Page 24

CHAPTER 23

JAXSON

“Remember, I need him to see me,” Aurora repeats like we would forget.

We’re in a booth surrounded by a mass of sweaty bodies gyrating to the rhythm of the live music’s bass. Carver and Hudson sit across from us, wearing matching scowls. They aren’t thrilled with the plan, but this is Aurora’s show and likely the only chance we’ll get to grab Patrick Dows.

“Doesn’t mean we have to like it,” I growl.

Dows is a recluse and, according to Aurora’s research, doesn’t leave home very often. Briggs’ was his best friend his whole life, and when Dows caught a rape charge a few years ago, his career as a cop disintegrated. Briggs stepped in, and charges were dropped, but Dows’ reputation was ruined. He was let go by the force, and from what Thomas was able to find, he was being bankrolled by Briggs.

Thomas and Bennett are in a van in the alley, waiting to grab Dows once Aurora leads him out there. Using her as bait is the part of the plan none of us are on board with. Aurora is going to get close enough to Dows for him to realize it's her. Then, hopefully, he’ll follow her outside where the guys can get him.

The band announces their break, and the dance floor clears. Aurora starts to slide out of the booth, but Hudson grabs her wrist.

“Stop,” Hudson says as he casually points across the club. “Dows slipped something into that woman’s drink at the bar.”

“Which one?” Carver cranes his neck to see.

Hudson jerks his chin. “Red top, black jeans.”

“We need to abort,” I tell them. “Hudson, move in and wait for the opportunity to protect the girl from the scumbag.”

“We’re not leaving,” Aurora snaps. “If Hudson can keep her focus on him, he’ll keep her safe. After we get Dows outta here, alert the bartender that you saw someone put something in her drink.”

Hudson takes off like a jet toward the woman and Dows, leaving me to argue with Aurora while Carver's head bounces back and forth between us, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

“Dows won’t be paying attention to who’s walking around now,” I point out. “His focus will be on the woman he drugged.”

“Then I’ll improvise,” she sasses.

I don’t have a chance to ask her what she means by that when my phone vibrates.

Bennett: We’re getting bored

Me: Ran into an issue

Bennett: Need us?

Me: No, Hudson’s dealing with it. Might have to abort

Bennett: What the fuck is going on in there

I look up from my cell to ask Carver his thoughts on how we should proceed, and see Aurora’s gone.

“Where’d she go?”

Carver points out to the floor, and I twist my neck toward the bar, searching for Aurora. My heart stops beating when I see her stroll closer to Dows.

“Aurora!” I bellow across the room. As soon as I say it, I realize my mistake. I did exactly what she wanted. I duck back into the booth, hoping I’m not seen when heads start to turn in an effort to find the source of the commotion.

That little minx.

Luckily, Carver can keep his eyes on her from his position on the other side of the table. He pulls out his phone and calls Bennett. “Dawn is coming early, but night is following closely,” he says and disconnects.

“We go out the front,” I say.

He slides his cell into his pocket. “Roger that. Here comes Hudson.” Carver jabs his thumb over his shoulder.

Hudson jogs up next to us as we exit the bar. “She never drank it.”

“What?” I ask, rounding the corner of the building.

“The woman,” Hudson explains. “She never took a sip. Dows gave her the creeps, so by the time I got to the bar, she spilled it.”

Carver laughs. “She has good intuition.”

“Yep,” Hudson agrees. “Didn’t have to say a damn word. Turned around and followed you two sorry asses. By the way, what was Aurora thinking?”

“That’s what I want to fucking know,” I fume.

We barrel into the alley just in time to see Thomas knock Dows out. Bennett has Aurora behind him, and she doesn’t look happy.

“Damn it, Thomas,” she shouts. “I wanted to do that.”

Thomas picks the fucker up and throws him into the van while Bennett leans over Dows, and ties him up. “You get to do the fun part,” Thomas pouts. “I only hit him once.”

I rush over to her, grabbing her arms. “That little stunt wasn’t part of the plan.”

“I know,” she concedes. “I saw an opening, and I took it. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity get away.”

“If anything would’ve ha—” She presses her fingers to my lips.

