16. ~Aurora~

16

~Aurora~

Ronan really was a sweetheart.

He’d offered to stay after hours at Fusion just so I could pick up my last paycheck without encountering anybody, or any obstacles in doing so. Just so I could actually come in quietly, grab it, then meet Killian in the parking lot in the next ten minutes for that race home on our Harleys that he’d been so excited about.

As I approached the backdoor, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I tensed, worried it was Asher again.

Ever since that incident a couple of nights ago, he’d been checking in with me non-stop, despite me telling him that I was okay now, back to my right mind now we were away from the situation. It had just been a slipup. Nothing more. I was fine. And I would be fine with this last takedown, the big one.

I pulled my phone out and opened the text.

Uncle Drew: Hey, cupcake. How you doing? What’s the verdict on you coming here for Christmas? Time’s coming up fast.

Shit.

With everything that had been going on, I hadn’t responded yet.

No, truthfully, it was more than that. I’d need an excuse to get out of Hexwood, at a time when security was paramount to the guys with the Heretics out there and things going haywire for the Infidels. They’d never let me go without a fight and that was the last thing I wanted. It was why I’d held back and tried to keep things mostly civil with Asher when he’d confronted me the other night. The four of us had grown so close and I loved how things were with us.

The idea of disappointing my uncle gnawed at my insides.

I’d never done it before, I’d always been the dutiful niece.

I also didn’t want to leave him alone when he was exhibiting signs of loneliness and missing family. Missing my dad.

Aurora: I’ll be there.

Uncle Drew: Perfect! I can’t wait!

I smiled at his response.

Aurora: Me neither. Love you.

Uncle Drew: Love you too, cupcake.

I stowed my phone away.

I’d tell the guys.

I’d tell them all about it.

They’d earned my trust at this point. I knew they wouldn’t do anything to hurt me and that included anyone I cared about.

Besides, maybe going back home to family was exactly what I needed, just for a little break.

While Asher had overreacted, all this violence and bloodletting and the depraved nature of the takedowns were actually getting to me a little. It would be nice to take a breather, to help recenter myself.

I moved to open the back door of Fusion when a rustling from the bushes flanking the rear of the building pulled me up short.

I spun in the next second… right into a fist coming at my face.

Caught off guard because I was in my downtime state, I failed to block it in time and it smashed into my cheek, rings scraping across skin and the corner of my mouth, blood exploding on my lip.

The force of it had me stumbling into the wall beside the backdoor.

As I staggered around, fighting to get my bearings, hands wrapped around my throat and slammed me back up against the wall.

And then I looked up into the eyes of a suited guy I vaguely remembered from one of my first shifts at Fusion.

It became clear exactly who he was when I looked past him to see three more of his suited friends hovering right behind him, along with Andrew Hollis who was in sweats, a cervical collar encircling his neck, healing gashes all over his face and a cast on his leg as he supported himself with two crutches. And right beside him was Liza, looking on with aggressive excitement, bouncing up and down, her pink hair flying every which way and her breasts in a corset dress looking like they were a couple of jumps from bursting free.

“You see my buddy there?” the guy squeezing my throat demanded, his slicked back dirty-blond hair not moving an inch as he swung his head toward Andrew.

“I see him just fine,” I rasped against his brutal grip.

“He’s in that state because of you and your golden pussy.”

“Golden, my cute little ass,” Liza spat.

“Sorry, babe,” the guy told her with an adoring expression. “I meant from their perspective… the Infidels.” He turned his attention back to me. “That’s what they think of you. Something special. And that’s what almost killed my buddy there. And then there’s the video that’s fucked all over our lives—Andy’s, Liza’s, and the rest of us by association.”

Liza stormed over and slapped me across the face, her nails scraping down my cheek and feeling like they’d left red-raw marks in their wake. Lovely. I’d just endured the indignity of a bitch slap. Urgh.

“This happened because your buddy there wanted power and went about it in a stupid fucking way,” I told them. “Same with you,” I informed Liza. “You thought you could ride Killian’s dick to get it, so I don’t know what’s worse.”

