Page 19

CHAPTER 18

AURORA

“She bested me the other day during our hand-to-hand combat drills,” Jaxson admits. “Hell, Aurora could probably be a UFC fighter if she wanted. She has power behind her punches and kicks.”

My dad will probably kill me if he finds out I’m standing here listening to his conversation with Jaxson. How many secrets are they keeping from me? I wouldn’t know what the hell was going on if I hadn’t been coming back inside from taking Lykos out. Jaxson sounds proud of everything that I’ve accomplished.

Why didn’t he ever say it to me?

All this time, they’ve been searching for Dmitri Krukov, and neither of them bothered to inform me. Who the hell does that? I was the one taken, raped, beaten, and tortured repeatedly by that man. I have a fucking right to know what the hell is going on. Dad had a team following me and never told me. That explains the feeling of being watched after I returned to Boston, but why didn’t he trust me enough to tell me?

You haven’t exactly been forthcoming, either.

I shake my head and dash up the stairs to my room, Lykos hot on my heels. Unlocking my desk drawer, I pull out the information I’ve gathered on the great Senator of Virginia. Tonight’s the night I’ve been waiting for. Senator Briggs is hosting a fundraiser for his anti-trafficking bill in Richmond. Dad and Vera received invitations to attend, and of course, they R.S.V.P.’d.

I contemplated going, but for my plan to work, I need to blend into the shadows. Wearing a dress and heels will only hinder that. Instead, I’ll wait outside the venue and bide my time, follow the senator home, and rain hell down on him.

A knock at the door startles me, so I throw all the papers back into the drawer and lock it.

“Come in,” I holler.

Dad pushes open the door. “Hey, baby girl. Vera and I have that dinner in Richmond tonight. Do you want the guys to come here and hang out with you?”

I roll my eyes. “Dad, I know you’re worried about me, and that fault is entirely mine. I did that to you, but I’m twenty-seven years old. I’m perfectly capable of entertaining myself.”

Dad’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I know, baby girl. I’m sorry.”

I walk over and wrap my arms around him, squeezing him tight. “I love you, Daddy. Always and forever. I made a promise to you. Never again.”

Dad tightens his hold and places a kiss on the top of my head. “I believe you. Alright, we’ll be home late. Have fun.”

“You, too.”

I close the door behind him and rush to my closet, pulling out my go-bag, thankful that you can order almost anything you want online and have it delivered right to your door. I double-check the inventory inside, knowing that I’m more than prepared to take on the devil.

Lykos sits patiently in the passenger seat while I lift the binoculars again to watch the rear exit. The dinner started at seven-thirty, but there was no reason to wait in the car for hours for it to end. I parked in a lot a block down, which gives me a great view of the building. Not only can I see the front, but I can also see the back. Right now, I’m keeping my eyes on the back since there are a couple of black government-issued SUVs parked there. My money’s on one of those being Tim’s ride home tonight.

Ping.

I dig in the center console for my phone, and when I find it, the light from the screen illuminates the dark car. I immediately switch my cell to dark mode so as not to alert anyone of our presence. As I read through the texts in the group chat, I chuckle.

Carver: Can I have Willow’s number?

Jaxson: She’s not giving you her number

Carver: Why not?

Bennett: Willow’s too good for you

Carver: WTF Man?!

Hudson: Willow will eat you alive

Carver: That’s what I’m hoping for

Thomas: How the fuck do I unsubscribe to this shit

Jaxson: LMAO… You can’t

Bennett: You’re stuck here… Forever… With US

Thomas: AURORA. GET ME OUT OF THIS CHAT HELL

Me: Sorry, Thomas. No can do. If I have to suffer, so do you.

Thomas: FML

Carver: So can I have Willow’s number

Me: No

Carver: Please! I’m begging here

Me: Fine! I have to ask her first. Now, leave me alone.

Carver: Woohoo

Bennett: Did you just woohoo

Me: Enough! I’m trying to sleep

It’s almost eleven, so my lie is believable. My cell immediately quiets, and I reach over to pet Lykos as my heart thumps wildly in anticipation. The doors of the building fly open, and people flock to their vehicles in droves. An hour later, the senator exits the building with this team. I wait a few minutes before I start my car and slowly follow.

We drive for about thirty minutes before stopping in front of a gated community. I didn’t consider this and mentally smack myself. I lift the binoculars and focus on the guard shack. It’s empty! The SUV pulls up and waits a moment before the steel pole rises, allowing them entry.

The fence surrounding the community is wrought iron, so I watch as the vehicle drives down the road and pulls into the driveway of a large colonial home. The senator waves off his escorts and enters his house as the SUV pulls away and heads back in our direction. I push Lykos’ head down and wait for them to pass before I open my car door.

My foot barely touches the pavement when I glance up and see the senator’s garage door open. I yank my foot back in, and close the door. A large truck backs out of his drive and toward the gate.

Where the fuck is he going?

Luckily, he turns in the opposite direction of where I’m parked. I keep my headlights off and follow him at a safe distance. We drive to a bunch of old abandoned warehouses at the edge of Richmond. He eventually stops in front of one of the buildings that has a few lights on. I slowly ease my car out of sight where I have the perfect view of the front door.

A scream pierces the silence, causing the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my heart beats rapidly. Another man appears, dragging a female toward the now-open door the senator entered moments earlier. The man whips around and backhands the woman, reaches into his jacket for something, and stabs her in the arm. She slumps to the ground, and he picks her up as if she weighs nothing and tosses her over his shoulder.

