"We're home, little Ava."

Avery stared as they pulled into the front yard of a beautiful, two-storey ranch-style house with a blossoming garden and manicured landscaping. A wow escaped her.

"This is your home?"

He smiled, reaching freely to ruffle her hair softly. "Yes, now yours too,"

Avery liked him very much and didn't doubt that he would be a nice big brother as he'd promised her. He was a good person inside and out.

Her eyes were fixed on him the whole time he spoke to her. There was something about him that made her trust him. He wasn't like any of the males she had known. His kindness reminded her of her nanny. And there were so many things about him that she couldn't put into words; she could only trust her feelings. Her life was at a turning point and she was grateful to him beyond words for saving her life. No doubt, he was the angel her nanny had told her about.

Haxsel drove into the garage, but Avery couldn't tear her eyes from the main door of the house. Surely someone would come out. And that alarmed her a little. She hoped whoever was in there would be as kind as this strange boy—her new brother.

Suddenly, the door opened and there stood a woman with a smile on her face. Seeing the woman, Avery shrank in her seat. She wasn't ready to meet another stranger yet, even if this was the woman who would be her mother as her new brother had promised.

"That's Mom," Haxsel whispered to her, confirming her thoughts as he parked the car in the garage, next to a big black one. "You stay here while I tell her about you, okay?"

He got out and shut the door behind him.

Avery saw a golden-haired dog, who ran down the stairs past the woman and leapt onto him. Her new big brother stumbled backward by the force, but chuckled and hugged it.

Avery shrank in her seat more; she wasn't a big fan of dogs. The Rottweilers that the mafia kept as guard dogs had frightened her, with their big teeth and loud growling. Her eyes darted toward the woman who descended from the veranda to greet her son, her smile never fading.

She was young, tall, slim, and beautiful, with wavy raven hair, and she wore a navy blue long-sleeved top paired with black jeans. Her wide smile and the way she hugged her son as their dog backed away reassured Avery.

"Two more minutes, Hax, and I was going to call you again," she said to... Oh, his name is Hax, Avery thought and felt silly for not asking him before. "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, Mom, a lot of things happened, actually," Haxsel answered at the same time his dog bounded toward the car.

Avery nearly jumped out of her skin as the dog placed his two paws against the car, peeking inside her window. She immediately ducked, but the dog had seen her already and started barking.

Oh, save me please, Hax! She willed him to hear her thoughts. You're my angel!

But Haxsel didn't come to her rescue this time, at least not quickly enough. He was talking with his mom, telling her about Avery, so she decided it was worth waiting here, curled up under the seat. She tried to listen to their conversation, but it was muffled by the continuous barking of the dog.

After what seemed like hours to Avery, Haxsel finally came and opened her door.

"It's alright, Ava. He's harmless, don't be afraid, okay?" he whispered and led her out. "Come on, sweetheart."

When her bare feet touched the ground, Avery felt like she had landed in a different, mysterious world. She hid behind Haxsel's legs and he leaned down to kiss her hair. "It's alright, little one, you have nothing to worry about."

But Avery couldn't help it, she glanced at his mom, and their eyes locked. The woman's eyes widened in shock at seeing a little girl glued to her son's side, while Avery's were filled with fright. The woman appeared warm and loving, but Avery wasn't the one to fall for people at first sight. She had feared Haxsel at first too, but his fond gestures and kind words conquered her heart.

Haxsel's hand stroked her hair as they walked out of the garage, to his mom and dog, who immediately sprang to his feet. Avery jumped back in fright.

"Sit Nicky," Haxsel instructed his dog. It obeyed him, but Avery watched his every movement in fear, preparing to run away if the dog got back on his feet.

"Mom," Haxsel's voice distracted Avery and she looked up at the woman, finding her staring at her. "This is Avery. It's her I was talking about."

His mom opened her mouth but Haxsel cut her off immediately. "I believe in God's plans."