She snarled at me and went to slap me again, but the guy batted her hand away. “You’ll get your turn. When she’s screaming, sugar plum.”

Sugar plum. Urgh.

“Sure thing, babe,” she agreed with her apparent new boyfriend. She couldn’t leave it fully, though, telling me, “You think you’re better than me, bitch? How are you getting your power? You’re doing the same thing, but riding all their dicks to get yours.”

“You have no idea. I don’t need their power, I have my own.”

“What are you doing with them then? I don’t—you care about them, love them? How can you? They’re monsters. Nobody goes to them for that.”

“We’re all monsters, aren’t we? Look at what you’re doing here.”

She blinked back to herself and ordered her boyfriend, “Lou, hold her while the boys make sure she’s of no use to the Infidels after tonight. They won’t want her all used up and marked by others.”

Lougrinned. “Punishing you and those three fuckers in one shot,” he snarled at me.

“You don’t want to do this, believe me.”

I was trying so hard to tamper down that bloodlusting side of me that had been awakened recently.

It was why I’d entertained this garbage and their pathetic conversation for as long as I had.

But now they were threatening bodily harm and sexual assault from what it sounded like, they were calling that beast out in all her glory.

All of them merely scoffed.

Then Liza moved back to stand with Andrew, the two of them looking on eagerly as their friends closed in around me.

Lou loosened his grip on my neck and eased to the side so one of his friends could make a grab for my belt.

And then I reacted.

I snatched his wrist and twisted, a snap sounding that had him shrieking and falling back.

Before Lou could react, I thrust my knee into his balls, then slammed my arm into the inside of his, breaking his grip on my throat.

A spinning kick to his face had him falling onto his ass and forcing the other three to fall back in response to avoid him crashing into them.

Cursing and roars sounded as they came at me.

And then a blur of movement caught my eye a moment before one of them was literally ripped off his feet and hauled away from me.

I choked in surprise as I saw Ronan there, wailing on them, moving with the speed and skill of a clearly experienced and well-trained fighter.

Before I could take the rest, Jonah and Killian burst onto the scene and launched themselves into the fray.

I sank back against the wall as they put them down in record time, Ronan working well with them.

As Liza made a run for it with Andrew struggling behind, she suddenly shrieked as Asher stepped out of the shadows.

He grabbed her by her hair and wrenched her down to her knees by it.

Then he leaned in and spoke something I couldn’t hear from here that had her trembling.

Jonah was there then with him and dragging Liza and Andrew away like they were ragdolls.

“Shit, darlin’,” Killian cried, rushing to me and looking me over urgently. “Are you okay? Fuck, this bruise, this scratch… nail marks!”

I snatched his hands and held them between us. “I’m fine. Really. It’s just superficial.”

Looking out, I saw Asher looking me over too.

When he’d made sure I was okay, he smiled at me, then turned on his heel and pulled out his phone, staring at the fallen guys, obviously calling to have them dealt with and removed from the rear of the restaurant.

Ronan came up to us and Killian shook his hand. “Thanks. We hightailed it down here once we saw what was happening, but we weren’t fast enough. You were.”

“Just in the right place at the right time,” Ronan rumbled.

I stared at him. No. It was more than that.

He’d been… ready.

And the way he’d just thrown himself into the fight… he’d known what he was doing. He’d been prepared to do it too.

“Aurora?”

I jolted and looked at Killian who was calling to me worriedly. “Yeah?”

“Let’s get you home, okay?”

I nodded. “Good idea.”

“Wait,” Ronan said, and I watched as he reached into the pocket of his puffer jacket and handed me my pay check. “Don’t forget what you came for.”

“Right. Thank you. And thanks for your help. Really.”

“No worries at all.”

As Killian went to ease me away so we could head home, Ronan pulled us up short, laying a gentle hand on my shoulder.

His looked at me intently. “With all of this happening, now would be a good time for you to take a break from Hexwood for a while, get away from it all. Maybe before the Christmas break.”

What the—

“That’s enough,” Killian bit back, tensing against me. “I need to get her home.”

