23

23

The sun was young and the new day glowed brightly with its youth. That was the only thing glowing brightly.

Lauren sat nursing a mug of coffee as she glared darkly at Aaron over the rim of the cup. He’d dropped a huge one on her the previous night when he’d said there was a picture showing the faces of the men responsible for the abominations done to those poor young girls.

And then, of course, being Aaron Spencer, he'd then refused to say anymore.

Lauren clucked her tongue in annoyance as she set the mug down.

She’d forgotten that she was dealing with Aaron Spencer.

Stubborn, hard-headed Aaron Spencer, who didn’t care if she’d kept him up half the night begging him to tell her who the men were. Nope, he’d just shake his big, handsome head gravely and say ‘When the time is right.”.

Like hell! Lauren wanted to know now! She wanted to put the bastards who’d used her grandfather’s home as a hiding place for their crimes right in jail.

Obviously, Aaron had different plans.

Lauren huffed and flipped her hair sharply over her shoulder. Across her, Aaron lifted his gaze, fighting to stop the grin curving his mouth.

Lauren narrowed her eyes.

“I dare you to laugh about this,” she threatened and snarled when Aaron chuckled anyway.

Before she could throw her spoon at him, he got out of his seat and put his plate in the sink.

“I suggest you stop lookin’ like a grumpy tomcat…”

Lauren gasped. “Why, you…”

“Never mind, Lauren, honey,” Aaron quickly righted, fearing the danger in her glare. “We need to get going.”

With a calming sigh, she got up too. “Where to?”

Aaron paused. “Hutson’s.”

Her eyes went wide. “Hutson’s? Montgomery Hutson, right? You know him well enough to know where he lives?”

He nodded grimly and shifted uneasily from foot to foot. “He knows a lot... about this. We need to speak to him before they get to him.”

Lauren gasped. What would they do if they got to old Hutson? Surely not kill him? The thought was sickening.

“Is Grayson coming?”

Aaron shook his head. “No. Don’t want him knowin’ more than is safe for him. Mine and your life are already in danger anyway, so we might as well.”

He chuckled and Lauren shook her head at his odd humor. Selena was in the living room when they left the kitchen. Her attention was on the TV as she munched away on peanuts.

Lauren smiled warmly at her and Selena grinned back, nodding at her bowl of peanuts.

“Guilty pleasure,” she said with a wink.

Nodding, Lauren lowered Selena’s bottle of water on the table beside her as Aaron quickly explained that they would be out for a few hours.

Soon, they were out of the house and Aaron was opening the garage to bring out another car. A sturdy black Jeep that Lauren had never seen before.

She blinked. Hadn't Grayson said Aaron had three cars? Where was this fourth one coming from?

She sighed. She sure wished she was rich enough to switch cars. Huh! Rich people.

When the Jeep drove onto the road, Lauren snapped out of her thoughts and drew the gate closed and walked towards the car.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket and Lauren hurriedly pulled it out and brought it to her ear as she got in the car and Aaron began driving.

“Hello?”

“Lauren, dear! Oh, goodness, we’ve been worried sick!”

Lauren’s entire body tensed and her knuckles turned white around the phone. She forced herself to relax. The Stanfords didn’t know that she knew all about their plans, they thought they had the blueprint for her death, had Lauren herself under their roof and were home free.

They thought wrong.

Lauren took a breath.

“Mrs. Stanford. Hi.”

“Well... hi, but... what’s going on? We called you many times and you didn’ pick none of them calls up. Are you alright? Please just let us know where you are and I promise, Marcus will fetch you immediately.”

Lauren bet he would.

“I assure you, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

The fake concern dripping from Martha’s voice had Lauren urging to curse the woman out, but she sadly never learned how to properly cuss someone out to the point where they want to bury themselves alive.

“At least tell us where you are…?”

The concern edged off a little and Lauren could just hear the hint of annoyance and desperation in the older woman’s tone.

