Chapter 6

• Chapter 6
• Aurora sat on the edge of her bed, her heart still pounding from what had happened upstairs.
• Edward had snapped.
• She had always known he was cruel, unpredictable, but today? Today was something different.
• Liam had stepped in like it was nothing, like he wasn’t staring down a man who had no problem destroying people.
• And what scared her the most?
• Liam hadn’t even flinched.
• Aurora exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.
• She needed to clear her head.
• Being in this house was suffocating, and after what happened with Edward, she needed space.
• Grabbing a light jacket, she pushed open her bedroom door and made her way downstairs.
• The mansion was quiet. Too quiet.
• Her mother was nowhere to be seen, probably out shopping or pretending she was happily married to a monster.
• She just needed fresh air. A walk, a distraction, anything to stop her mind from spiraling.
• As she reached the grand staircase, she heard footsteps behind her.
• She already knew who it was before she turned.
• Liam leaned against the railing, arms crossed, watching her.
• “Running away?” he mused.
• Aurora rolled her eyes. “It’s called going outside. Maybe you should try it sometime.”
• Liam smirked. “I get plenty of fresh air, princess. Unlike you, I don’t sit around all day sketching in my little notebook.”
• Aurora scowled. “At least I have a hobby that doesn’t involve breaking the law.”
• Liam chuckled, pushing off the railing. “Where are you going?”
• “None of your business.”
• Liam tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement. “You sure about that? Because last time I checked, I’m the only person keeping you from getting eaten alive in this house.”
• Aurora stiffened.
• She hated that he was right.
• She hated that he knew it.
• “Don’t flatter yourself,” she muttered, turning toward the door.
• She barely made it outside before she heard him following.
• Aurora groaned. “Are you serious?”
• Liam shrugged. “I need a ride anyway.”
• Aurora narrowed her eyes. “Ride where?”
• Liam smirked. “You’ll see.”
• Her frustration spiked. “I am not your chauffeur, Liam.”
• “Relax, princess,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re already leaving. Might as well make it interesting.”
• Aurora exhaled sharply. “You’re impossible.”
• Liam grinned. “And you’re predictable.”
• She wanted to argue, to shove him away and storm off alone.
• But deep down, she knew one thing.
• Being alone meant being vulnerable.
• And if Edward was still in the house, still angry, maybe having Liam around wasn’t the worst idea.
• She sighed. “Fine. But you don’t get to control the music.”
• Liam laughed, following her to the car. “I make no promises.”
• Aurora rolled her eyes, unlocking the doors.
• Liam slid into the passenger seat, stretching out like he owned the place.
• She started the engine, gripping the wheel tightly.
• Liam reached for the stereo.
• Aurora slapped his hand away.
• “Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
• Liam chuckled, but for once, he actually listened.
• The drive was quiet at first.
• Aurora kept her eyes on the road, trying to ignore the fact that Liam was so close, his presence so annoyingly strong.
• “You drive like a grandma,” Liam mused after a few minutes.
• Aurora scowled. “Or maybe you just have a death wish.”
• Liam grinned. “Depends on the day.”
• Aurora ignored him, turning the corner toward town.
• She just needed a place to breathe, a distraction, something to remind her that her life wasn’t completely falling apart.
• But fate, as always, had other plans.
• Because as soon as she parked the car near a small coffee shop, she noticed something was wrong.
• Liam noticed too.
• His body stiffened slightly, his eyes darkening as he looked toward the parking lot.
• Aurora followed his gaze.
• A group of men stood near the entrance, dressed in leather jackets, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp.
• They weren’t just any men.
• They were bikers.
• Liam’s world.
• Aurora’s stomach tightened.
• She didn’t know much about his underground life, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew enough to realize that these men weren’t here by accident.
• “Friends of yours?” she asked, her voice light but wary.
• Liam exhaled slowly, his jaw ticking. “Not exactly.”
• Aurora’s pulse spiked.
• That answer meant one thing.
• Enemies.
• She barely had time to process it before one of the men spotted Liam and smirked.
• Aurora’s stomach dropped.
• This was bad.
• Liam unbuckled his seatbelt, his expression unreadable. “Stay in the car.”
• Aurora blinked. “Excuse me?”
• Liam opened his door. “Just stay put.”
• Aurora grabbed his arm before he could step out.
• “Are you insane?” she hissed. “You can’t just—”
• Liam turned to her, his face closer than it should have been.
• “Trust me,” he murmured.
• Aurora’s breath caught.
• For once, there was no teasing in his voice. No cocky smirk.
• Just seriousness.
• It unnerved her.
• Before she could say anything, he pulled away and stepped out of the car.
• Aurora’s heart pounded.
• She shouldn’t get involved.
• She should just stay put, like he said.
• But then she saw it.
• The way the men spread out slightly, like a trap closing in.
• The way one of them cracked his knuckles, grinning.
• Liam was outnumbered.
• And no matter how much she hated him, no matter how infuriating he was…
• She wasn’t about to sit back and watch him get jumped.
• Aurora cursed under her breath and threw open her door.
• If Liam was about to fight, then so was she.
• And God help anyone who tried to stop her