Ronan stared at me for a few moments, before plastering on a smile for Killian. “Sure,” he said. “Just please take care of yourself, Aurora.”

With that, he gave me a sweet smile, his eyes swimming with worry, before he turned on his heel and headed back into the building.

Killian led me around to the parking lot, fussing over me and checking my face, lip, and cheek. As we reached my bike, I started in shock as I found his a few feet from mine on the ground, just downed. His pride and joy.

“Oh my God!” I cried, pulling from him and going to it. “How did—why?”

“It’s fine.”

I looked up at him incredulously. “It’s not fine.”

“I came in here fast with Jonah. There wasn’t time to be gentle about anything.” He stepped up to me and slid a hand around my waist. Brushing my hair out of my face, he told me, “All I could think about was getting to you, making sure you were okay, that they didn’t touch you, hurt you.”

“Thank you for coming for me.”

He grimaced as he eyed my very mild injuries. “We weren’t fast enough. They did touch you.”

“Just scratches. I’m really fine. I promise.”

He pulled me to him and he held me tightly for several moments.

I sank into him, breathing him in.

“Where are Jonah and Asher?” I asked after a while, pulling back to look up at him.

“Dealing with the broader scope of the situation.”

I winced.

“It has to be done. These fuckers are dangerous and they’ve only grown more so.”

Well, I didn’t disagree there.

“Nothing fatal, right?”

“No. Not on home territory. It’ll alert Carson and warrant his interference. The last thing we need right now with what we’re doing.”

I took all of that in, then pulled away from him.

In the next moment, I was getting my phone out.

The urge to do it now had just overtaken me, and I had to get it off my chest.

“Aurora?” he said, off the nervous look that had to be all over me right about now.

I scrolled to the text messages in question, then looked out at him. “There’s something I need to tell you—and show you.”

He tensed. “Okay.”

“I know how you are with secrets, so you’ll need to brace yourself.”

I could see his jaw working but he managed to force a smile for me. “I’m listening.”

I sucked in a breath then revealed, “I have an uncle.”

I handed him my phone and watched as he took it and scanned the messages.

His expression didn’t change. There was nothing to work with. I couldn’t tell how he was taking it at all.

When he actually did speak again, I startled.

“On your father’s side?”

I swallowed hard and managed to utter an unsteady, “Yeah.”

“Huh.”

“He’s my dad’s older brother.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“I know. It was a lie by omission, but still keeping a secret from you. Just like you hate Asher doing.”

He looked up from my phone, frowning. “What? No. I meant, I can’t believe you’re trusting me with this.”

“You… really?”

He gently pushed my phone back into my hand, the corner of his mouth turning up with what was definitely amusement. “Why do you look so scared, darlin’?”

I stowed my phone away. “Because… secrets… you…”

“I’m not upset or mad.”

“Why not?”

He reached out and brushed his thumb over my cheek, careful to avoid the abrasions. His other grasped my hip as he pushed himself against me so our bodies were touching gloriously, sending a tremble of awareness through me. “The secret-keeping with Asher is different, Aurora. I’ve known him for years, we’ve been friends since childhood and brothers since our teen years. We’ve lived together for a long time. We’re brothers. And still he pulls that shit of his, not trusting us, going around us, behind our backs.” He sucked in a breath to dispel how worked up talking about that had gotten him, then he told me calmly, “It’s different for you. Trust takes time, especially when it comes to something like this. This Uncle Drew is your family and you don’t have a whole lot of that—blood family anyway. This was you protecting him in that ferociously beautiful way of yours. What we’re mixed up in, combined with the way things started out with you coming into our lives… it’s a lot to push past. Trust was fractured before it even really got the chance to take root.” A huge, beaming smile spread over his face. “So you telling me this now, it’s a major fucking deal. It shows just how much you trust me, maybe us, if you’re gonna tell Ash and J too. It’s a major marker in this weird-ass relationship of ours.” He shifted from my cheek to stroking my hair. “And it means a fuck of a lot to me.”

I couldn’t believe it.

He was so… he was just incredible with me.

Considering the way things had started off, what seemed like a distant memory now, it was all the more remarkable and absolutely amazing.

