Chapter Twenty-Seven - Ava

The next morning I woke with a slight headache and an envelope of cash on my nightstand. My stomach still felt queasy from seeing that man’s bloody face the night before. Despite the haunting image, I hadn’t dreamed of him as I thought I would. I’d slept like a baby. Maybe the night wore me down mentally. I wasn’t sure. I looked into the small envelope with cash sticking out of the top and noticed a small note. 'Go pay your debt' was written in small cursive handwriting. This felt like a bribe. One that was supposed to ease the ache of dealing with the responsibilities or the knowledge of being married into the mafia. I put the cash back on the nightstand and went to find me something to wear. My memories of what happened in the closet only two nights before wafted in my mind. How had someone that made me feel that good beaten a man near death so easily? Shaking my head, I grabbed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I had a few things I needed to pay for. Like my student loans which I