Chapter Fifteen: The Fight Within
The pounding on the penthouse door reverberated through the room, each thud a grim reminder that the battle Ava had been bracing for had arrived. The team stood frozen for a moment, their faces pale as they exchanged worried glances. Ava snapped out of the haze first.
“Rob, barricade the door. Jake, check the back exit. Sophia, keep an eye on the security feed,” she commanded, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her chest. “Dana, call the police—tell them we’ve got an armed intrusion.”
Jake was already moving, grabbing a heavy chair and shoving it under the doorknob. “We’ve got about two minutes before they get through,” he said, his tone steady but grim. “Whatever we’re doing, it needs to happen now.”
Ava turned to Sophia, who was glued to her laptop. “How many are there?”
Sophia’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “Four. They’re coordinated, but they’re not moving like pros. My guess is they’re here to scare us, not kill us.”
“Let’s not test that theory,” Jake said, grabbing Ava’s arm and pulling her toward the hallway. “We need to move.”
The group retreated to the saferoom—a reinforced steel door hidden behind a closet in the guest room. Ava’s heart raced as she ushered the team inside, Jake following close behind. The sound of splintering wood echoed from the main living area.
“They’re in,” Sophia whispered, her voice trembling.
Ava pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. “We stick to the plan. We stay here until the police arrive.”
Jake leaned against the wall, his sharp gaze fixed on Ava. “And if they don’t get here in time?”
Ava clenched her fists, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Then we hold our ground.”
The waiting was excruciating. Every creak of the floorboards, every muffled sound from outside the saferoom sent Ava’s nerves spiraling. She glanced at her team, each of them handling the situation in their own way. Rob paced in the corner, his hands running through his hair. Sophia sat cross-legged on the floor, her laptop glowing faintly as she monitored the security feed. Dana clutched her phone tightly, her knuckles white.
And then there was Jake, calm and steady, his eyes never leaving Ava. He crossed the small space between them, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
“You okay?” he asked.
Ava nodded, though the gesture felt hollow. “I don’t have a choice.”
Jake’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “That’s not the same as being okay.”
Ava let out a shaky breath, leaning back against the wall. “I’m scared, Jake. For all of us.”
“You should be,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “But fear doesn’t stop you. That’s why you’re still standing.”
Ava met his gaze, the intensity in his eyes grounding her. “I don’t feel strong.”
“You are,” Jake said simply.
The sound of footsteps outside the saferoom snapped everyone to attention. Ava held her breath as the intruders tried the door, their muffled voices audible through the thick steel.
“Think they’re in here?” one of them asked.
Another voice replied, lower and more commanding. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve sent the message. Let’s move.”
Ava’s body tensed as the footsteps retreated. She exchanged a glance with Jake, who tilted his head toward Sophia’s laptop.
“They’re leaving,” Sophia confirmed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “They’re just… walking away.”
Relief flooded the room, but Ava felt no triumph. The intruders might have left, but the damage had already been done. They had invaded her space, her sanctuary. And they had done it to send a message.
When the police finally arrived, the penthouse was eerily quiet. Ava led them through the wreckage, her voice steady as she recounted the events. The officers took notes, their faces grim but noncommittal. Ava knew better than to expect results. Whoever these people were, they wouldn’t leave behind a trail easy to follow.
After the police left, the team reconvened in the living room, the tension still hanging heavy in the air.
“We’re sitting ducks,” Rob said, his voice sharp. “They know where we live, what we’re doing. How do we keep fighting when we’re not even safe?”
Ava turned to face him, her expression hard. “We keep fighting because we don’t have a choice. If we back down now, they win.”
Sophia nodded. “And if we keep pushing, we might find out who they are.”
Jake crossed his arms, his gaze steady. “We’re too close to stop now. Victor’s on the ropes, and whoever these people are, they’re scared. That means we’re doing something right.”
Ava felt a flicker of hope at Jake’s words, but it was quickly snuffed out by the weight of the fight ahead. She forced herself to stand taller, her voice unwavering as she addressed the team.
“We keep going,” she said. “No matter what.”
That night, Ava couldn’t sleep. She wandered through the penthouse, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The destruction left by the intruders had been cleared away, but the space still felt different—violated.
She found herself at the window, staring out at the city lights. Her reflection stared back, her face pale and drawn. She felt Jake’s presence before she heard his voice.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked, stepping beside her.
Ava shook her head. “Too much on my mind.”
Jake leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on her. “You did good today.”
Ava let out a soft laugh, bitter and tired. “I don’t feel like I did.”
Jake reached out, his hand brushing hers. The contact was brief but grounding, a reminder that she wasn’t alone. “You’re still here, Ava. That’s what matters.”
She looked at him, her throat tight with unspoken emotions. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
Jake’s voice softened. “As long as it takes.”
For a moment, Ava let herself believe him. She leaned into his presence, drawing strength from the quiet intensity of his support.
But as she turned back to the window, the weight of the fight settled over her once more. The city stretched out before her, vast and indifferent, a reminder of how small she was in the face of the forces against her.
“This isn’t over,” she said quietly, more to herself than to Jake.
“No,” Jake agreed. “But neither are you.”
