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Bike pipes roared, I heard Magic bellowing, and the door flew open, and Klutz stormed in. I was out of Inglorious’s arms and into Klutz’s before anyone could blink. Klutz lifted me off my feet as I wrapped myself around him and clung like he was the last man standing. Klutz buried his nose in my throat and held on just as tightly. He rocked me back and forth, content to hold me and breathe in my scent. Which, after two days of running, couldn’t be very pleasant. A blush started at my cheeks, but I realised Klutz didn’t care.
The door opened again, and another body hit us. Fanatic, I knew without looking. I recognised his smell as much as I knew Calamity’s and Klutz’s. Fanatic held on tightly to us, and we stood there for long minutes, taking stock we were all safe and revelling in the love for each other. A fourth and fifth person slammed into us, and I smelt Calamity and then Casey and I cried. The love that spilt from them all was overwhelming, and everything was hitting me. When we finally let go of each other, I remembered Aimee and turned to her guiltily.
To my surprise, Inglorious held Aimee on his lap as she cried. I hurried over and wrapped myself around them, and Aimee reached out.
“We’re going to be okay,” I whispered through choked sobs.
Aimee nodded slowly.
“I think you might be right.”
Chapter Twelve.
Klutz
Ipaced back and forth outside Aurora’s hospital room. Drake had taken Rage away, knowing how we felt about them, but I had offered my thanks. They’d come and put our troubles aside to find Aurora. Nando was taking her statement with Casey next to her. Aurora had asked for Casey, and after having a covid test, Casey had masked up and joined Aurora. I’d already heard the tale twice and couldn’t go through it again. Not because I was bored but because I couldn’t beat the shit out of Aurora’s fear or handle the panic when I heard Haynes had drowned her. So close to losing everything, my mind rebelled at hearing the story a third time. And if it hadn’t been for the quiet Aimee, my life would have ended with me swallowing a bullet.
Aimee, I’d already decided, was coming home with us. It would be cramped, and I didn’t give a shit. She’d saved my woman, and that was all that mattered. Before the ambulance came and took the girls, I thanked everyone there for their help. Everybody involved in the search arrived at Magic’s bar, and the man had a fit with his social distancing rules. Fanatic, Calamity, Rosie and, strangely, Inglorious had all followed us to the hospital. The other four hadn’t been allowed in, although Inglorious insisted he was Aimee’s fiancé and shoved his way in. The old ladies had congregated outside, which was maintaining strict social distancing. Inglorious and I were damn lucky to get inside.
Whatever Inglorious was after, I didn’t know or care, and I didn’t bother to warn him not to hurt Aimee because I knew Inglorious wouldn’t. More than likely, Inglorious saw a wounded soul and wanted to help. Aimee had given her statement, and Ramirez and Ben were now trying to track the cabin while Nando carried on taking statements. Distraught, I ran my hands through my hair. Aurora had been drowned. She’d died.
A hollow feeling swept through me, swiftly followed by panic. My breathing quickened, and my fists clenched. Aurora and Aimee had to smash Haynes’s head with a branch. Aurora, who never wished to harm anyone, had taken a life twice. Would she bounce back from this? Could my girl cope with knowing Aimee resuscitated her? Aimee had known Aurora was dead and had done everything she could to save her. How would that scar both women? Aurora for dying and Aimee for watching.
I needed to kill. I didn’t care what, but the urge to tear something apart with my bare hands was overwhelming. If I’d been at Rage, one brother would have let me pound them. But I was here, an exile, and I couldn’t beat on Gunner or Rock, two men who understood how to fight. Life was twisting out of control, and I longed to lock Aurora in the house and smoother her with love. That would dull her light, but I still struggled against the desire. I couldn’t force Aurora to change, just so I never experienced this feeling again.
I’d be the only person to benefit from that selfish action. Panicking, I strove to breathe for the maelstrom of emotions swirling in my chest. There were too many to pick one out, love, anger, pride, hurt, anguish, control. Everything bubbled beneath my skin until I felt I was about to come out of it. The door opened, and Casey’s gaze met mine. Tears shone in her eyes, but Casey blinked them back with determination. Without a word, Casey strolled over and wrapped herself around me. We clung to each other, two drowning rats on a sinking ship.
“Klutz, I’m heading to Dad,” Casey muttered, and I knew she’d run the killer assault courses that Jacob had set up there.
“Need a punching bag,” I murmured.
“Aurora is so strong. She’s holding shit together, and I can’t help her through the pain. Honey, I want to scream and tear the Haynes brothers apart, but I can’t, as Aurora’s already killed them. Klutz, she’s a sister to me!” Casey spat.
“And you’re a sister to her. Aurora loves you. Remember that.”
“Fuck, I got to leave before I kill someone,” Casey said and dragged my head down, kissing my cheek.
“Love you, bro,” Casey whispered and squeezed me. Indulging for a few moments, I held her tightly, and then Casey stomped away.
Lucky bitch to have an outlet for her emotion.
The door opened, and Nando poked his head out. The sorrow and sympathy in his eyes spoke volumes, and he slapped me on the shoulder before walking off. As soon as Nando cleared the entrance, I shot back inside. Aurora was curled in a ball and was crying quietly. I climbed into bed and wrapped her in my arms. Aurora’s heartbroken sobs tore at me, and I swore nobody would ever make my woman cry like this again.
???
I glared at my phone in disgust. It was another message warning me Aurora was in danger. As if I did not fucking know. I didn’t need some moron playing games. Then I realised if I was still being texted, then Haynes wasn’t the last individual who’d been hunting Aurora. The realisation had me stiffening, and I growled. In the back of my mind, I’d assumed Haynes had been Aurora’s stalker. But now I knew differently. There was a second person with vicious designs on Aurora. Fuck me!
I sent a group message to the exiles and told them I was still receiving warnings. Aurora was due to be released tomorrow morning, and I would not leave her alone. No fucking chance. Hunter shot me a text that they’d organise security and make sure that it was doubled up. Casey returned with a message saying Jacob’s team would cover one position day and night, freeing us up a little. Fuck, that meant a load that they were ready to step up and help.
Aurora stirred in her sleep, and I held her tightly, promising to end all threats to her.
Aurora
I was getting in the SUV that Calamity and Rosie had sent to pick me up when the vision hit me hard. Hard enough to make me stumble. Flashes echoed in my mind, and a pair of hands kept me up. When my eyes refocused, I saw Calamity and Klutz staring in concern.
“What did you see?” Klutz asked.
“Some I’ve had before. Cars falling, Slick and a woman. A headline screaming family betrayal, and a knife going into your back, but a woman’s hand pulling it out. There’s an enormous tank of water and chains. There’s a coffin Klutz, and mourners, hundreds of them. I don’t know who it is,” I whispered.
