Page 27

CHAPTER 26

AURORA

“Were they really under our noses all this time?” Hudson asks.

Lykos' head lies next to my thigh, and I pet him in an attempt to calm my nerves. However, it doesn’t seem to be working because my leg continues to bounce of its own accord. Lykos pushes his upper body into my lap, and his weight settles me. I rub my face in his fur and lock my arms around him.

“I don’t know,” Jaxson answers. “You know what they say, hide in plain sight.”

We arrive a couple hours later at the coordinates Benson sent. As soon as Thomas and Bennett are parked, we gather behind the vehicles. Thomas opens the trunk, and they start strapping on their weapons, looking like they’re preparing for war.

Which, in a sense, I guess they are.

Thomas slips a helmet over his head, and it has a weird pair of goggles on the front. He adjusts the straps and presses a couple of buttons on the side, pulling the lenses in front of his eyes. He glances in our direction and then over to the buildings across from us. “Heat signature working. Nothing in this building.”

“Keep looking,” Jaxson commands.

Thomas’ head swivels, focusing on different buildings before he turns to another one. “Nothing there either. Might need to go further down.”

“Let’s move out,” Jaxson orders, and I move into step with him.

Waves lap against the docks, the sound annoying and soothing at the same time, and I shiver as we move further into the darkness. Nothing seems to be moving other than the water. Even the lights don’t sway with the breeze. It's as if an eerie stillness has fallen over this portion of Virginia in an attempt to cover all its dirty secrets.

We walk tirelessly, stopping to check every building when Thomas’ fist shoots up in the air. Everyone halts their steps and waits with bated breath. Thomas moves closer while we all move into the shadows of the neighboring structure. He jogs back to our location a moment later.

“I counted at least ten inside,” Thomas reports. “I can’t see too far into the building to know if there are more.”

“Dmitri Krukov and Oleg Sorokin are the primary targets,” Jaxson reminds them. “Kill any threat, but remember, there could also be innocent civilians inside.”

“Oorah,” they say quietly.

Jaxson grabs my elbow and spins me around. “You’re staying here.”

I cross my arms. “The hell I am,” I snap. “We had a deal.”

Jaxson sighs and rests his forehead against mine. “I know, and I promise you’ll get your shot,” he says. “But we have no idea what we’re walking into. We have more training than you. I can’t do my job if I’m worried about you getting hurt. Let us make sure we’re in the right place and we have them. Then I’ll come back for you.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He kisses me quickly. “Stay here with Lykos.”

I watch for any sign of movement and check my phone constantly for any updates from any of the men. I don’t want to risk texting them and putting them in danger, so I continue to wait. Lykos must sense my agitation because he starts nudging me with his snout. I pet his back to distract me from the pit of dread in my stomach.

Fuck it. I’m not waiting anymore.

“I have to go in there.”

I spin on my heel but am sent spiraling to the concrete with a violent yank at my scalp. Breath whooshes from my lungs, and black spots circle my vision. I struggle to stay conscious, but when I hear Lykos growl and see his blurry form sail over me, my world snaps back into focus.

“Get the fuck off of me!” the Russian bellows.

Dmitri!

Lykos thrashes his head from side to side, Dmitri’s arm locked in his jaw. I grab one of my knives from the sheath strapped to my leg, ready to call Lykos back to heel, and Dmitri fumbles with his gun and aims it at Lykos. I don’t hesitate. I throw my knife, hitting him directly in the wrist holding the gun. It drops to the ground with a thud.

“You fucking bitch!” Dmitri screams, cradling his arm. “You’ll wish you were dead by the time I’m finished with you.”

“Zw—”

The door slams open and ricochets off the metal siding.

Jaxson storms out, weapon drawn. He swivels his head around, taking in the scene.

I’m on one knee with another knife to throw. Lykos’ teeth are barred, ready for my command, and there’s a shrieking Russian with a blade sticking out of his wrist. I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up and escapes.