"I know," his mom began slowly, looking between her son and Avery. "I believe in His will too, but this is–"

"Unexpected? Surprising? Unbelievable? Yes, our God truly is full of surprises." Haxsel interjected, before adding with a playful smile on his lips. "And, no buts are allowed once you say, I believe in God's plan."

Avery looked between Haxsel and his mother, wondering what they were talking about.

"I'll explain everything later, Mom. Now, Avery needs a warm bath before dinner," Haxsel said, and pleasant goosebumps rose all over Avery's body just at the thought. When was the last time she had had a warm bath?

"Oh, right." The woman's face lit up suddenly, surprising Avery at her sudden interest. "Come on dear, let's get you cleaned up."

She offered her hand to Avery.

Avery hesitated and looked up at Haxsel for confirmation.

"You go in with Mom, sweetie. I'll try to find something of mine comfortable for you to wear until we go shopping." He leaned down to whisper the rest into her hair. "Mom's sweet and you will love her. You have my word, okay? Off you go now."

All hesitation left Avery at hearing Haxsel's words—how did she trust him so much already? She smiled a little at his mother who returned it with a wide grin as she took her hand and led her into their house. As they stepped inside, Avery couldn't help but look around at the beautiful interiors.

They walked into the living room and her examination came to a stop. Her eyes landed on a bearded man with dark brown hair like Haxsel's, sitting on a settee and watching a TV where a man in a suit was saying something. An open book sat on the coffee table in front of him and an expensive pen was in his right hand.

He had his full attention on the TV until Haxsel's mother, Adela, cleared her throat. "Bill!"

The man turned to face his wife but his eyes caught the small figure beside her and he stopped. Avery wanted to hide behind Adela. All men reminded her of the thugs from the mafia or the bad men in the streets who had tried to scare her or push her down when she went begging.

But this man didn't look like them; he didn't look like a monster or a thief, yet Avery wanted her Haxto be here, to confirm that she could be okay with this man who seemed to be his dad. Haxsel mostly resembled his father while his blue eyes were from his mom.

"Oh, who is this little miss?" Bill asked his wife with an enthusiastic smile.

"Avery." Adela smiled down at Avery and then at her husband.

"Avery. That's a nice name but..." His smile dropped a little. "I meant—"

"I think that's a question only your son can answer." Adela cut him off, gesturing her head to the main doorway, where she heard her son.

Bill looked at his wife, confused as she shrugged and led the mysterious Avery upstairs.

"Where are you going?" he called out to her.

"She's our guest today," Adela answered.

"No, she's one of us from today onward." Haxsel's voice called out from the entrance, making his parents' heads snap toward him with incredulous eyes.

Haxsel shrugged and went past them upstairs, ruffling Avery's hair on the way. He went to his bedroom and dug some old, warm clothes out of his closet that would least fit Avery's size. Dropping them on the bed in the guest room where Adela had taken her for her bath, he went back to his room and changed into comfortable clothes before going back downstairs to wait for Avery.

His dad sat on the settee, reading through the notes he had taken from the preacher he was listening to. Haxsel flopped down onto the couch and grabbed a book from the coffee table. Nicky climbed up beside him and rested his head on his lap.

Almost twenty minutes passed until they saw Adela coming down the stairs.

"Where's Avery?" Haxsel asked immediately. If Nicky hadn't been lying on his lap, he would've jumped to his feet.

"I tucked her into bed. She said she wasn't hungry, just tired. What did you give her? She said it was a sandwich but doesn't remember what was in it. Chicken brisket?" Adela guessed.

"Yeah, I had some takeout from the mall." Haxsel placed the book away.

"Poor thing, she was trying to make me understand she was full," Adela chuckled, recalling Avery rubbing her belly.

"And she's asleep?"

"Probably, she seemed exhausted." Adela sat down beside Haxsel.

Haxsel nudged Nicky's head off his lap and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Bill asked.

"I wanna check on her," Haxsel said.

"Perhaps after you explain everything to your parents?" Bill arched an eyebrow at him.

"But she'll be asleep by then," Haxsel protested.

