Chapter 24
twenty-four
Anxiety and adrenaline rush through my bloodstream as I make my way through the house towards Breaker’s bedroom.
I can hear Eli and Break shouting and a third voice I don’t recognize yells back.
Between the thunderous roars, I hear the tiniest whimpers and sobs coming from Rory, somewhere in that room.
As I step through the doorway, I see a man dressed in all black holding Aurora with one hand around her throat and the other pressing a gun to her head.
Elijah and Breaker both have their weapons trained on him.
Aurora is trembling in his grasp, naked and terrified, with blood coming from a cut in her lip.
“Let her go,” Eli says, the venom in his voice saturating the room around us. Breaker’s white-knuckled grip on his pistol is a direct expression of the rage coursing through his veins right now. His eyes are locked on Aurora’s, desperate to end the suffering she’s enduring.
The man’s grip tightens around her throat and she whimpers, “I don’t know boys, I kinda like holding on to this little hellcat.”
Tears stream down her face, and Breaker takes a step closer. “Let her go or I’ll fucking end you,” he shouts to the intruder.
The man trains his gun on Breaker, “Ah ah ah, watch it. I have no problem putting a bullet in this pretty head.” He yanks aurora’s hair, tilting her head back until she’s wincing. I can see the anguish playing out in Breaker’s eyes, knowing he can’t make a move without someone getting hurt.
“It’s me you’re after, asshole. Just let her go,” I speak up, drawing his attention away from Breaker.
“That fucking congressman is willing to pay a pretty penny for you, even more if we bring you back alive,” he sneers, a sinister grin spreading across his lips.
I exchange a look with Elijah, who gives me a small shake of his head. I know no one will be happy with what I’m about to do, but I won’t let them pay for my sins.
“Then take me and let her go.” I slowly place my pistol on the floor, putting my hands up in surrender.
“Oh fuck no, you’re not going anywhere.” Elijah makes a move to stop me, but I shake him off.
“You let her go and I’ll go with you. You can take me to the congressman and get your fucking money.” I hope I’m at least buying some time for the guys to come up with a plan. But if not, I’d gladly trade my life for Aurora’s. She’s innocent in all of this.
“Get over here. On your fucking knees,” the man motions for me to kneel in front of him and I do. “Put these on him.” He gives Aurora a pair of zip-cuffs and shoves her towards me. Her hands tremble and tears roll down her cheeks as she tightens the restraints around my wrists.
“Please don’t do this, Ev,” she whispers to me, but I don’t respond.
Once I’m secured, he shoves aurora towards the guys. Breaker immediately pushes her behind him, stripping his shirt off and handing it to her.
“Now everybody’s gonna play real nice until we’re long gone,” the intruder says, grabbing me by the arm and hauling me to my feet.
We back out of the bedroom, his gun pressed tightly to my side while Eli and Breaker keep theirs trained on him.
We make our way to the front door, the man kicking it open behind us.
There’s a black SUV idling at the end of the driveway with two people standing just outside the gate, rifles strapped to their chests.
These men came here willing to do whatever was necessary to leave with me.
I’m even more convinced that I made the right decision to trade places with aurora, knowing they wouldn’t have hesitated to end her life.
“I don’t fucking like this, Everett,” Elijah grits out between clenched teeth. “This is a stupid idea. You’re gonna get yourself killed.”
“Better me than her,” I nod in Rory’s direction as she clings to Breaker’s back.
“Well, ain’t that so sweet,” the man says with a dark chuckle.
“Stay here,” Breaker says, pushing Rory back into the house. She makes a choked whimpering sound when he releases her, but doesn’t argue. We make our way down the driveway towards the iron security gates at the end.
“Open it,” he says to Breaker, and he walks to the panel and places his palm flat on the scanner. The gate slides open and the man shoves me back ways towards the others waiting at the SUV.
The last thing I see before I’m thrown in the trunk is the furious, tense faces of my best friends, knowing it may be the last time.