A smile curved Lauren’s mouth.

“That won’t be necessary, I’m safe.”

“Yes, it is necessary!” barked Martha and Lauren raised a brow. “Uhm, what I mean is that…yes, it’s come to our attention that that murderer, Aaron Spencer has been seen hangin’ around your family home, he has. Folks suspect he’s got an eye out for you. Gotta be careful, Lauren, honey, he’ll have you under his knife faster than light. Come back home now, honey.”

Lauren frowned. How stupid did they think she was?

“That isn’t true actually,” she bit out trying not to sound as angry as she was becoming. Martha herself had been plotting Lauren’s murder, yet she sat there warning Lauren about Aaron? Ridiculous.

“It is true, Lauren. He killed your mother and grandfather and if you give him the chance, he’ll do the same to you. Come home, we can protect you.”

Lauren flinched at the blunt words, struggling to get her heart to settle. Aaron had been glancing at her repeatedly, but she didn’t look back at him, afraid that he’d read her like a children’s book.

“I need to go,” Lauren said into the phone.

“He’s a murderer and he will stop at nothing, Lauren! I know that you went to the house that night and Aaron was there, wasn’ he? I’ll tell you, honey, he was there to collect something that belonged to him. Something that could send him to jail for a long time. He went to get it before Martin got it, so we wouldn’t lock him away. You’re lucky he didn’t kill you that same night…”

Lauren’s hands were beginning to tremble and she became afraid that Aaron would notice. She didn’t want to hear anymore.

“I- I’ve got to go!”

Lauren hung up and dropped the phone onto her lap, clutching her hands tightly over it.

Aaron glanced at her with a frown.

“What did Stanford’s wife want?” he questioned warily.

Lauren glanced at him for half a second and saw the darkened brown of his gold iris.

She shrugged. “Nagging me to come home ...y’know, the usual. She has no life.”

She turned quickly away to stare out of the window again.

Aaron said nothing, only drove in silence and Lauren was relieved. Martha was crazy, she had to be! None of what she’d said had been the truth.

Lauren had to believe that. But then...why had she not told Aaron everything Martha said on that call?

Lauren gulped. Aaron had said he was at the house that night to make sure that she, Lauren, was safe, hadn’t he?

But...what if it had been different?

Martha said that Aaron went to get something that could send him away. A gasp flew silently into Lauren’s lungs.

It couldn’t be.

Aaron couldn’t possibly be the one who’d hidden the photos there.

He wasn’t even the one who’d found them, it had been Lauren. But what if he’d known that they were there all along?

Or, maybe she was just letting Martha’s talk get to her. But, what if…what if she wasn’t lying?

Lauren’s heart was beating in a pattern that felt like it led to a heart attack. She clenched and unclenched her fingers, unaware of Aaron’s golden eyes that followed the movement.

Her heart didn’t want to accept it, but her brain was stubbornly sorting through the questions and answers.

Lauren thought of asking Aaron, but then thought of exactly how upfront and honest he’d been with her so far. Yeah, not very.

She couldn’t guarantee that he would tell her the truth. She couldn’t risk it, so she kept quiet.

Lauren was tense in her seat, hating the fact that she was. Aaron said he didn’t do it, why was she still having doubts?

But...damn, it was killing her. Why wasn’t he just upfront with her? Why didn’t he just tell her the whole truth?

The whole thing smelled of secrecy and conspiracy and it made Lauren sick to her stomach.

With a sigh, she looked outside the window.

Actually looked and realized that there were woods on either side of the road and she really had no idea where they were.

She glanced tentatively at Aaron who was staring ahead, no ounce of emotion on his face. Lauren’s throat became constricted, but she swallowed to clear it.

“Um…where are we going?”

Aaron didn’t look at her and let about five seconds pass before he answered.

“North Malbourg. That’s where Advocate Montgomery Hutson resides.”

