Hunting Savage (31 Days of Trick or Treat: Biker & Mobster #35)

Prologue

Aurora never thought disaster would strike the day before her eighteenth birthday, especially not for her and her family. They were freaking invincible.

She sat in the back of her dad’s Tahoe with her seven-year-old sister, Starla.

Although they were ten years apart, many who saw them together assumed they weren’t related because of how different they appeared.

Where she had pin-straight, black hair and bright blue eyes, her sister Starla had blonde hair and brown eyes, which stood out in stark contrast against her pale skin, while each bore aspects of their parents in different ways.

Her mother leaned across the console toward her father. The long curtain of her dark hair obscured her face as she kissed his cheek. Aurora shook her head at their display of affection.

“Mommy kissed Daddy. That’s eleven,” Starla chirped.

“Are you keeping count, Biddy Bee?” their dad asked.

Starla scrunched up her nose. “I’m not a bee, daddy.” She glared at the front of the SUV rather than the iPad in her lap until their father lifted his hand in surrender.

Aurora returned to listening to her playlist, nodding along to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars. At the same time, they drove away from all she knew. Her friends. Her school. Her everything.

The last six hours, they’d only stopped to get gas, grab snacks, and go to the bathroom at several roadside places.

She wasn’t a complainer, truly. But, Aurora wanted them to tell her where they were heading and why they hadn’t told her before pulling her out of class with no explanation.

Thankfully, she had her cell phone and backpack, and her mom had packed a suitcase for her and Starla.

Not that she knew what clothes were inside or if she’d included her favorite outfits.

She let out a sigh and stared out the front windshield. Her eyes widened in horror as her dad cursed. To the right, the guardrail that should have been there was gone—washed away—and part of the highway was missing as well.

A loud crack followed by a boom filled the air as a bright light flashed. Rain pelted the windshield, making it hard for her to see the road.

“Dad,” she whispered.

“Hold tight,” he said. The deep timbre of his voice held a note of warning and strength.

Aurora tucked her phone into her pocket as Starla whimpered. She reached for her younger sister’s hand, wanting to reassure her everything would be okay. The feel of the big vehicle sliding on the road made her yelp, which she quickly stifled, biting her lip to stay silent.

Her mother glanced back at Starla and then at Aurora, her expression filled with concern and fear.

It was the fear that scared Aurora the most—one second, the day had been cloudy and gloomy.

Normal for upper Washington State this time of year.

There’d been no sign of a storm on the radar when they’d set out, and then all of a sudden, they were driving into something terrifying.

The water next to the road seemed to have come alive. The waves crashed onto the sides, searching for victims to claim. They were looking for Aurora and her family.

Stop it, she yelled inside her head. If she stared hard enough, she could see their lifeless forms lying on the surface.

She shook her head, dispelling the images. Her hand squeezed Starla’s tighter, making her sister give a little cry of alarm.

“Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, releasing her grip slightly.

The engine's rumble grew lower as their dad slowed, dodging debris on the road. Why didn’t he stop and turn around?

“Ivan, maybe we should stop and go back,” her mother said.

The sound of leather squeaking filled the Tahoe. Aurora didn’t have to see it to get the fact that he was gripping the steering wheel with his immense strength. His voice was always gentle, even when angry.

“Gemma, look behind us, baby. I can’t go back even if I wanted to.”

Aurora lifted up to look over the backseat and gasped at the sight as her eyes widened. It was as if a hurricane had hit them, bringing down several trees and blocking the path.

“Aurora, stay seated, sweetheart.” Her mother glanced backward, giving them both a smile. “No matter what happens, as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.”

Starla shoved her iPad into her backpack, which sat between them. Her dark eyes were wide and filled with fright. Aurora reached for her little hand again, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Nobody spoke as their dad drove at a snail’s pace.

Lightning illuminated the sky. Thunder boomed, shaking their vehicle.

Aurora turned at the deafening sound of a crash behind them, but before she could get a good look, both her dad and mom yelled at the same time.

