Chapter 87

Aurora POV

My hands tremble as I grip the edge of the payphone, the cold metal pressing into my palm hard as my fingers clench around it.

I count to five while the car behind me speeds off, forcing my breathing to hitch just right in order to allow the panic to settle in my throat like a coiled serpent.

The staged bruises on my jaw and temple ache from how hard Alek’s men slapped me around while we’d made our way here from the mansion. Looking at my reflection staring back at me in the cracked glass of the booth, I’m startled. My dress is torn at the hem and smeared with my own blood.

I look like hell.

Perfect.

I dial Dominic’s number, fingers shaking so badly I have to start over twice. The line rings once… twice. I almost think he won’t pick up but then he finally does.

“Who is this?” His voice is sharp, alert.

I let the sob crack through my voice immediately. “I can’t talk long. I think they’re watching me.”

“Where are you?” His voice hardens, steel threaded with alarm.

I’m barely able to get the words out between gasps, every ounce of fear in my tone practiced and believable. This is the most important performance of my life, one I need to make damn sure is believable or else I’m screwed. “I-I don’t know. I got out. I’m at a payphone… I ran as far as I could…”

“Stay right where you are, I’m having the twins trace your call. I’ll be right there. Don’t hang up.”

I nod even though he can’t see it, leaning my forehead against the cool metal of the booth as I soon hear him get into a car, the engine roaring to life on his end. I can hear the tightness in his breathing, the way he’s gripping the wheel. It hits me for a second—how much of this fear and urgency is real for him. How real it should be for me, too.

But it’s all an act.

Alek’s men are already in position across the street, loitering like bored thugs waiting for the go-ahead. They’ll “find” me right before Dominic arrives, making the exchange just enough of a hassle to look like I’m being recaptured.

Alek wanted it dramatic. Believable.

Hopefully they don’t rough me up too hard again. My body already aches enough as it is. It wouldn’t do us any good if I’m too hurt to actually work this job.

I press the receiver tighter against my ear. “I’m scared, Dominic.”

“I’ve got you, just hang on. I’m almost there.”

Before I can respond, the door of the phone booth slams open and rough hands grab me, yanking me back.

I make sure to scream loudly, enough for the phone to pick up as it swings on the chained cord its attached to.

“There you are,” one of Alek’s men growls, yanking me through the doors and back out into the street. “You really thought you could run?”

I scream again as I’m dragged from the booth and shoved up against the brick wall of the closest building. My pulse spikes as he holds me there, a dark look filling his eyes that immediately sends dread pooling into my stomach.

This part wasn’t supposed to feel so real.

I see the black car screech around the corner a moment later.

Everything happens too fast after that.

Dominic’s voice shouts, “Let her go!” right before gunfire erupts.

The street explodes with chaos.

Romero dives out of the passenger seat, returning fire before I even have time to duck. I hit the pavement hard, my ears ringing, screams torn from my throat as bullets splinter the bricks above me.

One of Alek’s men drops next to me, groaning, blood pouring from his leg. I’m too shocked to get up and run like I should to duck behind some kind of cover.

I was told they’d run before any of them actually took a hit.

Shit. Shit. Alek is going to kill me.

Dominic barrels into the scene like a man possessed.

He fires at the last guard near me, shouting something at Romero that I can’t hear through the ringing in my ears. The Bratva soldiers retreat as quickly as they’d come, disappearing around the alley just like we planned.

I’m pulled up from the ground and pressed against a hard chest. A heartbeat echoes against my ear, thumping loudly.

“Fucking Christ, Aurora.” Dominic’s voice breaks against my hair.

I don’t mean to, but a relieved sob escapes me.

“You’re okay.” His voice grows gentler now. “You’re okay.”

I let him hold me. I don’t have to fake the trembling this time around.

The bullets might’ve been warning shots for all I know, but I saw how close they came. I felt the heat of them tear through the air and the noise as the ricocheted off the wall next to me. I nod against his shoulder, clinging to his shirt as he lifts me into his arms.

He’s panting, sweat dampening his shirt, eyes wild with adrenaline and fury.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs again as he carries me to the car. “I’ve got you, baby, it’s over.”

Not yet, I think despite myself. Not even close.

He doesn’t say much on the way back to the hotel. Romero drives us, alone at the front of the car while Dominic cradles me in his lap in the back. His hand moves in soft strokes against my back, like he needs to keep touching me to remind himself I’m really here.

The guilt claws at me like a ravenous thing.

I hate it. I’m supposed to hate him.

I have to keep reminding myself of that.

When we reach the hotel, Dominic doesn’t wait for the valet to come over and grab the car before he’s pulling me out of the back seat, gathering me in his arms like I weigh nothing and carrying my inside.

The hotel staff doesn’t question a thing when they see us. Maybe they know better than to question a man like him or maybe he’s threatened them into silence. Either way, I’m grateful we’re not stopped.

Romero lags behind in order to take care of the car, leaving Dominic and I alone for the first time since I left over two and a half weeks ago. He speaks to me softly in the elevator, keeping my head tucked under his chin.

Once we reach the appropriate floor, he steps off with me and carries me to his room. He kicks the door open, startling the other two occupants.

“Porca miseria,” One of the twins say. “You actually got her.”

Dominic ignores them, carrying me to the bedroom and setting me down gently on top of the bed like I’m made of glass.

“I—I need to clean up,” I whisper, keeping my voice small. “Please. Just give me a minute.”

“Of course,” he says instantly, brushing my hair behind my ear. His eyes are so soft now, so worried. It’s such a stark contrast to how he acted at the meeting with Alek that it makes me dizzy. “Take all the time you need.”

I duck into the bathroom quickly and shut the door, flipping the lock with a click that echoes in the silence. My hands fly to the burner phone stashed inside my bra. I yank it free and tap out a quick message.

Back with Dominic. Mission underway.

I don’t wait for a reply before powering the phone down again and putting it back where I retrieved it from. I flush the toilet for good measure before turning on the sink, my eyes drifting upward until I find my reflection in the mirror.

I look broken, hollow-eyed, convincing. Even to myself. I splash cold water on my face, wincing when the cut on my cheek stings.

Leave it to Alek’s men to actually do some damage when trying to create a convincing lie. When they were roughing me up in the car, it was obvious how much they enjoyed it—like they’d been waiting for the opportunity and had finally gotten the perfect excuse.

There’s a knock at the door suddenly, startling me. “Aurora? You okay?”

I suck in a breath and force a tiny smile that he won’t be able to see. “Yeah. I’m okay. Almost done.”

He hesitates, like he wants to say more, then murmurs, “I’ll be right out here.”

I wait until I hear him leave before pressing my hand over my forehead.

I hope I make it out of this alive.