“I leave you alone for ten minutes,” Jaxson mumbles, marching past me.

“Settle,” I say to Lykos, and stroke his fur. “We’re okay. The bad man didn’t hurt us.”

“You cu?—”

Jaxson throat punches Dmitri, cutting him off. Dmitri sinks to the ground where Jaxson’s knee conveniently connects to his nose, knocking him out.

“That’s no way to speak to a woman,” Jaxson chastises before looking at me. “Do you want your knife back?”

“I’ll wait until he’s awake,” I say. “It’ll be more fun yanking it out.”

Jaxson grins. “Evil. I love it.” He bends over, lifts Dmitri to throw him over his shoulder, and heads toward the door.

I follow closely behind. “Did you get Oleg?”

“Yep,” Jaxson answers. “Already have him tied up.”

We walk through a dimly lit hallway and make a few more turns until we come to a huge open room with a circular stage in the middle. Metal chains are fastened to one set of concrete hooks on the wooden floor, and spotlights beam down on Oleg, who’s on his knees with his arms chained behind his back. Another set of chains lay empty.

“What the hell is this place?” Carver asks, disgusted.

“The platform.” My eyes roll into the back of my head, and my legs give out. Someone yells my name, but I’m too far gone into my nightmare to know who.

Dmitri slams inside of me. I scream, but all it does is spur him on. He bites my breast so hard as he smiles sadistically, and his teeth are tinged with blood.

“You’re my new favorite pet,” he grunts.

I close my eyes and pray for it to be over soon. At least when I’m lying on a cold, damp concrete floor, I’m alone. My head snaps to the side from the force of Dmitri’s blow.

“Open your fucking eyes, and watch your master destroy your cunt, or your fate will be much worse,” he threatens.

Refusing to do as he demands, I bite my tongue. How much worse can it possibly get? I’ve already lost count of how many times he and Oleg have taken turns violating me.

Dmitri digs his fingers into my hips, and with one last thrust, he empties himself in me. I groan in pain as he slips out, and I roll to my side just in time to throw up the bile that worked its way up my throat. He twists my hair in his hands, lifts me off his desk, and throws me to the ground.

“Tsk, tsk.” Dmitri scowls. “I thought you were learning, pet, but you're still defiant. A problem that will soon be rectified. Oleg!” he summons.

Oleg barrels through the door, his eyes filling with lust at the sight of me trembling and naked on the carpet. “Yeah, boss?”

“Take my pet, and hose her off,” he orders. “Tonight, she goes to the platform. Invite everyone.”

Oleg raises his brow. “Everyone?”

“Everyone,” Dmitri confirms.

“Aurora! Baby, come back to me,” Jaxson yells from somewhere in the distance. “Please, wake up.”

Something hard and warm covers my body. I reach out absently and feel something soft under my fingertips. I slowly open my eyes, letting my surroundings come back into focus. Jaxson holds me in his arms, rocking me as Lykos bumps me with his snout to let me know he’s here too.

Sadistic laughter fills the room. I try push out of Jaxson’s lap, but he holds me tight. “You fainted. I don’t want you to get hurt,” he says quietly, for only me to hear.

“I’m okay now,” I promise.

Jaxson helps me stand, only releasing me when he knows I’m capable of staying upright on my own. Shackled to the platform are Oleg and Dmitri. The rest of Jaxson’s team are standing guard over them, watching me with a mixture of expressions ranging from sorrow to anger.

“Pet,” Dmitri sneers. “I remember the last time we were together in this room. Wonderful memories, yes?”

Carver nails him in the face with the butt of his gun. “Oops.”

Dmitri’s head jerks to the side, and he spits out a pool of blood as he glares at me with a sinister smile.

Fuck you!

I refuse to let him or any of the pieces of shit under his regime see me fall apart again.

“For you perhaps.” I flash my teeth. “Tonight, I think it’s time I made new memories.”

I’m not a victim! I’m a fucking survivor, and now, I’ll become his worst nightmare.