AURORAI walked into the hotel lobby and was mesmerized by the sight in front of me. There were a lot of marbles and artworks to give it a calming and comfortable presence.“Good day ma’am, how can I help you?” I heard a voice behind me and I turned.“Hi,” I handed her the ID card that was given to me in a gift box after I registered for the retreat.“Oh, you are here for the retreat?” she asked and nodded. I’m still a bit out of it. Daniel might have convinced me but I can't shake the feeling of seeing Jacob in that restaurant with another woman. Not just another woman, but a friend of Katherine. He really isn;t going to change. Hopefully this retreat will clear my head and make me move forward.“Ma’am, are you alright,” I heard the Receptionist's voice from a distance. Damn, how long has she been talking to me.“Yes, I booked a suite, Aurora Clinton,” I gave her a smile trying to cover up my previous act.“I’m sorry ma’am but there isn’t a suite for an Aurora Clinton,” she stated an
JACOB“I should be asking you that question, since you are in my room,” I said to her and she folded her arms, taking her eyes off me.“This can't be your room,” she said, looking around. “My name is attached to this room number. So I'm guessing you are the one with the mistake.”I walked over to the pool table and handed her my booking slip, “Have one of these?” I asked her.She took the slip from me forcefully and I sighed, “your name is also attached to this room number,” she said, flaring up.“Where are you going?” I asked her but she didn't give me a response as she banged the door of the room hard.I quickly put on a shirt and pants and ran after her. The elevator door was about to close but I got in before it could. She clicked her tongue and hissed.“What?!” I asked her, “can't stand to be alone with me in an elevator?” I asked her, remembering the last time we were in an elevator together after her office building was invaded. My mind flashed back to the trance I had of her
JACOB“What do you mean by that?” I asked the man in front of me, even though I was pretty clear about what I just heard him say.“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you more than that,” he said, walking away. I walked behind me and took him by the collar of his shirt.“Where the hell do you think you are going to?” I asked him, shoving him against the wall.“I can’t be seen with you,” he whispered. “If the people that hired me find out I’m talking to you they will have me killed,” he said and I scoffed.“Oh really, just like the way you killed my Mother,” I kept on shoving him to the wall. “You think I cared about your life when you clearly didn’t care about my mothers,” I said to him and he groaned, trying to break free from my grip.“I was following orders. That was who I was years ago, not who I am now,” he said trying to release my hands but my grip only grew tighter.“My mother didn’t have the chance to change her life,” I said and watched him bat his eyelashes nervously, “Did she?”“I saw
AURORAThe sound of glass breaking made me flinch from my seat. I have never seen him act this way. And this situation is pretty serious.“I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to see,” I said to him.“Oh, I'm seeing exactly what I am supposed to see. My birth is being charming with her killer!” He yelled.“Maybe she caught up to him, and both of them were making plans for her to leave the country,” I said to him but the look on his face meant she was buying what I was saying.“Okay, anyhow you see it. That's exactly how it should be,” I said to him, sighing. He looks so defeated and angry.We still haven't talked about what we are going to do in this situation. Both of us are in the same room and I don't want to think about what Daniel will say about any of this.“How did you find me?” He turned and asked me. Giving a look I suddenly don't like.“Uhm, when you called earlier on. I decided to give hotel hunting a try,” he gave me a puzzled look. I don't even know why I'm responding
JACOB“I remember, Aurora. I remember when we first made love,” I said to her. She didn't turn around but I could see how that affected her.Damnit! How could I say that to her even though I do remember now. After I confronted Christina I started to have memories of that night. Damn she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, she glowed that night. The way she moved on top of me. Her moans sounded the tone of my favorite song. The way she breathed heavily when she got tired and I took over.I could feel myself getting hard just by the thoughts of her but that's not the only reason why I need her. I want to be by her side. I want to protect her, make her feel loved. If these people really killed my birth Mom all because she was a CEO, Aurora will need my protection far more than ever.I raised my head up immediately at the sound of a knock on the door. I rushed to my bag and brought out a Glock. This isn't the Mafia but it sure looks like it.“Who's there?” I used my deepest vo
AURORAI opened my eyes but quickly shut it because of how heavy and dizzy I felt. I feel like my whole body is on fire and I can't seem to move from my position.“Get off me!” My head screamed at me, but my voice wasn't loud enough. Someone was pinning me down and I didn't seem to get up.“Wake up, Aurora!” “Jacob!” I yelled as I got up and landed on a brick wall. I looked above to see Jacob. It wasn't a brick wall, it was his chest.“It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you,” he said as soon as I raced towards the edge of the bed.“What happened?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.“You went out with Daniel for dinner and he attacked you,” he said with a bit of anger in his voice.“You think it's my fault?” I asked him.“I never said that and do, I don't think it was your fault,” he said and I nodded.I got out of the bed and headed straight for the bathroom. I took a glance at the wall clock in the room and headed in.It's just past midnight. Daniel must have spiked my drink bef
AURORA I looked at Jacob shocked along with his head of security. I gave them a pretty long stare trying to figure out how I was placed in this equation. “This is Michael,” Jacob said, pointing at his head of security. Then something struck at me. “Daniel said not to bring my own Security,” I said to Jacob. “Was that a part of the plan?” I walked towards the sofa and sat down. “It’s looking that way,” he said to me. I shook my head and sighed. “What does this have to do with me?” I asked him. “The man I assaulted yesterday,” he said trying to avoid eye contact with me when he used the word assaulted. I told him, I’m fine. “What did he say to you?” I asked him. “He said my birth Mom was killed because some people didn’t want her to be CEO,” he said and I scoffed. “Are you sure about this?” I asked him, “Because this might be a trick from Christina,” I said to him and he nodded. “Yeah, I know that,” he walked towards the wardrobe and brought out his leather jacket.
