Hi! I actually wrote the four first parts back in November and only decided to publish them now, so enjoy I guess?

AVERY'S POV

"Moommm! I'm homeee!"

"I'm in the kitchen, honey"

"I don't want the summer vacations to end. School is wayyy too tirering"

"I know, sweetie, but it's really important" she sighs "you don't even need to do superior studies. Just finish highschool"

"Mom, I know it's important, it's just that it's so boring. Most people over there are pretty stupid. One guy in my math class had to use his calculator for 6 times 3."

"You're on popcorn duty?"

"You know it 'ma"

WAIT! Hold on. Recap. Okay. My name is Avery Martin and I'm 16. I live alone with my mom, Josephine Martin. She's 39, so she had me at 23. I don't know my father, and don't have a single information about him, except that he's Italian. That's literally all I know.

When I used to ask questions about him, my mom would burst into tears, so after a while, I stopped asking questions about him.

My mom and I are pretty close. I consider her my best friend. Lame, I know, but I don't care. We tell each other everything, and we have girls night every Friday. That's actually today. Tonight we're watching clueless, classic, but never gets old. Anyway, back to business.

I prepare the popcorn and install the movie while mom went to the store around the corner to get some ice cream. Like, a ton.

I'm actually not a bad student. I'm in fact a straight A student. I'm not very social because we move a lot. Like a lot. More or less once a year. It's for her job, I think, but also because we want to see the world, so why not start with our own country? We lived in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many more. We've been moving for as long as I can remember.

We have no living relatives, well, that I know of. I knew my grandmother, mom's mom a bit, but she passed away when I was 7. It's now just my mom and I. Us against the world.

I was scrolling through social medias when I saw the time. My mom has been to the store for an hour. I literally takes 5 minutes normally. Damn, where is she? I try to call her but the only answer I get is her voicemail. That's a first. Usually she always answers. That's really strange. I can't help but worry. I've got a very bad feeling. I hope she's okay.

My eyes get heavy and start to close by themselves. I'll just rest my eyes a bit.

Josephine (her mom)'s pov

We should move soon. They are getting to us. I'm glad they somehow don't know about Avery. That would be pretty bad.

I made her take karate, taekwondo, kickboxing, basic fighting and judo classes when she was young. To prepare her if something happened, which I wouldn't be surprised of, considering who her father is.

I just want the best for her. I want her to follows her dreams. She's so smart, strong and beautiful. She looks a lot like him. I made her take Italian, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Russian and Portuguese classes because she was so smart. She's really something. I'm proud of her.

I'm in the ice cream section. I feel observed, but I shrug it of. Probably a worker or some random kid. Or a judgy Karen. God I hate those. Once, when Av was in elementary, i did the terrible mistake to sign up for the PTA. Worst mistake of my life. Karens everywhere Fights about dumb things. God, a nightmare.

I put some mint, Oreo, chocolate and cookie dough ice cream in my caddie and go to pay. Walking out of the store I feel eyes on me. Again.

I look around. No one in sight, but I know they found me. I drop my bags and put myself in fighting position. Yup. In not a regular mom. IM A COOL MOM.

Focus. You're getting attacked. Fuck. I know I have next to zero chance to win, like last time, because they'll probably be more than three. I just hope Avery will be able to contact her father. The one that doesn't even know she exists. The reason why those men are after us.

Avery's pov *next morning*

I wake up, in a strange position on the couch.

"Mom? Why did you let me sleep here like that?" I yell out in the house. No answer. That's when everything comes back to me. She never came home. And I fell asleep. I'm such a bad daughter. I try to call her again.

Maybe she met someone she knew and slept over? Very unlikely because she would have let me know and she doesn't have any friends that I know of. I don't even know where she works, she always told me it was boring company stuff. No response, direct to voicemail.

I then remember the enveloppe she gave to me one day.

*flashback*

"Welcome to our new home, Avie!" She parked our small blue Honda in front of a beautiful little house.

"I love it mom! It's amazing!"

"I'm glad you like it." She suddenly grew a serious face. "Here's a letter for you" She said while handing me a letter.

"For me? Who would write me a letter?" I try to grab the letter to know who would write me a letter. My only other known relative is grandma, but she died 5 years ago.

"Hold on Avie." She said while getting the letter out of my reach "You've got to promise me something."

"What is it mom?"

"You can't open this letter. Under any circonstances, except one."

"And What is that?"

"You can only open it if you don't have any news of me during 12 hours. And I'm not talking if I say I won't be rejoinable or if I sleep. I'm saying if I didn't warn you and it's been 12 hours. Open the envelop. Do not call the police. Promise?" She handed me her pinkie

"Promise mom" I say, joining my pinkie to hers and taking the letter.

"I love you, honey."

"I love you too, mom"

I run to my room. I need to find this letter. Mom really insisted on me reading it if she didn't responded. It must really be important. Box of important stuff? In my closet.

I finally found it. The moment of truth.

Hey honey,

You might be wondering why I'm writing you a letter when we literally live together. Let me explain. It might come as a shock to you but, bad people are after us. That's the real reason why we always move around. The reason why they're after us? Your father. See, your father isn't just a regular Italian man. He's actually pretty important. He's the boss of an important Italian organization, and people want to hurt him.

You have three older brothers it makes me so sad to think of them, but I had to leave them with your father.

I got separated from our family, pregnant with you, even if I didn't know at the time, during a business deal and couldn't come back home without compromising the family's safety. People were after me, us. Your brothers were at the house and I didn't get to say goodbye, but I did write a letter before discovering I was pregnant with you.

No one knows about your existence. Not even my best friend, Cora, your father's sister and your aunt. Here's her number. Tell her that you are my daughter and you need help.

Only trust her, your brothers and your dad.

I would understand if you were mad at me, but remember that I did everything to protect you. I'll always protect you.

I love you baby,

Mom xx

What? I'm not an only child? My father doesn't even know I exist? I'm separated from my family because of a business deal? Who the hell is after my mother? Oh my god, are they the ones that kidnapped her?

My brain feels like it's gonna explode, but I need to call Cora, who's apparently my aunt.

I dial the number on the letter with a burner phone that my mom always insisted I had. I guess I understand now.

I hear the ring tone once. Twice. Someone picks up at the third one.

"Josephine? Is that you?" A smooth female voice asked.