Grabbing my duffel bag, I climb out of the car, sling it over my chest, and tap my leg for Lykos to follow.

“Quiet,” I tell him. “Guard.” His hackles rise, and he bares his teeth but makes no sound.

I’m dressed in all black from head to toe, and my hair is pulled back into a tight bun so no one can grab it. My six-piece throwing knife set is strapped to my leg, and I have four magazine clips on my belt to go with the Springfield XDM in my hand. We move quickly and quietly toward the building.

I slowly open the door, praying it doesn’t make any noise. There’s a slight squeak, but no one comes running in our direction. I stick to the shadows, keeping my back along the wall with Lykos right beside me.

“You gave her too fucking much!” Tim yells.

“She was fighting too much,” someone argues.

“You can’t handle one little girl?” Tim snarls. “You know I need their screams. I need the fight.”

Someone grunts. “Give her an hour. She’ll be ready.”

“I want to fuck her now!” Tim shouts.

“We can fuck her now,” the man says. “After she wakes up, she’ll wish she never did.”

Someone claps, and I cover my mouth to keep from puking all over the floor.

Stop! There’s no time for this. Fall apart later. She needs help.

I square my shoulders and step into the light, my gun aimed at their backs. “By the time I’m done with you, you won’t have a dick to fuck her with.”

Both men spin around to face me, their mouths dropped open. Senator Briggs recovers first, a sinister smile replacing his shock. “Pet, how lovely to see you.”

“I’m not your fucking pet.”

Briggs gestures toward me. “Potts, you remember our gorgeous friend.”

Potts licks his lips. “Oh yes, she loved my whip.”

Terry Potts!

As much as I would love to torture them both, I don’t know how long the girl lying on the floor will be out.

“I don’t have time for this bullshit.” I raise my gun and fire a single shot directly into Pott’s forehead. He crumbles to the dirty floor. “Bennett was right. I’m good.”

“Seems my pet has grown some balls,” Briggs sneers. “You can’t touch me, I’m a senator. People will care if I go missing.”

“Here’s the thing, Senator, ” I say. “I. Don’t. Give. A. Fuck.”

He dives for me, but before I can pull the trigger again, Lykos leaps in front of me, barking deeply and snapping his teeth. Briggs jumps back, and I hold on to Lykos’ collar as he continues to bark threateningly.

“Is this your big plan, pet?” Briggs taunts. “Let your scary guard dog intimidate me while you wait for the police? It’d be your word against mine, you know? You’re holding the murder weapon, not me.”

I smile and let go of Lykos’ collar. “Zwickel.”

Lykos takes off like a rocket and lunges for Briggs. He latches on to Briggs’ tiny excuse of dick and whips his head back and forth, causing Briggs to fall backward onto the floor. His screams are music to my ears, and I let Lykos have a little bit of fun, enjoying every second. Poor guy was cooped up in the car with me for a long time. He deserves this as much as I do.

“Heel,” I call. Lykos bounds over to my side, and I scratch his head. He continues to snarl at Briggs’ quivering body. “Settle.”

I walk over to Briggs. “How are your balls, pet ?”

His wild eyes glare at me. “You crazy fucking bitch!”

I wink. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

I’m wearing the steel-toe boots I invested in because even though Jaxson said my kicks are strong, it never hurts to pack a little added punch. I slam my foot down on his mangled crotch and giggle as he howls in pain.

“P-P-Please,” he stammers. “I’ll give you anything you want.”

“I begged,” I sneer. “You didn’t stop.”

“I bought you!”

“I wasn’t for sale, you piece of shit!” I punch him in the throat and watch him struggle to catch his breath. “I’m a fucking human being. The very person you were supposedly raising money for tonight, remember?”

Jogging over to my bag of goodies, I pull out my handcuffs with the two-and-a-half-foot chain that separates the wrists. Pulling one of my knives out of the sheath, I stroll back over to Briggs. There’s a steel beam a few feet away, so I grab onto one of his arms and start tugging him toward it. He reaches out to grab my ankle, but I swipe down, slicing his wrist.

“Fuck,” he hisses.

“No touching,” I chastise, pointing my gun at his head. “Stand up. Take off your pants and underwear.”

“Why?” he growls. “You gonna kiss it and make it better?”

I roll my eyes. “You can do what I say, or I can shoot it off and make sure it never works again.”

“Fucking cunt.” His movements are jerky, and with his injuries, it takes him almost five minutes to do what I say.

I chuckle when his mangled dick comes into view, courtesy of Lykos’ handiwork.

“Put your arms around the beam,” I order.

He does as instructed, and I lock the handcuffs in place around his wrists. He hisses when the metal digs into his cut. “You’re going to pay for this,” he snarls.

“It’ll be worth it. Now, get on your hands and knees.” I lean close to his ear. “Tell me, Senator , has anyone ever taken your ass?”

His eyes grow wide as saucers, and before he can protest, I shove the blade of my knife directly into his asshole. Thick red liquid gushes out like a geyser, and a blood-curdling scream echoes off the warehouse walls. Briggs’ body gives out, and he slumps to the floor.

I shift from foot to foot, waiting for him to come to. Finally tired of waiting, I kick him. There’s no response. The last thing I want to do is touch him, but I put my fingers on his neck to check for a pulse.

Fuck! It was just getting good.

I survey the room. I have two dead bodies, a girl still passed out in the corner, and no clue what to do. I blow out a breath, knowing I’m going to be in hot water over this mess. I tug my cell phone out of my pocket and hit the one name I was hoping I wouldn’t have to call tonight.

Jaxson needs to add body disposal to our training.