I wake up again, this time to voices talking in hushed tones. I keep my eyes closed, managing to make out Aura’s Aunt Diana and her henchman’s voices.
“I’m telling you… this will work. I overheard Lucia and Aura talking last night. She’s deathly allergic to this type of plant. It’s very poisonous to certain people.”
“But it’s only a few leaves,” the idiot argues, and I chance a glance, wanting to see what they’re up to.
They’re not paying attention to me, so I openly stare. On the screen against the far wall is a plant called poison sumac, and it has several pictures along with the plant’s properties. I glare at it for a while, memorizing the images. If I could go back to the spot I found Aura, I’d bet money the poison sumac is around there somewhere and it made her ill. I already know what happens to her if she’s exposed enough, and I doubt she has any clue what it looks like. Knowing her, she’ll touch it and probably even sing to the deadly thing before it ever hits her there’s a lick of danger involved. The green thumb of hers will be her death if she’s not cautious around Diana.
“What are we doing with him?” He nods my way, and they both glance at me, noticing I’m awake. Hopefully, it doesn’t make them stop discussing their plan. I need as much intel as I can possibly gather at this point.
Diana shrugs. “Once Aura’s swollen up and dead, bury them together. They can finally have one another.” She laughs cruelly, probably hoping to get a response out of me.
I refuse to give her what she wants, so I stare blankly, shutting off my outward emotions. Inside, however, I’m a gnarled mess of worry and regret. I shouldn’t have pushed Aura away once I decided it was time for her parents to finally learn about her existence. It may have been done in self-preservation, but it was the wrong thing to do. Aura would be safe and happy right now if I’d stuck to her side as I’d wanted. Instead, I was a stubborn ass, and now we’re both in danger with no one to help save us. If she dies because of me, it’ll eat me alive inside.
“What did she ever do to warrant your hate?” I finally ask, at my wit’s end of not knowing. Aura is the kindest woman I’ve ever met, so I find it incredibly hard to imagine anyone with hate directed in her direction.
“She was born,” Diana replies without missing a beat. “I was supposed to be my brother’s heir, not her. Now she’ll disappear forever, and the title will go back to me, where it should’ve stayed all along. Steven’s betrayal will not go unpunished.”
“He betrayed you how?” This is the first time I’m hearing anything of the sort.
“Shut up!” Her goon orders, but Diana answers my question anyway. She loves being in the spotlight, always has.
“He betrayed me by getting rid of me at the company once Aura was born. He no longer needed me as his heir since she was around. Lucia’s far too rich to need any of Steven’s money, so why shouldn’t I get it? I’m family, too, but everyone seems to forget that simple fact whenever it’s convenient. Well, now it’s my turn to get rid of the inconvenience.”
I shake my head as much as the floor allows. “Greed. This is all because you want Steven’s money and not have to work for it. You really are a piece of shit.”
She fumes at my words—she can’t seem to handle the truth. Not that many psychopaths can, but I was expecting a little bit more from the woman who orchestrated her niece’s kidnapping and disappearance. “You know nothing, black sheep. A lot of good being away from your family has done you, even they won’t care if you’re gone.”
With a careless shrug, I roll my eyes. I don’t give a fuck what she thinks and attempting to bring it on a personal level toward me will only make me fight harder to come out on top of this situation.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but my family loves me all the same. I didn’t choose their path, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t supportive of the one I’m on. Being the black sheep only means I understand you better than you’ll ever admit. Don’t get too cocky, you keep forgetting I’m in an MC. Whether my parents look for me or not, my club brothers will, and they’re much more ruthless than my own blood. I hope you’ve got a dark hole somewhere to crawl in and hide ‘cause you’ll damn sure need it.” I keep talking shit, hoping it’ll strike a chord with Diana and her lackey. I’m not sure anything will happen, but I talk a good game, so hopefully, something I say will have them eventually shitting their pants and leaving Aura alone.
“You know my brothers love Aura. She’s the little sister they never had, and brothers are protective. I can’t wait to see what they do with you two from threatening her safety alone.” Aura’s only met Briar for the most part. She’s seen my other brothers stop by briefly for a few words, but it’s about as far as their relationships have gone. If I get out of here alive, their knowledge will be one of the first things I change. I’ll properly introduce Aura as my girl if she’ll have me, and they can form their own opinions of her. I’ve been selfish, hogging Aura all to myself, but it’ll stop due to her safety.
“Don’t listen to anything he says,” she orders the guy who’s busily scowling in my direction. He seems great, the real friendly sort. I see why he’s so attracted to Diana, like attracts like, and they’re both despicable.
To fuck with him a bit, I wink and blow him air kisses. He looks like the type who can’t handle confrontation or taunting well. “Come here, big boy, let me dot your other eye for you. I’ll make ‘em match, you weak little bitch.”
“Fuck you!” He loses it and screams with rage.
“Shh!” Diana warns. “Enough. I won’t tolerate filth from you. I told you to ignore Philip, and I mean it. I’ll let you know when the time is right to kill him too. You’ll exact your contempt for him then and no sooner. Now, go find out my niece’s schedule so we can get this over with. I want her dead and buried before my brother has a chance to alter the will again.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“You better. Make sure no one suspects anything. Think flawless, just how I like my diamonds.”
He nods submissively and strides for the doorway.
“You still have time to change your mind,” I offer, aware it’ll most likely do me no good, but it’s worth a shot anyhow.
She hums, flashing me an amused glance. “I can always change my mind. No one has the power to dictate otherwise.”
I nod. “Exactly. You’re not too deep right now, so things in motion can be changed. You can let me go and not deal with the consequences of holding me captive.” It’s a load of bullshit, but I go with it anyhow. Whether this woman lets me go or not, I’m slitting her throat the first chance I get. The world deserves to be purged of filth like her. If only I were closer to my knife. I glance longingly at it once Diana turns away from me again.
“You’re a funny one, thinking you can talk me into allowing you to go free. Not happening, you’ll die right along with my niece.”
She couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ll figure something out to warn Aura, even if I have to die trying.