Page 7 of Edge of Desperation

Aurora trembles, so I hold her closer to my chest.

“Enough,” I state firmly. “We can discuss this more on the plane. Fall out, we don’t know if they have reinforcements on the way.”

“Roger that!” all my men say in unison.

Thomas takes point and leads the way out of the shack where Aurora was being held. Each man takes a defensive position around me and the precious cargo I’m carrying, guns drawn, ready to fire. We hike the two miles back to our abandoned Hummer where I gently place Aurora in the back seat between Carver and Hudson while everyone else piles in.

“Please,” Aurora begs. “Please don’t leave me.”

I toss the keys to Carver. “You drive. I’ll sit back here.”

Carver catches them easily and gives Aurora a lopsided smile. “We’ll be back at the plane in no time.”

Hudson hands Aurora a bottle of water, which she opens and chugs greedily. “When was the last time you had a drink of water?”

“I can’t remember,” she says, sheepishly. Her stomach takes this moment to growl in anger. “Sor?—”

Before I can step out of the way, Aurora’s face turns a sickening grayish color. She opens her mouth and projectile vomits the water she consumed all over my chest and pants, effectively soaking me. I lift her out of the Hummer and gently set her on the ground, where she continues to dry heave.

I rub my hand over my face. “Fuck.”

“Shit, sorry, Rivers,” Hudson says, handing me the blanket that we had used to cover Aurora.

Drying off the best I can, I lean down to check on her. “You, okay?”

Emerald eyes stare back at me. “I’m so s-s-sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Hudson answers before I can. “I wasn’t thinking. You’re probably severely dehydrated. That wasn’t smart of me to let you drink water that fast. Once we get you onthe plane, I’ll get you set up with an IV and get some fluids in you. The fault is all mine.”

“He’s right,” I agree. “It’s not your fault. We weren’t thinking. Come on.” I assist her back into the vehicle. “Let’s get you home. Step on it, Carver.”

Their death was way too fucking fast.

CHAPTER 2

AURORA

“How much farther?”I ask, wanting to be far away from this country.

Tensions are running high, and the men keep their guns at the ready as if they’re expecting the enemy to ambush us at any time. We’ve been driving for a while, and I keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. The last thing I want is for this to be something my mind conjured up to escape the brutality I’ve been living for how long now?

Maybe two weeks… if that man was correct. Seems so much longer. When you’re clawing your way through hell, every day feels like years.

“We’re here,” the driver announces.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. However, goosebumps litter my skin. In front of the Hummer is a private jet, not a cargo plane I expected for a retrieval mission. The men take a defensive position around the vehicle, and the man I’ve dubbedShirtlessholds his hand out for me to take.

“What’s going on?” I shout, backing further into the car away from him. “This isn’t right…NO!”

I’m not getting on that plane. They’ll have to kill me first. I’ve lived through hell; I can’t do it again.

Shirtless crouches to the ground to make himself appear like he’s not a threat. “Aurora, remember, your dad sent us to get you.”

I’m not stupid, they all have guns. “You could be lying.”

“Winchester,” Shirtless repeats kindly.

Even though I want to see my dad more than anything else in this world, I shake my head wildly. “You could’ve guessed that, or someone in our family could’ve told you.”

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