“It means a lot to me too.”

His eyes shone. “Yeah?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“You play it close to your vest a lot of the time. With the big stuff. The big feelings, darlin’.”

Yeah, I did. It was a defense mechanism, me trying to stop myself from falling too hard.

Well, in this case, trying to convince myself that I already hadn’t.

God, it was ridiculous.

We were long past that now.

Every day that went by just proved that in yet another way.

The way I felt about the three of them… it could no longer be contained.

Before I could get a word out, Killian told me, “I actually think it’s a good idea for you to go home for Christmas. To your uncle, I mean.”

I cocked a very skeptical eyebrow, given how he was with me, something that had just been demonstrated minutes ago with his harsh refusal to even entertain Ronan’s advice that I take a break away from Hexwood. I didn’t see Asher reacting any better. Maybe worse. Jonah was the only one who I expected to be cool with it, as he let things roll off his back a whole lot better than the other two. His presence really helped to break up that intensity.

“You’re not just okay with me going away, but you’re actually pushing for it?” I asked, unable to hide my incredulity even slightly.

He grinned. “Seems way out there, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“Absolutely… hmm, Asher again. But, yeah, if Ash can arrange it where you’ll be safe to leave, I think it’ll be good for you to take a break from all of this. Spend Christmas with your uncle, then come back to us and we’ll have a second celebration here.” He gazed at me with utter adoration. “I want you happy and at peace, so if this is what it takes—and I think it is at this point—I’m all for you doing it.”

“I love you, Killian.”

His hand stroking my hair stilled.

His eyes went wide, a whole wealth of emotions flickering in them all at once.

I chuckled as I took his hand on my hip and held it between us, giving it a squeeze. “You all right there?”

“Fuck,” he croaked. “I love you.” He tugged our joined hands to his chest, resting them over his heart. “I’ve wanted to say it for a while, but I didn’t want to freak you out.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “I want to kiss you so badly right now, but… your lip… you’re hurt.”

“It’s worth it.”

I caught him off guard in the next moment as I wrapped my free hand around his nape and tugged him down to me, crushing my lips to his.

It wasn’t a wild, out of control frenzy this time, instead, slow and easy, as we reveled in one another and our shared confession.

I opened for him and his tongue slid into my mouth, hooking around mine, tasting me, breathing me in, as I did him.

When we pulled back he was looking at me with so much affection, love, and no small hint of possessiveness, that it cracked something inside of me.

I sank into him and he wrapped me up tightly, nuzzling my hair.

And then our phones buzzed in quick succession, invading the heartfelt moment.

Killian grumbled and pulled his phone out, still holding me with one arm tight to me.

He was cursing in the next moment and it had me easing back.

He flipped his phone to show me the text that had just come in.

Asher: No ride. Head straight home.

I frowned and looked around, then asked Killian, “Is he watching us?”

Killian rolled his eyes. “No doubt.” He stuffed his phone back in his pocket. “Invasive bastard, tainting every moment.”

I kissed his cheek. “Not every moment.”

He smiled, then sighed. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but he’s right this time. We should tend to those injuries.” He traced around the scratch marks on my cheek, avoiding the actual bloodied marks themselves. “These are still bleeding.”

“Yeah, okay. I could do with a stiff drink too.”

“Right there with you, darlin’.”

I hissedas the alcohol drenched cue tip connected with my bloodied cheek and those fucking nail scrapes.

Asher raised an eyebrow. “Come on, tough girl. You took a stab wound from me but you can’t handle this?”

“Fuck off, Ash,” Killian groused.

Asher only smiled as he eyed Killian. “Still sore about all that, darling boy? Come closer and I’ll give you another cock rub, soothe you like I did the other day in the garage.”

“There! Finally!” Jonah exclaimed, turning from where he was making us all some drinks. His gaze fell on me. “Now we know what went down with them.” He looked out at Asher and Killian. “We’d been wondering. Thank fuck it finally came out, my curiosity was spinning out of control.”

“You should find better ways to occupy your mind then,” Killian snapped.

He was harsher than he needed to be.

