Chapter 101 - 103
Avara POV
The car door swings open, and Vance leans forward, one hand extended to assist me, but a firm grip halts him. He glances back, finding Silas’s hand resting heavily on his shoulder, his dark eyes issuing a silent warning. Vance shrugs off the gesture with a rough jerk, closing the distance to lift me into his arms with a surprising tenderness. A sharp stab of pain rips through me, and I gasp involuntarily. Luciano moves toward us, his protective instincts flaring, but I raise a hand, signaling both boys to stop.
I don’t resist Vance’s help—I can’t. Standing is an effort beyond me, let alone walking anywhere. My arm curls around his neck, my head resting against his shoulder as he carries me up the drive toward Colton’s palatial manor. The Romanesque structure looms at the hilltop, its elegance muted by my pain. Security teams stand watch as the convoy empties, bodies spilling into the vast estate.
Vance’s voice cuts through as we cross the threshold. "I don’t have a sister, so maybe I can’t get used to how fiercely they protect you. I understand it—sure. But does it piss me off? Absolutely."
A faint smile flickers across my lips despite the ache. "Believe it or not, they weren’t always like this. They hated me once—thought I was our parents’ favorite because I was the youngest, and I was the only girl. And I admit, my mom and I did have something special. I just think she always wanted a daughter, especially after having two boys. However, everything changed when our mom died."
Vance falters, his stoic mask slipping as his gaze dips to meet mine. "I didn’t mean—" He stops himself, exhaling sharply. "I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me."
Colton’s authoritative tone disturbs the moment as he appears in the grand foyer. "For her comfort, Avara should have one of the ground-floor rooms. The specific room is at your discretion," he says to Vance, then shifts his attention to the rest of my family. "There are more than fifteen bedrooms available. You’re all free to choose whichever suits you." Without waiting for a reply, Colton strides toward the grand staircase.
Landen casts me an inscrutable glance before he ascends the staircase after his father. At the second landing, he breaks off, veering in the opposite direction without a word. Vance strides forward with me in his arms, heading straight down the main hallway. Only a few doors down, he pauses at a random door. Silas materializes behind us, pushing it open, and as we step inside, the rest of the Du Ponts, Kelsey included, trail in after us.
Vance gently lowers me onto the massive, plush-draped bed. The mattress yields under me as I shift into a soft recline, my movements sluggish but deliberate. Around me, every gaze lingers, their silent scrutiny suffocating. I feel like fragile porcelain, cracks spiderwebbing with every step they take closer.
"I promise, I’m okay," I say, breaking the tension as my eyes sweep the room. "If that’s what you’re all wondering."
"You were shot," my dad snaps, his tone cutting, almost affronted by my composure.
"Twice," Silas adds.