“Hunt.” Penn’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “We need to move.”
I nod mechanically, but my mind stays with Aurora. The contrast is jarring—her light against the darkness of what I just did, what I am. She’s pure despite everything, an angel I somehow managed to touch without completely corrupting her.
For the first time in my life, I feel a cold finger of fear trace down my spine. Not for myself—never for myself—but for her. What Jax might do to her. How he might hurt what’s mine.
I wipe Kevin’s blood from my knife, jaw clenching. “I’ll find her,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. “I don’t care how many of Jax’s men I have to put in the ground.”
The oath settles into my bones with terrible certainty. I’ll gut every fucking member of the Vipers if that’s what it takes. I’ll burn our organization to ashes. I’ll dismantle everything we’ve built over the past decade.
For her. Only for her.
Aurora is the light in my otherwise black existence, and I won’t let her be extinguished. Not while I still draw breath.
6
AURORA
Jax stands in the doorway, his imposing figure blocking the only escape route. I position myself slightly in front of Olivia, a pathetic shield considering we’re both still in our ball gowns.
“I hope you ladies are settling into your new accommodation well.” Jax’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. He surveys our concrete prison with the pride of a hotel manager showing off a presidential suite.
“Charming place. The concrete really brings out the bleakness,” I reply, keeping my voice steady despite the fear clawing up my throat.
Olivia crosses her arms. “The room service is terrible. I ordered champagne an hour ago.”
I fight the urge to look at her in surprise. Even captive, Olivia maintains her socialite wit.
Jax’s expression remains placid, unmoved by our attempts at bravado. He steps into the cell, and the door slides shut behind him with a hiss. My stomach drops. We’re now locked in with him.
“What the hell do you want?” I demand, hands balling into fists at my sides. “You’ve had us drugged, kidnapped, and thrown into a cell. At least have the decency to tell us why.”
Jax tilts his head, studying me with unsettling intensity. “It’s quite simple, Aurora. I want Hunter Reed’s head.”
The casual way he says it sends ice through my veins.
“And what better way to claim it,” he continues, “than to take the perfect leverage? The woman he’s supposed to marry—” he gestures to Olivia, “—and the woman he loves.” His eyes fix on mine.
My breath catches. The way he says it, like he’s been stalking us, makes my skin crawl.
“Hunter’s been planning to overthrow me for years,” Jax says, pacing the small space. “I’ve seen the signs for a while. He thinks I don’t notice, but I see everything.”
His voice rises, a manic edge creeping in. “Hunter believes he can replace me. Me! After everything I built!” He slams his fist against the wall, making us both flinch.
The sudden violence confirms what I already suspected: we’re dealing with someone deeply paranoid and completely psychotic.
I study Jax’s face, searching for any sign he’s joking, but his expression remains deadly serious. Something doesn’t add up. When he told me about Jax, he never once mentioned ambitions to overthrow him. If anything, Hunter spoke of the man with a strange mix of respect and caution.
“You’re wrong,” I say. “Hunter isn’t plotting against you.”
Jax laughs, the sound humorless. “And what would you know of our organization, little girl? Of the years I’ve spent watching him gather allies, position his people, build his resources?”
His eyes dart around the room as he speaks, like he’s seeing invisible evidence on the bare walls. The movement strikes me as unhinged.
“You’ve been with him, what? A few weeks? I’ve known Hunter Reed for fifteen years.” Jax steps closer, his breath hot on my face. “I made him what he is.”
Olivia shifts behind me. I can feel her trembling.
“If Hunter wanted to take your position, he would have done it already,” I counter, remembering how efficiently Hunter handles everything. “He’s not exactly the patient type.”