It was always a giveaway with him when something was bothering him through how he reacted to Asher and even his slight provocations.

And right now he was upset.

It was because after our I-love-you’s we hadn’t gotten to have that ride that he’d wanted, or even to spend some time alone reveling in it. We’d been ordered back here by Asher instead.

I stroked his hand as he sat on the edge of the table beside me, while Asher was perched on the chair to my left, the first-aid kit out on the tabletop in front of him.

“I just was expecting some warning, is all,” I told Asher.

“Giving a warning makes it worse.”

“True that,” Jonah agreed as he came to the table and placed a beer down in front of Killian, scotch in front of Asher, and tequila in front of me, while he then took a couple of big gulps from his vodka.

“You all right there?” Killian asked him, knowing as we all did that Jonah usually took his time whenever he drank. He savored it.

“Just trying to numb the memory of me riding bitch on your Harley earlier.”

Killian chuckled. “Come on now, J, it suited you.”

Jonah rolled his eyes, then looked at me. “See how much I care about you, baby? Riding with this motherfucker right here?” He pinched Killian’s cheek. “Aww, my Pretty. You know I love you really, yeah?”

Killian clasped his shoulder. “I know it, brother.”

“Thank you. All of you.”

All three of them stared at me, wide eyes, cocked eyebrows.

“What?”

“We’d been waiting on your usual I-could’ve-handled-it response,” Jonah told me.

I grinned. “Well, I could have, but it was nice to have backup.”

“We’re a team now,” Killian said, running his fingers over my skull ring. “We’ve always got you, darlin’.”

“Even when you don’t necessarily believe you want it,” Asher spoke, rather ominously.

“What does that mean?”

He finished treating my cheek, the lip just needing to heal, along with the red handprint around my throat. He snatched up the ice pack he’d brought out a little while ago. “Hold this to that black eye for ten minutes. It’ll help with the swelling. It’s mild, but it’s still going to leave a bruise.”

“Those fuckers won’t bother you again,” Jonah growled.

“They should never have gotten close in the first place,” Killian said.

“I agree, but it’s been dealt with now,” Asher said, his eyes flashing at Killian. “We need to let it go.”

“Because of me?” I asked, picking up on some subtext there. And also Killian actually not just agreeing, but wanting me to take a break. “You’re all worried I’ll go after them in a bloodlusting rampage? Is that it?”

“You wanted to go after Liza before,” Asher pointed out.

“That was then.”

“And she’s since escalated. They threatened to have you gang raped, Aurora.”

“Threatened. It didn’t happen and it wouldn’t have even if you guys and Ronan hadn’t shown up. I would’ve stopped them.”

“And you would’ve lost control. That sort of thing is one of your triggers, something I discerned from your reactions during our dollhouse takedowns.”

“I think that sort of thing would anger anybody and have them freaking the fuck out.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“I’m not going after her or her accomplices. You said you’ve dealt with it, I believe you. I’m content with that.” I grunted, then took a couple of sips of my drink, wincing as it burned my cut lip.

“You want a straw?” Jonah asked.

“I’m okay, thanks.” I glared at Asher. “I can handle it.”

He was on his way to putting the first-aid kit away in the cabinet, but at my words he stilled, then slammed it down on the kitchen island, his eyes flashing my way.

It had all of us jolting, especially given that he didn’t usually rage and lose his temper.

“You can’t handle it.”

“What?” I snapped, shooting to my feet.

“Fuck, Ash,” Killian grumbled as I brushed past him, storming over to Asher.

“No! No more kid gloves. You begged me to play it nice and gentle with this issue, but it’s not working, as you can damn well see!”

“What is this? You’ve been going behind my back talking about all of this?” I shot a look at Killian. “That’s why you were pushing for me to go away for winter break?”

Killian held up his hand. “It’s not what you—”

“Killian!” Asher snapped, drawing his attention back to him.

“I’m just thinking, maybe—”

“Don’t fall into the trap of backtracking for fear of creating a fissure in your relationship with her. It’s stronger than that. This is needed.”