"Sit back down, young man. You're not going anywhere now." When Haxsel hesitated to obey, Bill repeated firmly. "I said, sit. Back. Down."

Haxsel groaned inwardly and obeyed, sitting next to Nicky. He just wanted to make sure Avery was comfortable since everything was new and strange to her. What if she needed him? But his father's sternness and his mother's concern prodded him for an explanation, and he couldn't dodge their questions.

"Well?" Adela inquired.

Haxsel took a deep breath before explaining everything to his parents. His annoyed mood vanished into thin air as he told them how God answered his prayers.

"Honey," Adela clasped her hand over Haxsel's and squeezed it once he was done. "I want you to be patient until I'm done talking."

Haxsel slowly nodded in agreement.

"What you did back there in the woods, Hax... I'm really proud of you. If there was no godliness in you, you would've driven past Avery instead of saving her. I really am proud of you, honey." Adela paused for a moment before continuing. "Avery is a polite little angel and I—we, we realize you're attached to her. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but Hax... she isn't safe with us. She won't be safe with us since she ran away from the mafia. It's too dangerous to keep her and we'd be in the same danger. We know how these people can be. Avery's truly broken, I know. She's covered in bruises."

Adela closed her eyes for a moment as she recalled the terrible sight while bathing Avery.

Haxsel wasn't surprised to hear that. Avery had winced and flinched at his touch at first. But something else caught his attention; his mother's words hinted at something that felt like a betrayal to him.

"What are you proposing?"

Adela's gaze dropped to her hand over Haxsel's, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm so sorry to say this Hax, but, we can't keep her. You have to understand the—"

Her words struck him and Haxsel pulled his hand out of his mother's grasp.

"And what exactly do you mean by we can't keep her? Where's your faith that God will protect her from harm? Did you expect me to pretend I didn't see her in the first place so none of this would have come upon you?"

Haxsel clenched his fists to keep his temper under control.

"Hax, your mom already told you that we appreciate what you—"

"Then what are you proposing?!" Haxsel snapped, cutting off his dad's words. Never in his life had he spoken back to his parents like this, and they were startled. "Want me to wake her up now and drop her back where I found her? Or do you prefer to wait until she wakes up tomorrow?"

"No! Haxsel, are you mad? Do you think we are heartless?" Adela argued.

"Then what in this world are you suggesting?!" Haxsel pressed, frustrated.

"Attitude, Haxsel," Bill admonished him sternly.

Haxsel groaned inwardly, again.

"Look, we're not going to give her back to her kidnappers; I don't think God will ever forgive us for that. We'll take her to child protective services and they'll take care of her." Adela offered.

"Do you realize how much I don't like you both at this moment?" Haxsel's hurt-filled eyes glared at his parents. "You have no idea what are you trying to do. You're trying to rip my heart from my chest!"

"We understand it's hard for you—"

"No. You. Don't." He cut off his dad's words again. "If you did, you wouldn't have said this nonsense. You weren't able to give me a sibling, were you?"

"Are you trying to blame us for that now? How can we give you a sibling if God hasn't blessed us?" Bill said sternly.

Adela bit her lip, keeping down the sob that began to form in her throat.

"That's why I asked you to adopt a sibling for me, but you didn't do it either. Why? Why do you want to take away my last chance of having a sibling?" Haxsel was outraged. "Why do you want to take away Avery from me while you never gave me a sibling?"

No one answered that question. His parents were dumbfounded.

"You never knew my pain all the time I saw my friends with their siblings. You never heard my cry, but there's a God in Heaven who listens to the cries of His faithful ones. And that same God you and I serve heard my cry and has brought Avery into my life. Believe it or not, Avery is the answer to my prayers of all these years I cried on my knees to God. And no matter what," Haxsel stood. "I'm going to raise her as my sister as I promised her and none of you can stop me because I know, God is with me in this."

His parents sat still, dumbfounded as he stomped toward the staircase that led to the second floor. Haxsel paused halfway and turned around, barely looking at his parents.

"Just... just try to think about it," he pleaded before leaving the room.