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CHAPTER 19

JAXSON

“I need help,” Aurora begs.

When my phone rang and I saw Aurora’s name flash across the screen, I stepped away from the game of Call of Duty the guys and I were playing. As I answered, I couldn’t help but silently pray that she would ask if we’d come hang out with her or vice versa, but my prayers weren’t answered. At the panic in her tone, everyone whips their head in my direction.

Dread fills my insides at how scared she sounds. “What’s wrong?”

“I-I-I can’t talk, but I need your help,” she whispers. “I’ll send you my location. Please hurry.”

She disconnects the call before I can ask anything else. A second later, my phone pings with her location.

Richmond, Virginia. What the fuck is she doing there?

I stare at my phone, dumbstruck, while my men jump into action.

Thomas snaps his fingers in front of my face. “You gonna stare at her location all night, or can we get the fuck outta here?”

All of them are checking their guns, and Bennett grabs extra magazines out of my hall closet before tossing us each a couple. Carver races out of my apartment and returns a few minutes later with his knives strapped to his leg. We have no idea what’s going on, and as a Marine, we’re taught to always be prepared.

“Roll out!” I holler.

“Oorah.”

Hudson, Carver, and I take one vehicle while Bennett and Thomas follow closely behind in another. Before tearing out of the parking lot, I text Aurora’s coordinates to Bennett in case we get separated on the way to Richmond.

My knuckles turn white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. “She better not be hurt, or so help me God…”

“She didn’t ask for me,” Hudson points out. “She asked for you . I don’t think she’s hurt.”

“Hey,” Carver interjects. “Isn’t the general in Richmond tonight for a fundraiser?”

“Yeah,” Hudson confirms. “Maybe you should call him. He’s closer.”

I shake my head. “She called me for a reason. If she wanted her dad’s help, she would’ve called him.”

Hoping I’m making the right decision, I push my foot down on the gas pedal until it hits the floorboard. A million thoughts race through my head as I wonder what we’re about to walk into.

Somehow, I manage to not get pulled over in my race to get to Aurora, even though I break a few laws. My heart sinks, and my stomach rolls as we approach the red dot on my maps. There’s nothing here except a line of vacant buildings. Wondering if I’m about to find her dead body inside has a wave of fear washing over me. My head whips around, looking for any sign of her.

“There’s her car!” Carver shouts, pointing to the right.

A small two-story warehouse is nestled in between a couple of larger ones. The lights are on, but I don’t see any movement as I maneuver our vehicle beside her car and kill the engine. We file out and wait for Bennett to park.

“Any communication with Aurora since we left?” Bennett asks as we crouch behind the vehicles and start to plan.

“Radio silent,” I say. “I have no idea who or what is inside. We can’t go in hot.”

“Cut the lights?” Thomas asks.

Hudson’s brows furrow. “No, it could scare Aurora. She could be alone.”

“We go in nice and slow,” I instruct. “Keep your eyes open, and watch my signal. Any hostiles, shoot to kill. Be careful, we don’t know if there are any other innocents besides Aurora.”

“Roger that,” they all mumble.

We edge toward the building quietly, our guns drawn. Once we reach the door, we split into two groups, each taking a side. I hold up my fingers, counting down from three, and when I reach zero, Bennett swings it open. I aim my gun and swiftly enter with the others at my six.

Inching our way further inside, I faintly hear growling ahead. I glance over my shoulder at my men, who all shrug. I point at my eyes and then forward toward the noise before we start walking again.

Please, let that be Lykos with Aurora.

We round the corner and come to a grinding halt.

Surely, I’m hallucinating.

It looks like a fucking massacre took place, and Aurora is standing right in the middle of it. Lykos is standing in front of her, and he’s tense and ready to attack any threat. Her hands are covered in blood, and there are splatters of crimson on her face. My eyes roam over her body, searching for the cause of the injury, but I can’t locate the source. I take a few deep breaths to calm the beast inside that wants to break free and destroy whoever put her in the middle of this fiasco.

“What the fuck?” Bennett mumbles.

“Settle.” Aurora affectionately rubs the top of Lykos head. “You’re gonna need a bath.”

Lykos looks up at her, and I swear the damn dog grins… fucking grins.

Did I just enter the fucking ‘Twilight Zone’?

My eyes snap to hers as I march toward Aurora, but Hudson darts around me and intercepts her before I reach her.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asks.

“No,” she says, her eyes never leaving mine.

Hudson nods. “I wouldn’t want to be you right now.” He steps out of my way.

Waving my hand around at the carnage, I demand, “What the hell happened here, Aurora?”

“It wasn’t my intention to call you tonight and bother you,” she says, dismissively.

“Not your intention…bother me…” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose to try and calm down.

“Rivers!” Thomas hollers. “We got a big problem, man. Better come take a look at this.”

I throw my hands up. “It can’t possibly get any worse.”

I step next to the face of the body Thomas is hunched over.

I was wrong.

“He look familiar to you? Thomas asks.

“Shit,” I groan. “Is that Senator Briggs?”

Everyone except Aurora runs over to check out what we’re discussing.

“That’s definitely the senator,” Bennett confirms. “But what’s he doing here?”

“Dude, look at that.” Carver points to the senator’s ass where a knife handle is protruding out, and a puddle of blood is underneath him.

How did I miss this? Your focus was on Aurora , and it will always be on her . Those emerald eyes are your kryptonite.

The five of us turn and stare at her. Aurora crosses her arms and taps her foot impatiently as if we’re the ones causing an inconvenience.

“Well, what do I do now?” she asks, annoyed.

“Aurora, honey,” Carver placates. “What do you mean what do you do now ?”

She huffs in frustration. “You guys taught me how to fight and kill but never how to clean up after myself.” She glares at each of us. “This is your fault,” she adds.

“Our fault?” I choke. “In what world is this our fault?”

“If there had been a Disposal of Dead Bodies class in our training, I wouldn’t have had to call you tonight,” she says matter-of-factly. “In fact, don’t stand there fucking judging me, Jaxson Rivers. None of you have earned that right. Fuck you all and the goddamn horse you rode in on. Just leave, I don’t need you. I don’t need any of you. I’ll figure it out myself.” She takes a deep breath and screams, “Leave!”

She crumbles to the floor, sobbing hysterically. Lykos pushes his way into her lap, offering her comfort.

What. The. Fuck. Just. Happened?