I saw her, I was both relieved and angry. I was relieved that not much time had passed, and I could save her. I was angry at the man who had her. Obviously he was a spy with the agency that had gone rogue, no doubt paid by Donica… hoping to gain the reward. As though she could feel me creeping up from behind, Ava turned just in time to see me. Then she provided the perfect distraction. It was all over after that, there was no question that my love would help me defeat this man. Sure, he was a trained agent, but I was a trained Navy Seal. 

When it was all over and we were back in the apartment, I set up all my usual booby traps. I pushed the sofa in front of the door and rigged it with all kinds of items that would make a loud crashing sound if anyone tried to enter. I kept a gun on me at all times.

"Thank you Zak, I was so terrified I would never see you again,” Ava said to me.

"How did he get so far with you? Why did you not yell for help right away? There are security cameras all over the hallway, the guards watching would've noticed you struggling and being frantic. I said to her. It didn't make sense to me when I saw her calmly walking along with the agent.

"I would have done that, but he had leverage over me. He said that if I did not go quietly he would call his partner and tell him to kill you. I could not let that happen. I just couldn't live with myself, even if I wasn't going to live very long since he was taking me to Donica. I wanted you to live even if I didn't. I got you into this mess," she said, her voice breaking into a crying whisper.

"Oh Ava, no. Never do that. I would gladly die knowing that it had helped to rescue you. When you struggled and called security he never would've gotten that far out of the building. Yes, I would have or could have died, but I would give my life for you. I would gladly die for you. That is what a bodyguard is, and I am more than that. I love you. When this is all over, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” I asked in all sincerity.

"Oh Zak, do you mean it? Yes, I will. I cannot live without you. I never want to be without you. I would love to be your wife.” she said.