Page 52 of Felix

“You better damn well find her,” she says firmly to Matteo before turning on her heels and striding back inside. “I’ll go wake up Niko. He can help,” she calls over her shoulder.

Who the fuck is Niko?

Chapter Thirty-Six

Aurora Henry

Restless, I toss and turn in the sheets. The goddamn clock mocks me—four a.m. Sleep isn’t going to happen. By five, I’m done with this shit. Maybe a swim will help.

“Fuck it,” I mumble to myself, slinking out of bed as quietly as possible. Felix won’t be up for another hour or so, and I hate waking him. I’ve seen enough of his dark side, and it isn’t something I want to be on the receiving end of first thing in the morning.

I creep through the dimly lit hallway, my bare feet padding against the cold floor. Shadows play tricks on the walls, but I know what is real and what is just my tired mind playing games.

“Alright, pool time it is,” I grumble to myself, pushing the back doors open and stepping out into the cool morning air. The light casts shadows across the yard as I walk to the pool. My phone and towel land on a nearby chair with a soft thud.

“Fuck it,” I mutter, straightening up withdetermination. Not even a second passes before an arm snakes around my neck, cutting off my air supply. Panic sets in, my heartbeat pounding in my ears as I claw at the vice-like grip.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I gasp out, choking on the lack of air. My vision dims, white spots dancing across my sight like some twisted fireworks show. Is this it? Am I going to die with my fingers scratching at the forearm of whoever the fuck is doing this?

“Motherfucker,” I whisper, darkness swallowing me whole.

Cold sweat clingsto my skin as I struggle back to consciousness. Fuck, what the hell happened? My throat feels like it’s been rubbed raw with sandpaper.

“Ugh,” I groan, trying to move, but something is holding me down. My wrists and ankles are tied tight to a chair, the ropes biting into my skin like a rabid dog.

“Shit.” It’s hard to breathe in this place. It smells like damp soil and manure—a stench so thick you could choke on it. Lifting my head, I scan the room, searching for any sign of life, but I’m alone for now.

The space around me screams ‘old barn’—dirt floor, piles of dirt in the corners, and the smell of rotting wood. Yeah, definitely a barn. But why? And who the fuck dragged me here?

My heart races, thudding against my ribcage. This isn’t good. No one should be able to get that close to me without me knowing. Felixis going to flip.

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath, testing the restraints. They’re not budging, not even a little. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.

“Alright, Aurora… think,” I tell myself, trying to control the panic rising in my chest. “What was the last thing you remember?”

Swimming. The pool. Someone choking me. Darkness. But who? Why?

“Come on, come on,” I mutter, straining against the ropes again. It’s useless, but it’s all I can do right now.

“Hey!” I shout, my voice hoarse. “Anyone out there? You wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?”

Silence answers me, mocking my desperation. My chest heaves as I fight to hold back tears. I can’t show weakness, not now.

My vision is blurred, but I focus on the ropes that dig into my wrists like fucking razors. Sweat and blood mix, staining the rough fibres a sickly shade of crimson. My hands are numb, but there is no way I’m giving up.

“Shit.” I grunt, tugging at them again. The pain is barely registering anymore—it’s just fuel for my rage. My legs are tied even tighter. I can feel the circulation being cut off, but there’s no time to worry about that now.

“Motherfucker’s gonna pay. Gonna break his goddamn face when I get outta this,” I snarl.

“Ah, so you’re awake.” A cold voice cuts through the darkness.

The barn door creaks open, and there he is. The masked man. The one from my nightmares. He has me all tied up inthis shithole. My heart pounds as memories flood back—fear, pain, anger.

“Long time no see, Aurora,” he says, an eerie calm in his voice.

“Fuck you!” I spit. “You think tying me up is gonna make a difference? I’ll rip you apart with my bare fucking hands!”

“Feisty as always.” He chuckles darkly, walking closer. “But you forget, my dear… I’ve dealt with you before.”

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