Crux (The Aurora Lockette Series) Read Online Free PDF

wall behind me. “Could have fooled me.” I gave him the most hateful stare I could.
    “ Let’s see, here.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled a slim, pen-sized flashlight. He turned it on and pointed it at my face.
    The bright light blinded me and I had to turn my head to the side, and put up my hand in front of my eyes.
    “ Oh, dear. That’s unacceptable. I’ll have a talk with him. Have you eaten? Would you like to clean up?” He turned off the flashlight.
    “ I have not eaten.”
    He took a step towards the door, leaning to the side before he spoke. “Mr. X? Come in here please.”
    My captor made an appearance, face red with beads of sweat on his forehead. “What?”
    “ I sent over fresh linens and clean clothes in her size. Please see that she gets them. Let her take a shower or do whatever she needs to do. Let’s install a light bulb in here, too. Would you like that, Aurora?”
    “ I’d like to leave, actually,” I said.
    “ I’m afraid that’s just not possible.” He nodded at Mr. X before exiting the room, Mr. X following him out.
    “ Mr. X? Really?” I called after the closed door. Two loud clicks of some sort of lock against the door, and they were gone.
    I rolled off the bed , and I put my ear against the door. Distant male voices floated through the hallway. They didn’t even sound like they were in the house, maybe outside? I twisted the knob, pushing against the door with my body weight. It didn’t even shudder. I tapped against the door with one finger up and down, until I found a couple of spots where it didn’t sound so hollow. That was where the external deadbolts were. My fingers found the edge of the door, probing for the seam. The door filled the frame completely, leaving no room for even a credit card to wedge into. Not that I had a credit card.
    I turned my attention to the boarded up window. No such luck. The glass was caulked shut. Several boards crudely crossed the inside of the window, letting in narrow lines of faint light.
    Tapping noises brought me back to the bed. I crouched on the bed and put my ear against the wall.
    Tap . Tap.
    I tapped on the wall in return. “Hello?” Loud enough to carry, but not loud enough to alert the captors.
    Faint groaning carried through the wall. It was male, familiar. Not Gavyn, not Konstantin, but still ringing a bell deep in my mind. “Can you hear me?” I whispered.
    “ Aurora,” the voice croaked, barely audible through the wall.
    “ Who is that?” I tapped again. I waited and waited, but he was still and silent. Maybe asleep. Maybe dead.
    I wrapped the thin, dirty blanket around me. The enormity of the situation pushed into my existence. I’d been kidnapped. I was alone. And I was probably going to die.

CHA PTER 5
    GAVYN
    I pushed my hands through my hair, taking a deep shaky breath before resting my head on my palms. My movements made the soft bed creak underneath me.
    She was gone. Taken right in front me.
    I’d lunged after the SUV when they scooped her up, but I hadn’t been fast enough.
    I’d ran after the black SUV , moving as fast as a shadow in the night, but it turned into an alley and disappeared with a flash of tail lights. I’d run until my lungs exploded and my legs were numb, screaming her name. I’d bit back a sob when my legs finally gave out. I’d lain on the semi dark street, lights of the Strip flashing nearby. I don’t know how long I’d stayed, but I’d lost my mind when I’d realized she was gone.
    Carmen and Konstantin had jumped in the car and tried to follow it, but she was gone.
    Gone. And it was my fault.
    Light worked its way through the tall window, lighting up the small bedroom in the safe house that was mine for the night. We’d decided to stick around this damn city until we could get a lead on where she might be. But over twenty-four hours later, there were no leads, only emptiness and rage.
    I’d made that horrible phone call late last night. Dennis offered, but I’d