“Not a full soldier yet?” I arch a brow. “Am I your graduation project?”
“Maybe so.” She puts on her seductive smile, and it works way too well. Her ability to switch between vulnerability and innocence to siren is scary effective. My fingers curve around the tablet hard enough to feel the metal edges bite into my skin. I tell myself I can’t touch her, but that doesn’t stop me from leaning forward. Cora’s eyes widen, and her lips part. Her small tongue darts out to wet the full bottom flesh. A groan escapes.
“Kailler,” I shout, feeling desperate and edgy.
She comes running. “Aidon?” Her gun is out. I shut my eyes and take in a calming breath. I can do this. I count to ten and then turn the tablet on.
“Go pick this one up.”
Cora jumps forward. “Why?”
“Because you recognized her.”
“I never said a word.”
“You didn’t have to.” I nod to Kailler. “Go.”
“What are you going to do with her?” Cora cries.
“We’re bringing her in and torturing her until you give me all the answers I want. Go!” I bark at Kailler, who hasn’t moved.
“Wait!” shouts Cora. Kailler halts halfway to the door. “I thought we were book buddies.”
Kailler’s chin falls to her chest. “Sorry,” she mumbles and then slips out the door.
Book buddies?
Cora turns to me in desperation. “I didn’t think you were that type of man.”
“They don’t call my territory hell for nothing.” I grab Cora’s wrist. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 12
Cora
Aidon starts to pull me from the condo by my wrist. Panic begins to rise up inside of me. What is he going to do to Roxy? I have to warn her. This is all my fault. I thought I could do this, but I’ve already failed. Mom always said I show all my emotions on my face. I never worried too much about it because there wasn’t a reason to. But now I may have killed Roxy because I couldn’t hide them.
A knot forms in my throat, and tears burn at the back of my eyes. I’m going to cry. Why can’t I be like some of the other girls who are always so calm and cool? With every step closer we get to the door, I know I’m sealing Roxy’s fate. Do something! My mind screams at me.
“You’re hurting me.” I yank hard, trying to free my arm. To my surprise, Aidon actually releases me. With everything I have in me, I reach out and shove him as hard as I can. He rocks back a few steps and it’s enough for me to get away from him.
I slam the front door in his face and flick all the locks closed. He bangs on it hard as I put the chain on it as an extra measure. Not sure how much it will do, but I’ll take anything at this point. I only need a few minutes to do what I need to.
I take off on a dead run hearing him shout my name as I make my way to the bedroom, shutting and locking that door too. I grab the phone, now understanding why Mom makes everyone have a landline in their home. My mom picks up on the first ring.
“Who is this?”
“They are coming for Roxy!”
“Cora. Honey, are you okay?” Her voice cracks, and for the first time in my life I hear worry in my mom’s voice.
“I’m fine, but they are coming for Roxy.” I hear a loud crash and know they’ve made it through the front door.
“They took you to Sara’s.” It’s not a question.
“Open the door!” I jerk around to look at the door. “Cora!”
“I love you,” I say before ending the call.
The door explodes in a second later. I drop the phone to the floor. I ball my hands into fists to try and hide that I’m shaking. I can’t stop the tears that break free.
The look on Aidon’s face has me scrambling backwards. In this moment I realize why men fear him. I fall onto the bed. I roll over and try and scurry to the other side. His hand locks around my ankle, and he pulls me back. I roll over again and kick, nailing him right in the chest. He doesn’t even budge this time. It’s as though I didn’t even do anything to him at all. His hold on my ankle tightens. I keep struggling, but deep down inside I know it’s useless.
“Who do you love?” he growls out. My mind blanks, not understanding what he’s asking. How can those eyes that looked at me with so much hunger now bore into me with anger he’s ready to unleash?
I am a silly girl for thinking he might have feelings for me. That he felt the same pull to me as I do to him. Now he’s showing me who he really is, and I need to remember that. My mom always told me that you should believe people when they show you their true colors because that’s who they really are.