JACOBWe all sat by the cage, wondering about the question Aurora placed before us. I honestly don't know what my own Mother will gain by going against me.I mean she is my mother, she should be protecting me not giving ammos to my enemies.“What if she isn't doing this on her own?” Aurora asked me. She being here has made things easy for me, I know it's hard for her being here and also being made to testify but being here has brought some ease to my soul.All I want to do is hold her and keep holding her, unfortunately I can't.“I can't think of any reason why Evans will have to blackmail her,” I said to her.“You might not know doesn't mean there isn't,” she said, “or you are just going to believe she has it out for you?” She asked me.I took a sip from the hot coffee the waiter just brought to our table. I spat it out immediately, “that was disgusting,” I said and watched her lips turn into a smile.“You shouldn't have taken it, the coffee around here sucks,” she said.“But there s
AMY ( JACOB'S SISTER)“The hearing is getting brutal,” I said to my mom who was engrossed on her phone. She has been like that ever since I opened up the channel for the hearing between my brother and my uncle.“Mom, are you listening?” I asked her and she nearly cut my head off.“Of course I am!” She yelled, “your brother brought this upon himself by trying to get back to that Aurora girl,” she said.“Aurora didn't do this to Jacob, Katherine did,” I said to her.“If you say so,” she said and walked away. I know my mom has always favored Katherine more than Aurora but this is way too confusing.She must have seen what Katherine did to Linda's daughter and still she is still on her side.“Why are you protecting Katherine?” I asked her and she stopped walking.“What makes you think I'm protecting her?” She asked.“It's pretty obvious Mom,” I said, “all the evidence points at her walking with Uncle Evans to steal Dad's company and you are still on her side,” I said and she walked toward
AURORAI looked at Amy trying to bargain with me at the expense of her brother’s life. What kind of family is this? How did I get tangled with them in the first place?“You can seriously be bargaining with your brother’s company and maybe his life,” I said to her, she squeezed her eyes shut.“I’m only doing what I think is best for me. No one cares about me, no one,” tears ran down her cheeks.“Why do you think that is Amy?” I asked her, not shaken by her tears. Amy always joined her Mother in taunting me and bringing me down and now she wants to work for me. How ironic.“I know I treated you poorly when you were married to Jacob. I wasn’t…”“Wasn’t what?” I asked her, “wasn’t bold enough to stand up to your own mother?” I asked her.“You don’t know what that’s like, having to fight tooth and nail for your mother’s love or affection,” her mouth set a hard line.I sighed deeply, “you are right, I don’t know what’s like,” I said, “guess you haven’t changed after all,” I turned around.“
AURORA“Copper?” I whispered, staring right into his eyes. My fingers dunk into the arm of the chair beside me and I tried to keep my anger from washing over me.“What are you doing here?” I asked him.“I'm here to help you, apparently,” he said and I scoffed.“The only person you help is yourself,” I said to him and he looked away from me.“It's good to see you, Jacob,” he said, shaking hands with him. Jacob looks at me wondering my connection with him. I'm looking at wondering the same too.Copper was a liaison with one of the companies I signed a contract with back in Spain. We walked together during the course of the project and it was a success.Not until he was about to set me up for an embezzlement he committed to cover up his track. The money was refunded back to the company but no one was able to prove Copper was behind it.He is a convincing son of a bitch, if he is here to help Jacob, he better believe Copper will want something from him.“Aurora,” I heard Madeline behind m
AURORA“What the hell, Andre?” I yelled at him with the gun pointed at my face.“What are you doing following me?” He asked, “you could have been followed as well,” he said looking worried.“I will answer all your questions when you put the gown down,” I said to him and he sighed.He laid the gun down and directed me into the lake house, “it's nice,” I said, trying to create a conversation.Here I am with my employee and a gun in his hands.“I'm sorry about the gun,” he said, placing it on a table.“What is it for?” I asked him.He sighed and looked at me, “for a lot of things, which includes keeping intruders away,” he said to me and I scoffed.“Why do you have to keep intruders away?” I asked him.“You shouldn't have followed me, Aurora,” he said, running his fingers through his hair.“I made sure I wasn't followed,” I said to him.“Or really, you suddenly have tactical evading skills?” He asked and I looked at him confused.“I don't understand what you just said but that doesn't me
JACOBToday is the final ruling in the courtroom . Hopefully nothing goes wrong and like Braden and Madeline had planned we will take Evan's by his bull and let him go down the drain like he intended for me.“You look tense,” Madeline said, walking towards me.“I just want today to go well. I'm so done fighting for my own company,” I said to her. It's strange how we have gotten close in a matter of weeks.*You will always be fighting for your company,” she said, trying to assure me, “what makes it easier is the ability to fight every goddamn time,” she smiled.“I hope you are right,” I said to her, looking at her through my side eye.“I'm always right,” she said and we both laughed, “but that's not all the reason,” she said and I cleared my throat.“What do you mean?” I asked her.“You are not just tense because you want this done but because Aurora isn't here yet,” I inhaled deeply and looked at her.“That's not it at all. There is bad blood between her and Copper, I'm guessing she d
JACOBGuilty, guilty, guilty! The chant continued and all of a sudden, the doors of the courtroom were opened, a lot of reporters raced it with their cameras.“What is going on?” The Judge asked, shocked.I glanced at Evans, his head was bent and he was shaking it in defeat.“He brought in the reporter,” Braden said to me.“Guess he thought he was going to win after all,” Cooper said and slammed my shoulder.“Guess, he thought that,” I said with a low smile.“Silence!” The Judge hit his gravel against his desk. “This is a court of law and I will not let it turn to something else!” He yelled.The whole courtroom became silent at once, then the Judge turned to Evan.“Will you rise, Mr. Evans,” he said to him. Evan took about a second to get on his feet then he kept his head down staring at the floorboards.“Does the jury need time to reach a verdict?” The Judge asked.The lead Juror stood up, “no, your honor. We the people of the jury have reached a verdict,” he said, staring bitterly a
JACOBI left her arm and stood in front of her. I knew I wanted to know the truth but hearing it right now, I don't think I want to listen anymore.“Did Dad know?” I asked her. She didn't say a word, she just stood there.“I asked you a question!” I yelled at her, she flinched and started crying. That's not going to stop me from asking my question.“What are you doing, Mom?” Amy asked, “crying isn't going to solve anything, you talking right now is,”“No, your Dad didn't know,” she said with her head down.“That will not cut it,” I said to her, pointing a finger in front of her, “you decided your first son is more important than me or Amy and you decided to go against me. What kind of a mother does that?” I asked, walking to and fro the entrance of the house.“I was only doing what any mother would do, look out for her child's future,” she said in tears.“Why about our future,” I pointed at myself and Amy, “aren't we your children?” I asked her.“No, you are not!” She said and it felt
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