Chapter 4 Aurora
AURORA
Olivia paces our small cell, her beautiful masquerade gown dragging along the concrete floor. The silence between us feels heavier than the metal door keeping us trapped.
“Liv,” I say softly. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you about Hunter from the start.”
She stops pacing, her shoulders dropping as she releases a long breath. Her expression softens, the anger in her eyes fading.
“I know,” she says, sitting down beside me on my cot. “I was just hurt, Aurora. Not because of Hunter—God knows I don’t love him—but because we’ve always told each other everything.”
Her hand finds mine, fingers intertwining like when we were children, making a pact to be like true sisters despite only being related through marriage.
“Remember when we promised? No secrets between sisters.”
I squeeze her hand. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell me about Ari?”
Olivia’s lips curve into a rueful smile. “Touché.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, looking down at our joined hands. “I was ashamed, I guess. Dating my fiancé’s friend while being engaged to Hunter? It sounds terrible when said out loud.”
“No worse than sleeping with your sister’s fiancé,” I reply, attempting a weak laugh that comes out more like a sob.
Olivia shakes her head. “Maybe if we’d both been honest with each other from the beginning, all of this could have been avoided.”
“Or we’d still be stuck in this cell, just with fewer secrets between us.”
She leans her head against my shoulder. “I’m sorry I got so angry with you. Finding out while we were being kidnapped wasn’t exactly ideal timing.”
“And here I thought there was a perfect moment to tell your sister you’re sleeping with her fiancé.”
For the first time since we woke up in this nightmare, Olivia laughs.
“We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” she says.
Olivia pulls away from me, her eyes scanning our concrete prison. The cell feels smaller by the minute, the walls somehow closing in despite their solid construction.
“How are we going to get out of here, Aurora?” Olivia’s voice trembles.
I run my hand along the cold wall, feeling its unyielding surface. The electronic lock on the door is far beyond our ability to tamper with. There are no external windows, no vents large enough to crawl through, nothing that offers even a hint of escape.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I really don’t.”
Olivia’s shoulder touches mine as we sit side by side. “You mentioned this Jax person. Who is he? Why would he take us?”
I think about the brief glimpses of information Hunter shared, the genuine fear in his eyes when he mentioned Jax’s name, the urgency in his voice when he told me to keep the necklace on—the necklace I lost during our abduction.
“Hunter never fully explained, but Jax King is his... boss? Leader? Something like that. They’re part of an organization that requires absolute loyalty.” I twist my hands in my lap. “I think Jax sees me as Hunter’s weakness.”
“And I’m collateral damage?” Olivia asks, a hint of her usual dry humor returning.
“I’m sorry, Liv.”
She shakes her head. “Not your fault. Well, not this part anyway.”
We sit in silence for a moment, the reality of our situation heavy between us.
“Do you think Hunter will come for us?” Olivia finally asks.
I think about Hunter and the way he looked at me like I belonged to him. Whatever else I might not know about him, one thing seems certain.
“Yes,” I say. “Hunter will come for us. For me.” I squeeze Olivia’s hand. “Which means for you too.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
I stare at the locked door, imagining what might lie beyond it, who might eventually walk through it.
“Then I guess we wait and see what Jax wants with us.”
Liv grinds her teeth, a nervous habit she’s had since childhood. The sound echoes in our small cell, almost comforting in its familiarity.
“You’re doing it again,” I say, nudging her shoulder.
She stops, running her tongue over her teeth. “Sorry. Dad used to say I’d wear them down to nubs before I turned thirty.”
“Remember when he bought you that custom night guard, and you flushed it down the toilet?”
Liv snorts. “It was hideous! Bright pink with little rhinestones that he thought made it fashion-forward.”
“The plumber had to cut through the bathroom wall,” I say, laughing despite our situation. “Derek was so mad, he grounded you for a month.”
“Worth it. I looked like I had bedazzled dentures.” Liv stretches her legs out, the sequins on her gown catching what little light filters into our cell. “Anyway, you’re one to talk. You still do that thing where you twist your hair when you’re nervous.”
I realize my fingers are indeed wrapped around a strand of hair, twirling it unconsciously. “At least my habit doesn’t sound like someone’s using a chainsaw.”
“No, yours just makes you look like you’re five years old again,” she retorts, but there’s affection in her voice.
We sit in a moment of companionable silence before Liv suddenly chuckles.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Just picturing your mom’s face if she could see us now. Kidnapped in evening gowns, discussing our terrible habits.”
I smile, thinking of my mom’s practical nature. “She’d tell us to take off our heels because they’re impractical for an escape.”
“And to stop wasting energy on banter when we could be planning,” Liv adds, mimicking my mom’s no-nonsense tone perfectly.
“She would have already MacGyvered her way out using nothing but a bobby pin and her underwire.”
Liv laughs, leaning her head against mine. “I miss her.”
“Me too,” I whisper, appreciating this moment of normalcy amid the insanity. “But at least we have each other.”