Lauren nodded and shrunk in her seat. Malbourg. They were going to Malbourg. It wasn’t far, just the next town. She’d be okay. Malbourg wasn’t far.

“Is somethin’ wrong?” Aaron asked in a low voice. Lauren glanced at him and quickly shook her head.

“No! I mean, no, everything’s...fine.”

He remained silent and continued driving, withdrawing into a cold dullness that Lauren found disconcerting.

She glanced at his frozen profile multiple times, finding his statue-like state disturbing. She told herself that she was being utterly ridiculous and forced herself to face front, wrapping her trembling fingers around her arms.

Suddenly, Aaron’s foot pressed on the pedal and the car was flying over the road. Lauren clutched at the edges of her seat as her heart slammed against her rib cage.

“A-Aaron, what’s going on?”

She glanced at him with wide eyes.

His own were narrowed and focused on the road before them.

He remained silent, sending alarm bells sounding crazily in Lauren’s head.

Her breathing became labored as the fear mounted and she began to claw at the door.

“Aaron! Stop this! Let me out of this car! Stop the car and let me out!”

Aaron glanced over at her with a frown but said nothing.

Lauren felt her eyes begin to fill.

“Aaron, please let me out.”

“Sit still!” he barked and Lauren clutched her hands against her chest, feeling the hard beat of her heart against her fingers.

She looked at him in disbelief.

She was such an idiot.

It was Aaron Spencer. It really was him. He’d killed them and now he would kill her all because she’d let herself be drawn in by his gold eyes and his body and the way he fiercely protected her. Or the way he pretended to fiercely protect her.

Lauren clutched at herself in her seat.

Suddenly, Aaron swerved off the road and drove down a hidden path leading into the woods.

Lauren gasped and became worked up all over again.

“No! No, please let me go, I’m sorry for...whatever…please!” Her desperate fingers clawed at the window and Aaron grabbed her shoulder, forcing her back against her seat.

“Lauren! Stop. Don’t move!”

She shrunk away from him, eyes wide as thoughts of her fate ran through her mind. Would he bury her in the woods? Was that where he had buried her mother and Pops?

She stared at him, not believing that this was really happening.

Aaron frowned darkly over the steering wheel as he swerved multiple times through secret paths in the forest. Lauren’s heart was in her throat, terrified that he would drive into one of the huge tree trunks at the speed he was driving.

Just as abruptly as he had begun, Aaron brought the car to a sudden stop in a spot completely hidden and shaded by trees overhead.

His breathing was labored as he looked frantically up at the rearview mirror. Lauren squeaked when he turned on her.

“Are you serious?!” he yelled, startling the crap out of her.

She fumbled with her seat belt and Aaron reached out to stop her, but he was too late. Lauren threw off her seat belt and pushed open her door.

“Lauren!”

Aaron made a grab for her arm, but Lauren, frantic with fear, shrugged him off. Aaron dashed out of his car, running after her.

“Lauren, stop!”

She screamed, running back in the direction from which they’d come, overcome with the need to escape.

Aaron was on her heels, hand reaching for her elbow when Lauren tripped and went flying onto the forest floor.

“Lauren!” Aaron knelt beside her and tried to reach for her, but only managed to brush her arm as Lauren went scrambling away.

He took a few steps forward but stopped when the sound of car tires reached them.

Lauren’s wide eyes turned from him to look behind her with hope.

Aaron cursed and dashed forward to grab Lauren, tugging her to her feet. She screamed, kicking out, but he held her firm.

“Lauren, stop fighting me!” he screamed.

Just then a silver BMW swerved wildly into the small space.

Lauren gasped. “Marcus!”

“Sonofabitch!” Aaron cursed, trying to tug her back as she lunged towards Marcus who was jumping out of his car.

“Lauren! Let her go, Spencer!” Marcus screamed.

Aaron’s jaw clenched as fury filled him and he threw his hand behind him, bringing it back with a gun held firmly in his grasp.

