48
AURORA
I jolt awake to raised voices and heavy footsteps outside Reece’s bedroom.
“If they break into this house, I’m shooting first and asking questions later.”
Desi’s snarled words carry down the hall and send a wave of fear through my entire body, pushing aside any remnants of sleep.
“Try not to kill anyone!” Charlie shouts. “Ethan wouldn’t want that.”
“The fuck he wouldn’t,” barks Dante from farther away, his voice deeper than his twin’s. “He’s a Rossi. Ain’t nobody touching his family.”
Desi throws open the door Reece and Charlie only finished fixing this afternoon, and a beam of light trails behind him. In a hoodie and joggers, he rushes toward me.
I throw off the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. “What’s going on?”
“We need to get to the safe room. Men are surrounding the house.”
My heart rate skyrockets. “Where’s everyone?” If the twins are home, Jax and Ethan should be home. If not… “Reece?”
“At Kyle’s.” He crouches. “I’m going to lift you.” He brings my trembling body into his arms and cradles my head. “Tuck in. We have a lot of windows to pass.”
Why would Reece be at Kyle’s? He wouldn’t leave me unless it were urgent—unless there was an issue when Jax went to retrieve his bike.
Now, we’re being hit here, which can’t be a coincidence. “They wanted me alone? They want to use me against Jax?”
With a forearm under my ass and the other shielding my head, Desi moves into the now silent hallway. “If so, they’re in for a big fucking surprise.”
Slowly, he approaches the living area. Glass shatters downstairs, a window breaking, and I jolt, letting out a whimper.
“Shh… Dante is down there. He won’t let anyone up the stairs.”
He presses his back to the wall and peers around the corner at the glass doors leading to the patio and pool. My heartbeat pounds in my throat, and the baby moves, either from adrenaline or from not enjoying the confined space.
I tense, a cold sweat prickling along my skin, and nausea rolls in my gut. It’s the oddest thing, but I’m suddenly disturbed by being in someone else’s arms—even if it is Desi, and this is an emergency.
Before I can think more of it, he’s creeping forward, only to jump back.
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath and pivots toward the bedroom. “We won’t make it to the safe room. It’s gonna have to be the security room.”
I point my toes to the floor and stretch out my legs. “Let me go. I’ll run there.”
He releases me, one hand reaching behind his back. “Lock and barricade the door.”
Four gunshots erupt in quick succession, accompanied by an explosion of glass crashing onto the hardwood. The blast is piercing and violent, unlike anything I’ve ever heard. My breath hitches, and I skid to a halt. I whirl around with my hands firmly clasped over my ears.
Desi blocks the mouth of the hallway, gun raised. He glances over his shoulder. “Go, Aurora!”
Despite the ringing in my ears, I understand him clearly. Sock-footed, I race into the security room and slam the door, my feet nearly sliding from underneath me.
I stare at the keypad, my thoughts fuzzy and in disarray, and for a moment, I’m unsure of what to do.
“Hit the padlock icon, baby!” comes a raspy voice from above.
My quivering fingers locate the button, and the locking mechanism clicks into place.
“Jax!” I gaze at the ceiling, although I can’t see him. “We’re under attack? All of us?”
“Yes.” He lets out ashuddering breath. “Push one of the leather chairs in front of the door and get under the desk.”
Hopping from one foot to the other, I pull off my socks for traction and follow his instructions, using all my strength.
Before I climb under the desk, I look up and ask, “Are you alright?”
There’s a heavy pause, and my stomach churns, a tear sliding down my cheek.
It’s Ethan who answers, his voice raw with restrained emotion. “We’re alright, baby girl. Be safe for me. We’ll be there soon.”