Her emerald eyes stare into my soul. “I trust you, Jaxson, wholeheartedly. Every single one of you. I was safe.”

I haven’t touched her or spoken to her about the kiss we shared the night of the senator’s untimely death. I’m trying to be respectful of her space, but I also don’t want her to doubt my intentions by dragging my feet.

To hell with it, I’m done waiting.

I cup her cheeks and lean close. “Auro?—”

She slides her arms around my neck and pulls me close, initiating the very kiss I was about to take. I release her face and wrap my arms around her waist. Her lips are soft against mine, and her tongue darts out to tease the seam of my mouth, demanding entry.

Who am I to deny this goddess anything?

I open up, allowing her tongue to pass through. Her body molds to mine as I squeeze her tighter. My cock strains against my jeans, and I worry this might be too much for her. Slowly, I ease back, looking for any signs of doubt. She smiles shyly and tries to step back, but I keep my grip firm, resting my forehead against hers.

“You two done?” Bennett hollers. “I’d like to get outta here before we draw any attention.”

I maneuver Aurora to the front passenger seat next to Carver, who’s driving, and I climb in the back with the rest of my team.

Carver gags as he glances at me in the rearview mirror. “Don’t make out with my sister in front of me ever again.”

I flip him off. “Technically, she started it.”

Aurora’s laughter fills the van, and Carver grumbles to himself about sisters being more trouble than they’re worth as he drives toward the abandoned warehouses where Aurora killed the senator.

The building we chose already has everything we need at our disposal. It’s vacant, and remote on the outskirts of town. Perfect for what we’re about to use it for. When we arrive, Thomas tosses Dows over his shoulder in a fireman's hold and carries him inside, the rest of us following behind him.

“This is your show, babe,” I say. “What do you want to do?”

Aurora bats her eyelashes. “Can one of you strip him for me and hang him over there?” she asks, pointing to the hook suspended from a steel beam that runs across the ceiling.

“Bennett, you heard the lady,” I gesture toward our guest of honor. “Cut his clothes off.”

Dows screams behind the Duct tape over his mouth as Bennett approaches him. “Why do I have to strip him?” Bennett mutters. “Why can’t Carver do it?”

“Because I’m the favorite, dickhead,” Carver brags.

I smirk. “Carver gets to string him up.”

“What the fuck?” he says disgusted. “I don’t want his naked ‘lil smoky anywhere near me.”

Aurora strolls over to Carver, her eyes wide. “Please big bro,” she pleads, her lower lip wobbling. “F-f-for me?”

Carver backpedals real quick. “Oh shit… No… Please, don’t cry,” he stammers. “I’ll hang him.” The rest of us bite back our laughter as Carver picks Dows up and slings his tied wrists over the metal hook.

When he’s sure Dows is secure, Carver marches toward Aurora. “You played me, didn’t you?”

“Maybe.” She points to his chest. “Gross Carver, you have pubes on your clothes.”

“Oh gross, what the hell?” Carver freaks out. “Get it off!” No one holds back their laughter as Carver shrieks and strips off his shirt. Once he’s composed himself, he wags his finger at Aurora. “You got me good. Remember ‘lil sis, payback’s a bitch.”

“Noted.” Her brows furrow as she weighs her next words. “Promise me, all of you, you won’t interfere. No matter what happens. I have to do this myself.”

“Oorah!” we answer.

Aurora carries her duffel bag closer to Dows, unzips it, and fumbles inside until she finds what she’s looking for. With a knife in her hand, she unrolls a plastic tarp underneath where Dows is dangling, and then she stands and rips the Duct tape from his mouth.

“Fuck!” he shouts. “What the hell is going on? Do you know who I am?”

“Patrick Dows,” Aurora answers.

“Ah, pet, ” he mocks. “It’s good to see you again. We were so upset when we heard Dmitri decided to send you abroad.”

“Lucky for me, it didn’t last.” In a lightning-quick move, she flicks her wrist forward, slicing open his chest.

“You bitch!”

“I’ve been called worse.” She bends over and pulls out a lead pipe. “This might hurt.”

“I’m a cop!” he yells. “People will be looking for me.”