AURORA“Here, let me help you out,” Jacob extended his hands as I tried to get off the airplane. After the death of the Jacob’s Mom killer hit the news his security team deemed the area a high security risk for both of us.“I promise you, there will be no paparazzi,” he said when I refused to come out. Our bags are already out. I’m the one left delaying everyone. But still Jacob remained patient with me. Honestly, I have a space in my heart and mind that keeps telling me he is faking but I tend to push the thoughts away whenever his hands touch mine.“Okay,” I got out of the airplane and headed straight for the car. “Where are we heading to?” I asked.“My place,” he said and I gave him a straight look.“You are kidding right. Your place is swimming with the media wanting a quote from you about why you are not at work,” I said to him. He gives me a look and turns his head away.“Amy guessed you would be mad about that,” he said, then turned to look at me.”She guessed right,” I said t
AURORAI have been in a moving vehicle for the better part of ten hours. Wherever my captors are taking me, they don't seem to have an idea what they are doing.This can't be LeVert, he won't make such a mistake by hiring amateurs, even if he is doing it by himself. He has enough experience to do it right.Suddenly the vehicle stopped moving, the back of the vehicle opened and I was brought out. One of them was about to speak when the other one shut him up without speaking.I kept my mouth shut, I need to be brave, for myself and for my family. My wedding is in a few hours along with Carina's and there is no way I'm missing it.They tied the blindfold around my eyes even tighter, causing the darkness to engulf me.The rough fabric of the blindfold pressed harder against my eyes, sending a jolt of sharp pain across my temples. Darkness was absolute now, not just the absence of sight but the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. I tried to focus on my breathing, forcing myself to s
JACOB“I can't believe you are getting married!” Braden slammed into me. Trying to ruffle me up a little.“Says the married man,” Andre said to him. It's funny how we are all friends now and we have Aurora to thank for that. She brought all of us together. That's my future wife.“What are you smiling about?” Grey asked me.“You better not be thinking about my sister in some certain way in front of me,” Martin said and we all laughed.I have asked all of them to be mine and Andre best men including Michael, Ryan and Clay. Liam insisted on being the DJ for the service. Right now we are having our bachelor party and having loads of fun. “Thank you for allowing Aurora to do this with Carina,” I said to Andre holding his shoulder.“Are you kidding, Carina will have my head if I don't agree, plus we get to give the world the wedding of the year,” he said and I smiled.“Good man,” I shook his hands and walked towards Grey. “Hey bro,” he turned around and placed his phone in his pocket.“Th
AURORAONE YEAR LATER“What about this?” I walked out of my closet in a black gown filled with diamonds and a white off shoulder handle.“Perfect,” Carina squeaked. I rolled my eyes and walked deeper into the room.“People see me on this, they might think tonight is my rehearsal dinner,” I said to the soon to be bride.“Oh come on, you are the chief bridesmaid, you are meant to dress as elegant as the bride,” Aubrey said, adding her own wisdom to the situation.“Well, apart from that, I will think you guys are just playing dress up with me for me to impress Jacob,” I said to them and they both laughed.“Why are you laughing?” I asked them.“Nothing, just remembering how you blunted out I love you to him,” Carina said, still laughing. I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my blushing face.“Aubrey smirked, “Oh Aurora, you were so abstract about it. It feels like you have been bottling that emotion.”“Maybe I was. I guess my body moved before my mind,” I said to her.“And your timing couldn'
AURORA“Okay, alright. Be safe,” I said and hanged up the call.“Is everything alright?” Carina asked me. I looked at her with my puffy eyes. I can't believe I asked her to move her wedding date all because of LeVert. I feel so sad and heartbroken.“No, don't do that,” she said, hugging me. “Everything will work out. We just need to protect Anna and Mary and we all will be safe.”“But your wedding…”“Can wait,” Andre said, standing beside her. “We all need to be together right now.” He took my hands and I nodded.“Okay,” I exhaled, wiping my face with my other hand. “Let's do this then.”“The girls are pulling up,” Aubrey said to me. We raced towards the car to stop the paparazzi from taking pictures of them.“How come there are so many paparazzi?” Madeline asked as we moved through the crowd.“LeVert probably called them here to witness whatever he had planned,” I said to her.We finally got to the car and help Linda protect the girls from the cameras.“Aunt Aurora,” Anna and Mary hu
