The car drove silently, crossing every street with more than ten turns. At a certain point Aurora could no longer grasp exactly where they were taking her. She held the edge of her gown and shivered, her legs pressed tight together. Her head rested against the tinted window as the streets blurred behind them with every increase in speed. The chill from the air conditioning spread across her skin and gave her goosebumps.
Three cars trailed behind them as they turned into a small street. There a mansion illuminated by lights stood alone at the centre with no more than three other houses beside it.
The gate slid open and Dax drove the car inside, the other cars following. They pulled into the garage. The driver got out and opened the back door. He pulled Aurora out by her hands. Guards stood all around the building. Their eyes scanned every corner and movement while they held their guns against their chests like armour.
Aurora bit her lip. She counted more than thirty of them in total. The front door creaked open. The interior was decorated in blue with touches of black. The living room was not huge but it was large enough for the person she believed owned it.
They went up the stairs to a guest room guarded by another set of men. These ones did not carry guns but their stares and bulky builds felt even more threatening. Aurora twisted her hands in Dax’s grip but he held them tighter. A red bruise formed around her wrist. He pushed her inside the room, locked the door and left. Aurora was completely alone. She was not chained or harmed yet but she knew for certain she had been kidnapped. The news must have already reached her father.
"I just hope Jules is okay," she whispered to herself. Tears filled her eyes. Slowly she took a step and held the hem of her gown. She walked towards the window. Her stomach ached and pulled tight as hunger twisted inside her. She gripped the window pane to steady herself so she would not fall. She breathed heavily through the pain and hunger. The instant noodles she ate before the club had all come back up along with everything else she drank. She deeply regretted ever agreeing to go but this was not the time to blame Jules.
Aurora dragged her tired feet to the bed and slowly lay down on her back.
Just then the door creaked open. A middle aged woman walked in wearing a blue gown that fell below her knees and flat shoes. She carried a tray of food. Behind her came another younger maid with a tray of clean clothes and shampoo.
Aurora sat up on the soft bed and straightened her dress. She sat at the edge and watched the two women closely. They looked like the housekeeper and maids.
"Miss Aurora we were told to prepare a bath and bring food to help regain your strength," the older woman said. She set the food tray on the bedside table while the other maid went into the bathroom. Aurora stayed seated and watched them work.
"Ma’am would you like to eat first or take your bath?" the older nanny asked as she stepped before Aurora.
"Please do not call me Miss or Ma’am. My name is Aurora."
"Very well Aurora."
"I will bathe first. And I will not be eating. Can I asked you a question?" Aurora asked her brows knitting together as she stood up and moved closer to the woman.
"I do not think I am allowed to answer such questions," the nanny replied. "Believe me I would if I could."
"Alright thank you. Do you know why I am being kept inside this room?"
"No," she answered quickly and looked away as she gently guided Aurora toward the bathroom.
Saint sat back against the couch with his legs crossed. A calm predatory smile rested on his face as he watched Edmund sit opposite him. Up to twenty men stood around them all pointing guns.
Saint glanced over at Milo who sat casually scrolling through videos on his phone and laughed at every joke. On the other side stood the lawyer who gripped his suit tightly while beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"It seems your weapons only frighten the lawyer," Saint whispered and kept his eyes on Edmund who was clearly annoyed by Milo’s loud laughter.
Edmund sat up straight and took a drink straight from the wine bottle. He rubbed his temple and drew in a sharp breath.
"Order is the only thing keeping them from putting a bullet through your head and your friends too."
"Then give them the order," Saint said as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Just then loud gunshots echoed outside. One followed another and then another. "Perhaps you should check what is happening out there."
Edmund turned pale. His smile vanished instantly. Milo laughed loudly and then answered a call on his phone. "I will be right back," Milo said quietly. He put his phone away and his expression hardened. He studied the room carefully.
One of Edmund’s guards hurried outside and left the door slightly open. Minutes later he returned alone. His hands were dripping with blood.
"All the guards outside are down," he said in a rough and breathless voice.
"What?" Edmund shouted and jumped up. His chair scraped loudly against the floor and he dropped his wine bottle. "Go search the grounds and see who is out there. And whoever you find bring me their head."