“Funny,” she says. “The senator said the same thing. Although, I'm pretty sure they ruled his death an accident.”

The color drains from his face as the severity of his situation dawns on him. Aurora holds the pipe like a baseball bat, squares her shoulders and bends her knees, and swings with everything she has. She hits him over and over, nailing him in the ribs and knees before taking one final swing right at his flaccid cock.

An ear-piercing wail bounces off the walls as Aurora drops the pipe and runs around Dows’ flailing body like she’s rounding home base in a baseball game, giving us each a high-five and screaming ‘home run’.

Bennett leans over and whispers, “Remind me to never piss her off.”

“Y-y-you won’t get away with this,” Dows cries.

“Yeah, pretty sure I will, “Aurora says confidently. “And even if I don’t, it’s worth it to watch you suffer like I did.”

“Suffer?” Dows cackles maniacally. “ Pet, you didn’t suffer. You loved it. You wanted our fat cocks shoved into your tight pussy and wet mouth. You were dripping for it.”

I ball my fists, reminding myself of the promise I made to Aurora.

This is her show.

I know what the fucker is doing. He wants this to end quickly, so he thinks that if he pisses us off, one of us will put a bullet in him. It kills me to stand by and do nothing as he taunts Aurora about one of the worst nights of her life, but I keep my feet planted firmly in place.

Her movements falter for a moment, but she regains her composure and runs her knife along his naked flesh. “See Dows, that’s the only way you can get pussy,” she taunts. “You have to buy it from unwilling women.”

Dows hisses and yelps as Aurora slashes across his body, leaving behind gaping wounds. She grabs a clear spray bottle from her bag and douses his body with the liquid. The smell of rubbing alcohol fills the room as he lets out one last wail before his head falls forward.

“Hudson,” she calls. “Do you have anything that’ll wake this dickhead up?”

He doesn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely.” He digs in his medic bag and pulls out a syringe. “Adrenaline.” Hudson hands it over. “Jab it in his thigh.”

She injects it into his leg, and Dows’ eyes snap open seconds later. “That was rude to fall asleep. We were having so much fun.”

“You’re fucking crazy.” he spits.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” She grips a metal contraption I’ve never seen before. “Open wide.”

Dows snaps his jaw shut and glares at her.

She clicks her tongue. “Jaxson, can you help me?” I join her in front of our captive. “Can you make him open his mouth?”

I smile. “With pleasure.” I haul back my arm, ball up my fist, and let it fly. The satisfying crunch of breaking bone never gets old as Dows’ head whips to the side, and blood gushes from his nose.

Aurora crosses her arms. “You weren’t supposed to hit him,” she scolds.

I shrug. “My arm slipped.”

“Motherfucker,” Dows curses, his eyes wild.

He locks his jaw in defiance. I grip his nose between my fingers and squeeze. He cries out in pain and Aurora slips the contraption between his lips. With a couple of clicks, his mouth is pried open. I raise my brows in question.

“Speculum,” she responds.

“Do I want to know?”

She shrugs. “Probably not. And you might want to stand back.”

Taking her seriously, I rush back over to my men and wait to see what she does next.

She steps close to Dows. “Remember when you told me to suck your fat cock?” He shakes his head vigorously. “Oh, sure you do. I think it’s time I returned the favor.”

Aurora takes a pair of pliers from her back pocket, latches on to the tip of Dows’ dick, and tugs it straight out. With the six- inch serrated hunting knife in her other hand, she slices his cock off and shoves it down his throat, causing him to gag.

“Suck it, asshole,” she growls.

Blood cascades down his legs as he thrashes and tries to dislodge himself from his mouth.

“Will that kill him?” I ask Hudson, genuinely curious.

“Not necessarily,” he replies.

Before I can ask him what he means, a gunshot rings out. Spinning around, I grab my piece, searching for the threat. Standing in front of us, Aurora has her gun aimed at Dows. There’s a single bullet hole at center mass.

Carver chuckles. “Bet he’s dead now.”

“That’ll do it,” Hudson agrees.

“Alright, guys,” Aurora beckons. “Time to clean up.”

Oh yeah, I’m gonna marry this woman.