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I push my cell back into the front pocket of my jeans and turn to Daley. “Have you found anything else out?” I ask, knowing that he just received a call.

“Nothing as of yet.” He shakes his head and runs his fingers down the side of his glass, clearing the condensation off it.

“There’s something more to it,” I say.

“Yeah, we’ll figure it out.”

I look away, concentrating on the bar.

Now that I know I’ll be based here, I think there’s a few things I want to change.

I want to make it into more of a family place during the day and somewhere the college kids can come at night. J’s idea of having bands here once a week sounds like it’ll be a hit.

Knowing that the last one went really well and brought in over double compared to a normal night sealed the deal for me.

“Is that someone knocking on the door?” Chad asks with a frown.

“I’ll check,” J says and steps away from the bar.

“Tell them we’re closed!” I shout over to her as she looks through the little window in the door.

“Holy shit,” she gasps, the sound echoing through the bar.

I shake my head at her dramatics. She must be the most dramatic person that I know. I turn away and look up to Jackson when he starts talking about his latest game. That kid will be a pro and I’d be surprised if it doesn’t happen sooner rather than later.

“Corey?” I hear her call and I hold up one finger while I listen to the rest of what Jackson is saying.

“Yeah and... What the fuck?” he growls, looking over at J, his face going pale.

I spin around to see what’s happening and my heart stops.

“Drop the weapon!” I hear Chad shout behind me.

Ava’s stood there covered in dirt and... is that blood?

I jump up off the barstool and run to her, my hands coming up to cup her face but when she flinches, I pull back and take her all in. My eyes trail down to the gun she’s holding in her hand.

“Put the fucking gun down!” Daley shouts at Chad when he repeats what he said a second time.

“Ava? Baby?” She shakes her head at me, her eyes not meeting mine.

“I had to shoot him, I had to...” she says, her breaths stuttered. “It was me or him.” Her eyes find mine and she ends with. “I chose me.”

“Who did you shoot, baby?” I go to place my hands on her again but she flinches again and backs away.

“Charlie’s on his way!” Jackson shouts across the bar and it puts her even more on edge as she backs away completely, the hand she’s holding the gun with starts to shake uncontrollably and I start to worry that she’s going to accidentally shoot it.

“Ava?” I plead. “What happened?”

“He wanted money,” she says to no one in particular.

Daley comes to stand next to me and watches Ava as I feel all the guys come closer but I hold my hand out behind me, telling them to stay back.

I tilt my head at J, telling her to move away. I don’t want her getting caught in the firing line if something was to happen.

“Who wanted money?” I ask softly, trying to keep my voice calm when all I want to do is wrap my arms around her.

“My dad.” I curse under my breath and give Daley the eye, he pulls his cell out and puts it to his ear. “He said if I didn’t give it to him then he’d tell him where I was.”