“But I—”

“Do. You. Disagree?” Asher ground out, his eyes burning into Killian’s.

Killian scrubbed his hand over his face. “No.” He turned to me. “I’m sorry, darlin’, he’s right. And it’s to help you. It’s because we care about you.”

I frowned. “What’s to help me? This conversation, or something more?”

Jonah sighed, took a big gulp of his vodka, then slumped onto one of the kitchen island stools.

Killian reached out and rubbed my arm. “I’m sorry, Aurora.”

“Sorry? About what?”

Asher rounded the island toward me. “You’re sitting out the last dollhouse takedown.”

“I’m what?” I snapped.

“It’s the final one, the biggest one, and the most complicated operation. I can’t have any mistakes, or anyone going off mission. You’ll remain back here.”

“Is that why you brought in Caleb for the job? You knew you were going to do this?”

“Yes,” he confirmed without even a trace of regret.

“So, he’s replacing me?”

“Replacing you?” Killian said. “Hell, no. Nobody could do that.”

“In this case, no, because he won’t be losing his shit all over the hostiles, cutting into them, collaring them and subjecting them to sexual degradation as punishment for their crimes.”

“Not on mission, at least,” Jonah muttered.

Asher’s eyes flashed at him. “Really? Still holding a grudge, Jonah? I’m highly disappointed. I told you clearly that it was years ago.”

“When you were experimenting with that priest, I got it.”

“He was a missionary, not a priest.”

“You could’ve come to me,” Jonah muttered.

“It was years ago.”

“Either way, it’s still fucking—”

“Stop,” Asher growled in warning.

“Whatever,” Jonah grumbled.

“I know that’s why you went the other way with the vote, all because you didn’t want Cal there on mission with us. It’s ancient history, Jonah. And you need to get a grip and approach this rationally, or this final takedown will fail before it begins. The Infidels have shored up security, this being the last site they have remaining. It will be a challenge to take.”

Asher’s glare faltered when he saw the look in Jonah’s eyes, a wounded puppy look.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Asher offered, surprising Jonah and the rest of us.

“Yeah?” he asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Yes.”

As Asher sucked in a breath and scrubbed his hand over his face, trying to calm his riled up state, he took a few moments, then looked at me. “You’re benched. The vote was two-to-one. It would’ve been unanimous if not for the Caleb issue Jonah is struggling with.”

I took a moment as well, so that I didn’t react in an emotional or perceived unhinged way.

“Look, I get what you’re doing, that this is coming from a good place. But I’m not useless and I don’t want to be made to feel that way.”

“You’re very skilled, that’s not in question. Your help has proven invaluable,” he told me.

“You can kick ass with the best of us,” Jonah said.

“And we wouldn’t even have had the locations of these dollhouses sites if it hadn’t been for you,” Killian said, reaching out and stroking my hair in that sweet way. It actually worked to soothe me and keep me in a calmed state.

“Thank you,” I told them. “What I saw in those hellholes did get under my skin, yes. I admit I lost control a couple of times. Not every time. And I was just attacked and I limited the damage I dealt out. Majorly.”

“I can’t risk it. Like I said, this operation needs to go off without a hitch. This is different because the Infidels are expecting this attack. It’s their last site, they’re going to defend it with all their might.”

“Exactly why you need me to be a part of it. We started this together, we finish it together.”

“There’s still more to do beyond the dollhouse aspect. This is us striking at their finances and resources, severing them from their major partners and discrediting them in the process. Weakening them. All leading up to us being able to strike at the Head Infidels directly.”

“Asher, you can’t just—”

“You. Are. Benched.”

I moved to speak again, to argue my case.

But he held up his hand and closed his fist. “Final word.”

I cursed under my breath.

I was right on the verge of losing my cool.

That would just give him more ammunition and reinforce his decision.

Son of a bitch!

He couldn’t do this to me.

He couldn’t cut me out.

We’d started this together.

My intel was what had brought us here, and now he was shoving me onto the sidelines?

Just from a couple of… hiccups?

It was bullshit.

Absolute bullshit.

With a snarl, I spun from them all, and stormed out of the room.