Her father jerked the wheel of the Tahoe, swerving perilously close to the crumbling side of the cliff edge.

There was a moment of panic as their vehicle lifted and slammed back to the ground.

The sound of her mother’s scream went silent.

A large object separated the front of the car from her and Starla.

The haunting melody of metal scraping against asphalt, mingling with the sound of glass shattering and water splashing against the rocky cliffs, filled her ears.

A coppery scent filled the air as she tried to wipe the moisture off her face.

Her fingers came away sticky. She looked at her hands, horrified to see so much blood covering them.

Aurora sucked in a breath, stifling the urge to scream out of fear she’d scare Starla. The reminder of her little sister had her looking to the side. She gasped at the sight of Starla with blood running from her nose, slumped against the shattered glass.

“No, no, no,” she mumbled repeatedly.

Her fingers fumbled with her seatbelt. An overwhelming desire to be with her sister filled every part of her. Finally, after too many seconds to count, the dang thing unclicked, allowing her to scoot across the wrecked interior.

The rise and fall of Starla’s chest lessened the panic rising within her. Aurora wasn’t sure what she’d have done if her sister had been...Her mind screeched to a halt at the thought.

“Starla, come on, Biddy Bee. I need you to wake up.”

Wind and rain lashed the interior of the Tahoe. Clarity hit her. A giant tree blocked her view of the front part of the SUV. The sound of rushing water crashing against the rocky cliff seemed too close, as if they were on the edge of the road instead of in the center, as they had been before.

“Sissy, what happened?”

The terror of their situation eased slightly at the sound of Starla’s voice. “We were in an accident. Where do you hurt?”

Starla moved her arms and legs, wincing as she shifted her head. “Nothing, I don’t think. You’re bleeding,” she said, pointing at Aurora’s face.

She lifted her hand to the back of her head, wincing. “Some glass cut me. I’m fine.”

They needed to get out of the vehicle before it got swept away.

The fact neither of their parents had spoken to them or tried to help them worried her.

She never thought their impromptu trek would lead to her being the one fighting to escape alone with her sister in the middle of a storm.

A sudden chill raced down her spine as if something was coming for them.

Her mom’s voice flashed inside her mind.

Don’t let the beasts within overrule the being residing above.

You’re the daughter of a Gemini. You’re stronger, faster, braver than they are.

You are not ruled by those who wish to chain you.

Seek the Willow Tree deep within the Hoh Rain Forest. Ask the Goddess to protect you and your sister until she also comes of age.

Your father and I love you and Starla to the moon and stars. Take care of one another.

“Don’t leave me, mama,” Aurora cried, knowing the voice was her mother’s and she and their father were no longer on the Earth.

“Where are mama and daddy?” Starla asked.

Aurora had to look away, using the excuse to wipe the blood from her eyes. “We need to move, Starla.” She unbuckled the seatbelt, gasping at the groan and scrape as their SUV shifted.

“Put your backpack on and follow me. We’re going out the back window. Please, just do as I say. I’ll keep us safe.” Goddess, she prayed, she wasn’t fucking shit up and leading them both into a fate worse than death.

Starla’s lips trembled, but she nodded.

They moved quickly but carefully, easing the back hatch open. Starla shrank back from the rain lashing the Earth in a frenzy. It made a torrential downpour appear bland in comparison.

“Remember what mama always said, Biddy Bee?” Aurora worked to keep her voice steady.

“Hope is held in the beauty after the rain. When the sun shines through the clouds, everything is clean, and a renewal can begin.” Aurora’s heart ached.

Her words felt hollow, but she hoped Starla wouldn’t hear.

She grabbed her mother’s bag, remembering she’d seen her stuffed cash inside before zipping it up.

With a huff, Aurora lugged hers, Starla’s, and her mom’s out the back.

A sob caught in her throat as she saw the last bag sitting in the back by itself. Against her better judgment, she reached back in, grabbing her father’s duffel, hating the thought of leaving it behind.