“Always,” Liv agrees, squeezing my hand. “Even when you’re sleeping with my fake fiancé.”
I snort. “God, our family is a mess.”
“Speaking of family,” Liv says, straightening her shoulders. “Remember when my dad first started dating your mom? I was such a brat.”
“The worst,” I agree, nudging her playfully. “You hid her car keys in the fish tank.”
“I maintain that was an accident.”
“You were eight, not stupid.”
Liv shrugs. “I was jealous. You had this amazing mom who baked cookies and taught you to paint.”
“And you had Derek, who could buy the entire cookie factory and hire Picasso’s ghost.”
“Not the same,” Liv sighs. “Your mom made our house a home. My birth mother was more interested in social climbing than raising me.”
I feel a pang in my chest. Mom had treated Olivia like her own daughter from day one, despite Liv’s initial resistance. “She loved you, you know. Used to tease that you were her fashion consultant in daughter form—while I was her wild artist who could never keep my hair tidy or clothes matching.”
“Yeah, she used to grumble when she’d find you covered in paint with leaves in your hair,” Liv laughs, then grows quiet. “I miss her every day, Aurora. Cancer is such a bitch.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, the familiar grief washing over me.
“Remember when she taught us self-defense in the backyard?” Liv asks.
“Dad nearly had a heart attack when he came home to find his wife teaching his daughters how to break someone’s nose.”
We’re both laughing when a mechanical whir breaks through our moment. The electronic lock disengages with an ominous click.
The heavy door swings open, revealing a tall figure silhouetted against the harsh hallway light.
"Ladies," Jax King steps into our cell, his smile chilling as his eyes lock with mine. "I wanted to welcome you personally."
I feel my stomach twist as Jax's predatory gaze shifts from me to Olivia.
His eyes travel down her body, lingering on the places where her masquerade gown clings to her curves.
It's not just the way he looks at her, but the unhurried, possessive nature of his assessment that makes my skin crawl.
Liv inches closer to me on the cot, a subtle movement that speaks volumes.
Jax steps further into our cell, his expensive suit a stark contrast to the bare concrete surroundings. The door remains open behind him, but the guard positioned there makes any thought of rushing past futile.
"You should settle in, ladies," Jax says, his voice smooth as glass yet sharp enough to cut. "These accommodations aren't the luxury you're accustomed to, I know, but you won’t be go anywhere anytime soon."
Liv's hand finds mine, squeezing tightly.
Jax notices, dark eyes moving to our entwined hands.
"Aurora Harrison," Jax says my name like he's tasting it. "The woman who managed what no one else could – capturing Hunter Reed's undivided attention." His gaze slides back to Liv. "And Olivia Harrison. The supposed fiancée."
Jax moves closer to Liv, who shrinks further against me. He reaches out and twirls a strand of her blonde hair between his fingers. The casual violation makes my stomach clench.
"You know," he says to Liv, "I've watched you at charity events for years. Always so polished, so perfect." His hand moves to hover near her face, not quite touching. "I wondered what was beneath that carefully constructed facade."
"Don't touch her," I snap, pulling Liv closer to me.
Jax's smile widens. "Protective. Just like your lover." He steps back, straightening his cuffs. "You should know, Hunter is tearing the city apart looking for you. It's quite entertaining to watch."
"If you hurt him—" I begin.
"You'll what?" Jax laughs, the sound bouncing off the concrete walls. "You're in no position to make threats, Ms. Harrison." His eyes drift to Olivia again. "Either of you."
Liv raises her chin, finding her courage. "Our father will notice we're missing."
"Derek Harrison," Jax nods. "Yes, I imagine he will. Though I doubt he'll look in my direction. We've had a mutually beneficial relationship for years."
He walks around our cell like he's inspecting property.
"I must say, this is fascinating," Jax continues. "Hunter Reed, the man who feels nothing for anyone, is willing to risk everything for you." He points at me, then shifts his attention back to Liv. "And you, the perfect society daughter, why didn't Hunter want you?"
His eyes linger on the neckline of Liv's gown. "Such pretty girls, both of you."
"What do you want?" I demand.
Jax adjusts his tie, moving toward the door. "In due time, Aurora. For now, I suggest you both get comfortable." He pauses in the doorway, eyes lingering on Liv's body. "We'll have plenty of time to get better acquainted."
I rise to my feet, despite Liv's warning tug on my hand. "We'll be comfortable when you let us out," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Whatever issue you have with Hunter, it has nothing to do with us."
Jax chuckles, the sound echoing off the concrete walls. "On the contrary, Ms. Harrison. You have everything to do with it." His eyes flick back to Liv. "Both of you."
The door slams shut with a metallic thud, the electronic lock engaging with a click that echoes through our concrete cell. Liv’s hand finds mine again, her fingers trembling slightly as they intertwine with my own.
We sit in silence, the weight of Jax's visit hanging heavy in the air between us. His predatory gaze lingers like a ghost, particularly when he looks at Liv—like she’s something to be consumed.