There is no way in hell I will allow this motherfucker to put his hands on me that way.
Angelica stumbles forward and crashes into the wall. It’s enough of a distraction for me to bring my knee up with every bit of strength I have and nail him in his junk. He crumples to the floor, emitting a high-pitched wail, and I run as fast as I can into my bedroom, throwing the locks and lifting the window. I leap out, my feet hitting the concrete, and I sprint away from the apartment building as if the hounds of hell were nipping at my feet.
Run. Run. Faster, Aurora.
Out of breath and praying that I’m far enough away, I stop and drag in deep gulps of oxygen. Taking out my phone from my back pocket, I send a message to the one person that comes to mind that I think can help me.
Me: Emergency.
Chapter 12
I’m hit in the head with a piece of popcorn as Prescott flings the game controller in the air. “Come on! I had you! How’d you kill my guy?”
Dustin puts the bag of microwave popcorn on the coffee table in front of us. “JD is a stealth attacker. I did warn you, Prez.”
“Two out of three,” Prescott challenges me.
“You know you’re going to lose. Why prolong the inevitable?” I smirk at him.
“Pick up your controller, jackass. It’s game on,” he retorts.
Dustin throws a few pieces of popcorn up in the air and catches them with his mouth. “I could go for some pizza.”
“We just had some last night,” I remind him.
Dustin gives me a look of horror that says no one can eat too much pizza. “Dude, seriously?” he voices with mock disgust at my comment.
“Whose phone just pinged?” Prez asks, refusing to take his hands or eyes off the game playing on the screen.
“Mine,” I reply. I hit the pause button to pick up my phone, and Prez calls me a bitch-ass fool.
PrincessAurora: Emergency.
Smiling, I hit dial, wanting to hear her voice. This is the first time Aurora has texted me, and damn, does it make me feel ten feet tall.
“Hey, sunshine. Need rescuing?” I say as soon as I hear her answer.
“Jackson?”
I sit up. Something is wrong. Her voice doesn’t sound right. Chills race down my spine and I pop up off the couch, motioning for the guys to shut the hell up so I can hear her.
“Aurora, what’s wrong?”
“Something’s wrong with Rory?” Dustin asks, and he punches Prez in the shoulder to get his attention.
“Aurora?” I say her name again, trying to hold down the panic I’m feeling.
I hear her swallow in breaths like she’s having trouble breathing. “I need help,” she whispers.
She sounds scared. I’m already heading out the door, Dustin and Prescott following right behind me.
“Where are you? I’m coming right now. Just tell me where you are.”
“Um, I see the gas station up ahead. The one with the dinosaur logo.”
Is she walking in the dark? By herself?
“Babe, do you know which one? There are two in town. Is it the one near Maple or the one near the old strip mall?”
