1
HUNTER
Ipush out of the back room, temples throbbing from Jax’s useless lecture. Break it off with Aurora. Focus on the Vipers. The same bullshit warnings I’ve heard a dozen times now. The man is becoming a broken record, and my patience is wearing dangerously thin.
The masquerade ball swirls in full swing, a kaleidoscope of jewel-toned gowns and elaborate masks. I scan the crowd, searching for Aurora’s dark hair. Nothing. My chest tightens. I’ve left her alone with no way to contact me.
I prowl through the crowd, checking each corner of the ballroom. Where the fuck is she?
That’s when I spot Ari near the bar, slumped in a chair. His normally perfect posture is gone, his mask hanging awkwardly from one hand, face ashen.
“What happened?” I grip his shoulder hard.
His eyes struggle to focus. “Drugged me... something in my drink.”
The words hit like a bullet. “Where’s Aurora?”
“They took her.” Ari’s hand trembles uncontrollably as he grabs my wrist. “Three men. Professionals. I told her to runwhen I realized, but I couldn’t even fucking stand.” His voice cracks. “I couldn’t stop them.”
Ice fills my veins, followed by molten rage. “When?”
“Ten minutes ago. Through the east service exit.” He swallows hard. “Not just Aurora. Olivia, too.”
Something violent awakens in my blood. Someone has put their hands on what is mine.
“Did you recognize them?”
“No. Black suits, earpieces. They seemed like military.”
I pull out my phone, thumb an emergency code to Penn and Blaine.
“When you can stand, get to the security room,” I order Ari.
Ari points weakly toward the eastern alcove. “There. That’s where I last saw them.”
I nod and move toward it. The alcove is tucked away from the main ballroom, partially concealed by a heavy velvet curtain. I scan the area, searching for any sign of them, any clue.
That’s when I see it, glinting under the ambient light. I drop to one knee, fingers closing around the delicate diamond necklace I’d given Aurora. The tracking necklace. The fucking tracking necklace that was supposed to protect her.
“Goddamn it!” I slam my fist against the wall, earning startled glances from nearby guests. The diamonds cut into my palm as I squeeze, pain barely registering through my rage.
Jax. That manipulative bastard. His urgent “meeting” about nothing—just bullshit. All while his men were taking Aurora.
Taking what’s mine.
I scan the crowded room, searching for Jax’s towering figure. He’s nowhere. The pounding music and laughter feel like a mockery now.
“Penn!” I bark into my comm. “Location on Jax. Now.”
“Negative. He’s gone dark. His security detail cleared out through the underground garage five minutes ago.”
I turn to Ari, who’s now attempting to stand. “Get security footage. I want every camera, every angle. And I need his current location.”
“On it,” Penn says.
Ari approaches me. “We need to be careful, Hunter. These men were military-grade level professionals. They knew exactly what they were doing.”
I pocket the necklace, my mind already planning the violence that will follow.