JACOB“What does Christina has to do with any of these?” I asked her.“I'm sure you heard from your stepbrother, Grey?” She asked.“Lara, what are you doing?” Aurora asked her. “Grey is not to be trusted.”“I was the one who told Grey to meet with you,” she said looking at me. “He is trying to make amends. You should let him.” I looked at Aurora, who just shrugged her shoulders.“So what about Christina?” Amy asked, standing in front of her. “You can't just drop a bombshell like that and not say anything to it.”“I was getting to it,” she handed her USB drive to Liam, “here, input it to the system,” Liam looks at me hesitant to do it. “Do it Liam,” I nodded.”A lot of files displayed on the bug screen. “These are all of the operations I could find that can be linked to LeVert, including serial killing of high profile women.” “Which one involves my step mom?” I asked, and a more detailed document displayed on the screen.“Wait,” Aurora scoffed. “You have this much evidence and LeVert
JACOBI kept pacing around, it's been almost two hours since Aurora left and she isn't back yet.“Martin is with her,” Madeline said to me, “he won't let anything happen to her.”“But if he can't,” I said and she looked confused. “Whatever is going on is beyond his power,” she sighed and shook her head.“Hey, you have to think good thoughts bro,” Amy said, holding my shoulder. “Aurora didn't come this far to give up or jeopardize everything.”“She is right, J,” Braden whispered, standing beside me. “You have to be able to trust Aurora, trust that she knows what she is doing,” he said and scoffed, “because she has been doing this long before she returned back to her life.”“I just want to protect her, want to keep her safe,” I said to him.“I know bro, but she got this and you know it.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, even though every fiber of my being screamed to go after her. Braden was right, though. Aurora had proven time and again that she could handle herself.
AURORA“Thought I would recognize you?” I asked her.“Hoped,” she said, jerking her hands from Martin who was still looking shocked.“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked her with gritted teeth.“I don't know, hiding from my brother,” she said and I scoffed.“You are not that bumped into me,” I said to her. “You were at the precinct.”“No, you only saw me at the precinct when I came out, not before,” she said and I looked at Martin.“I will prove it to you,” she said and I turned to her.“How?” I asked, folding my hands. She tried to move but Martin stopped her. “Let her go, Martin. She knows she needs us,” Captain Marlow scoffed and walked deeper into the room.“Here,” she placed a material over her head and I could see the face of the woman we saw in the CCTV camera video.“Unbelievable,” I whispered. “Have you seen something like this before?” I asked Martin.“Heard of it but haven't seen one this real,” he said as Captain Marlow took it off.“Spent almost all the money I co
AURORA“You know he is just scared for you,” Martin turned around in the car and said to me.“If you are referring to Jacob then don't. I don't need a lecture right now,” I said and he sighed.“He just wants to protect,” I glared at him and he raised his hands in defense. “That's all I'm going to say,” he turned around facing the traffic.“I have been on my own for a while, I can handle myself,” I said out loud.“I thought you guys have moved past that?” Martin asked me.“Move past what?” I asked, feeling confused.“Move past what he did almost ten years ago?” He asked and I sighed.“We have but he has to know that I didn't have him or you protecting me then and I was still able to survive Copper and being kidnapped,” I said to him.“I get that but he is here now and from the look of things he wants to protect you at all cost.”“Why do you think I brought Michael with us?” I asked and Micheal smiled. “At least Michael can report to him if anything happens.”“We are here, Miss Aurora,”
AURORA“Hey,” I kissed Jacob on the lips as I took off my jacket.“I miss you,” he said, kissing my neck. I bit my lips smiling.“I know but we have work to do,” I pushed him slightly and walked over to the workstation he had set up in his penthouse.“Are you sure this place is secure?” Martin asked him as he walked in.“Yes, nobody knows about this place, not even Christina,” he said and I sighed.“Does Grey know about this place?” I asked him, for a while he has been having a blind spot when it comes to his step brother.“Jacob?” I called his name when I noticed he was hesitant to answer the question.“Yes he does,” he said and I dropped my hands loudly against my laps.“Why would you do such a thing? Grey is not to be trusted,” I said to him.“Look, Grey might have done a lot of things in the past but he helped us back in my airport.”“Or he brought you there to set you up along with Martin,” Braden said.“I agree with Braden,” Amy said and Jacob glared at her.“Don't do that, they