Lauren gasped and stared at the gun with wide eyes.

Marcus immediately pulled out his own gun and Lauren watched, frozen as the two men pointed guns at each other.

“Come here, Lauren,” said Marcus, keeping sharp eyes on Aaron.

“Lauren, get in the car,” Aaron said.

She swallowed, looking at both of them and feeling confused beyond measure.

She couldn’t go with Marcus, his parents had already plotted to kill her. What if he was just here to take her to them? She couldn’t take that chance.

Slowly shaking her head, Lauren inched away from both of them. Aaron clenched his jaw.

“Get in the car, Lauren!”

“No!” she screamed. Did he think she was stupid?

“Lauren, my mother told me you were with him,” Marcus said, eyes still on Aaron. “I went to his house and saw you two leave and I knew he could hurt you, so I followed.”

“He’s lying, Lauren, don’t listen to him!” Aaron yelled, eyes full of frustration. “Just get in the damn car, Lauren!”

She clutched at her hair, feeling the urge to dart around and just run away, but fuck, what if they shot her in the back? She couldn’t trust either one of them right then. Not even Aaron.

She stared sadly at him. Then glared at Marcus.

“Your parents are trying to kill me!” she screamed.

Marcus’ eyes widened in slight surprise before he gave her a nod. “I know.”

Lauren frowned. “Yes, because you’re in on it!”

“No, because my father expects me to do it! But I won’t, Lauren! I’m trying to help you, you can’t trust any of them! Both my father and Aaron Spencer want to kill you!”

Aaron shook his head at Lauren. “He’s lyin’, don’t you listen to him, Lauren! What the hell, we just made plans to sort all this shit out together!”

She bit her lip at the look in his eyes, but remembered how cold he’d turned in the car, the strength in his hands when he’d grabbed her.

Her belly churned in fear and she glanced uncertainly at Marcus.

What if Marcus was lying to her? A groan of frustration rose up her throat. What the hell was she supposed to do?!

Aaron snapped, lowering his gun as he stepped toward her.

“Lauren, listen to me…”

The air was suddenly filled the loud cracking sound of a gunshot. Lauren’s heart leaped into her throat as she watched as Aaron jerked back and went falling to the ground.

“Aaron!” she screamed, dropping to her knees beside him. “Oh, my God, oh, my God, Aaron!”

Aaron groaned in pain, clutching his bleeding arm.

“Lauren,” Marcus yelled, grabbing her arm to pull her away from Aaron. “Let’s go, he’s going to get up soon!”

“But, you shot him!”

“He’ll be fine! Let’s go!”

Lauren stared at Aaron with teary eyes. Marcus shot him.

He pulled her backward toward his waiting car and she watched as Aaron got slowly off the ground.

“Lauren…” Aaron said through a groan as he searched the ground for his gun.

Marcus put her in the car and ran around to get in himself, but Lauren was still staring at Aaron with wide eyes. When Aaron found the gun, he looked up and raised it, aiming right for Marcus’s car. Lauren gasped and ducked.

Immediately a whole round of bullets plummeted into Marcus’s car, but he swerved out of the dark little corner in the woods and began to crazily drive back out of the woods, glancing behind him to see if Aaron was following.

Lauren glanced back to see too but vaguely recognized the emotion in her heart as hope. She still hoped Aaron was following when she just found out who he really was? She must have been crazy. She leaned forward in her seat and hugged herself.

But the truth was that she wasn’t crazy, just very confused. She glanced at Marcus as they emerged from the woods, the brightness of the road welcoming them.

“Where will you take me?” she asked shakily.

He smiled and glanced at her. “On a vacation.”

Lauren felt her skin grow cold. “What?”

Marcus didn’t respond, only hummed with a laugh.

Then he gave her a sharp glance.

“Night-night.”

A blast of pain exploded in her head as the butt of his gun landed against her skull.

Pain. Then darkness.