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’shand 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.
5
HUNTER
Iload another magazine into my Glock, the mechanical click grounding me. The armory beneath my penthouse hums with activity as my men prepare for war.
Penn approaches, strapping a tactical vest over his chest. “I’ve got ten of our most loyal. They’ll meet us at the rendezvous point.”
“And the others?” I ask, not looking up from my weapon.
“Most are staying neutral. For now.” Penn’s voice hardens. “But Jax has at least thirty who’ll die for him without question.”
Ari steps forward. “My contacts confirm movement at the riverside property. Heavy security, rotating in pairs. Definitely not standard security.”
Grayson materializes beside us. “I’ve disabled the main alarm system remotely. But Jax will have contingencies.” He places a tablet before me showing the property’s layout. “There’s an access point here that’s less defended.”
Blaze checks the edge of his knife with his thumb. “Just say the word, Hunt. We stick with you, not with Jax. Always have.”
I study each of them—men I’ve known since we were boys, stealing cigarettes at boarding school. Men who built an empirealongside me. Each with their own reasons to stay loyal to the Vipers, and to Jax. Yet here they stand, choosing me.
“You understand what this means,” I state rather than ask. “There’s no going back. Jax won’t forgive this.”
Penn grins. “Fuck Jax.”
“He took what’s mine.” My voice drops to a dangerous whisper. “I’m going to burn his world to ash.”
Kevin whimpers from his chair, restrained and terrified. Grayson glances at him with detached interest. “Our ticket in is sufficiently motivated.”
“Let’s move out, then,” I state, and all at once we mobilize.
Twenty minutes later, our convoy approaches the riverside property. The police scanner crackles with confused reports—multiple disturbances across the city, all at Viper-owned businesses. My diversion.
“Contact,” Penn warns as headlights appear ahead.
The first bullet shatters our windshield. I duck instinctively as our driver swerves. Gunfire erupts between the attackers and us.
“They knew we were coming.” Blaze returns fire through his window.
“Of course they did.” I check my weapon. “Jax knows us too well.”
We all rush out of the SUVs and fight our way through the initial wave of Jax’s men, leaving bodies in our wake. Blood stains the pristine marble of the riverside property’s entrance. Kevin trembles behind me, his usefulness rapidly diminishing with each passing second.
“The basement entrance is through here,” he whimpers, pointing toward a reinforced door.
I grab him by the collar and drag him forward. “Your retinal scan better work.”