"Sir with respect that is not a good idea," the guard said in a low voice. He stared at his boots and held his gun low like a defeated man.
"I do not pay you to give me opinions. I pay you to obey," Edmund snapped. He snatched a gun from another guard and pointed it at the man before him. The guard looked up slowly and his eyes pleaded for mercy.
"Move right now or I will shoot you myself," Edmund threatened and cocked the gun.
Saint stayed seated with his cigarette between his fingers. Milo leaned over and lit it for him. Saint put it between his lips and watched the powerful Edmund Hawthorne completely lose control.
"He cannot go outside. A sniper took your men down," Saint said. Smoke curled from his mouth and drifted through the room. Ash fell from the glowing tip onto the tiled floor.
Edmund sank back into his chair and rested his hands at his sides. His guards slowly took the gun away from him. "What do you want?" he asked.
"The exact same thing I told you last night," Saint answered and took another sip of wine.
"I will not give you my daughter," Edmund said and turned to his guards. "Put your guns down you fools."
"Alright," Saint shrugged and stamped his cigarette out under his leather shoe. "Tell one of your guards to look at your forehead and tell you what he sees."
Edmund swallowed hard and finished the wine in his bottle. The large guard stepped closer but stayed to the side so he did not block Edmund’s face.
He quickly stepped back and stood behind another guard. He tightened his grip on his gun and scanned the whole room until he found where the beam was coming through.
"Well? What is it?" Edmund asked and shifted nervously in his seat.
"Sir... Sir..." the guard stammered.
"Speak up or I will make you!" Edmund shouted and grabbed the gun from the table.
"There is a red dot right on your forehead sir. It looks like it comes through the window. And there is another one aimed at the lawyer too," the guard finally said.
"So it is your choice whether you sign or not," Saint laughed and slowly stood up from his chair while Milo pulled out his phone to record everything.
The lawyer immediately fell to his knees and crawled under the table. Edmund froze where he sat. He pulled the file closer and picked up the pen.
With a firm stroke Edmund signed the papers and pushed the folder back toward Saint’s lawyer. The other lawyer stayed flat on his stomach under the table and held his briefcase over his head.
Edmund opened his mouth but no sound came. He still could not bring himself to hand his daughter over to Saint.
"Say it loud and clear," Milo ordered and pressed the record button.
Edmund cleared his throat and rested his hands on his knees. He forced a smile.
"I Edmund Hawthorne agree to give my daughter to the man I believe is the love of her life. Due to circumstances I will not speak his name now but soon everyone will know who he is. And do not ask where or when. There will be no public ceremony. It is simply a marriage witnessed by two lawyers. And let me be clear this is not some political arrangement or alliance..."
Edmund stopped speaking as Milo ended the recording. The lawyer picked up the file and they both stood up and walked out.
Saint arrived back at the mansion with the file in his hand. Milo had gone home.
He walked up the stairs and to Dax’s room. He pushed the door open. Dax sat at his desk typing on his laptop.
"She refused to eat. And Alyssa is safe with Nina at the other house," Dax said and closed his laptop.
"Good," Saint nodded and started to close the door.
"How did it go?" Dax asked and looked straight at him.
"Perfectly. All we need now is her signature."
"That will not be hard," Dax muttered and shut the door right in Saint’s face. "Goodnight brother. You have stressed me out enough for one day."
Saint nodded and opened the door to Aurora’s room. She lay on her stomach completely covered under the blanket. The food on the nightstand remained untouched.
She jumped up and wrapped the sheet tight around her chest. Her neat hair was now messy and fell all over her face.
"Why did you not eat?" Saint asked and kept a safe distance to help keep his other side under control.
"I was not hungry," she replied sharply and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Fine. Sign this," Saint said and tossed the file and pen onto her bed.
"What is this?" she asked and flipped the pages open.
"You are going to be my wife," he answered plainly and turned to leave.
"You are not human are you?" Tears blurred her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
Saint stopped dead in his tracks staring at her
with widened eyes hiding under his locked jaw. He walked toward her with slow predatory steps until he towered high above her small frame.