80 - Click

**Aurora POV**

"Father?"

I was stunned. A million questions continued going through my head like a cheetah trying to catch its prey in a thunderstorm.

*What? How? Why? When?*

My Father. He was dead. I mourned him. The men in black came to the house and told my Aunt. I watched her collapse on the ground in sorrow; I heard her screams of pain.

She hugged me on the floor for hours until I fell asleep in her arms. I remembered the numbness. And yet here he was, in the flesh, holding onto my arms, a smirk on his face that highlighted that woman-swooning dimple he always liked to show off.

No. This man was not my father. If my father was alive, he would have come for me. Right? He should have come for me when Aunt Maggie died. I shouldn’t have had to go to that terrible home. No, this man was not my father, he died 18 years ago shortly after my mom. I had no family left. I had made peace with that.

I snap out of my inner turmoil when I hear the tap of expensive shoes on the marble. "Stephen! We need to get the shipments..." I turned to face the man of my nightmares, still in the clutches of the man who was supposedly responsible for 50% of my DNA, and he stopped right in his tracks, his face frozen in shock, phone in his hand.

A moment passes before he smiles wickedly, and I see a dangerous glint in his eyes, and begins to step closer to me. "What are you doing out of your room, princess?"

Maybe now is not the right time to be a brat but it's just too good an opportunity. "I'm just going for a walk. Figured since the leash was off your dogs, I'd chase them in the garden and frolic in the flowers."

Dimitry, my devilishly handsome nightmare also known as the bastard extraordinaire exhaled a breath with a bored look on his face before he pinched the bridge of his nose with his hand. "Go back to your room Aurora. I will be up later. I have enough problems today."

Yeah, no thanks asshole!

I gave my best flashy smile before adding "Yeah, fuck you!" And I quickly and dramatically pulled my arms from my father, I mean Stephen's grasp before I sidestep him and try to rush out the door. Keyword: try. Because just as quickly as I tried to get out the door, a firm grip was in my hair and a burning fire coursed through my scalp as I was yanked back with tremendous force, and I was instantly wrapped in a strong death grip embrace.

My body flushed with the sculpted stone chest of the walking embodiment of that decently-looking Satan. I’d call him sexy, but one I’ve seen a lot better, four to be exact and two, his handsome looks were only a facade to mask his pure black soul. I yelped in pain and his grip on my head tightened even more and he forced me to look up to his face.

His eyes were almost black, and the anger on his face was as clear as a sunny day. If I could look into his soul at this moment, I think it would promise me a world of pain and terror.
How the hell did that man get to me so fast?

"Can you let go of my head?" I seethed through my teeth. My scalp was still burning in his iron grip. "I spent a whole two minutes on this ponytail, and you are messing it up! Let. Me. Go." I tried to keep the tears under control that were threatening to be released as I struggled to put distance between us, but it was futile and only seemed to aggravate him more. I didn't want him to know how scared I was at this moment, so I tried to be brave, and it just came out as smart ass.

"You better remember who you are talking to, little girl! You should know by now that I do NOT tolerate disobedience!" He seethed back. His hand that gripped my waist to his body gave a bone-crushing squeeze. That is going to leave a nasty little bruise.

"Who are you again?" I asked boldly. Damn, where is this confidence coming from? I had my hands rested on his hips because I had given up on trying to push him away. He took another moment to look at me before he exhaled a small chuckle and then dared to pucker his lips and leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead. I was cringing on the inside.

While Dimitry rested his forehead against mine he said "Stephen, take Aurora back to her room and make sure to lock the doors."

I instinctively tightened my grip on his hips, and he raised his eyebrow. When I felt my father, I mean Stephen's hand on my shoulder I shuttered. Hell no! I wasn't going to listen to these bastards, but Dimitry had loosened his grip just enough for some much-needed relief.

"Too scared to do it yourself little man," I taunted. I had made a split-second decision that would probably have me killed. I smiled like a Cheshire Cat before I reached behind

Dimitry's back and found his pistol lodged in his pants, quickly pulling it out and before he could blink put it under his chin.

His eyes widened. I watched his eyes flicker so quickly, but I could sense lots of anger, rage, and maybe even admiration.

I clicked the safety off without blinking. We stood there in a silent duel for a few moments. My confidence waning by the second. My hand started shaking as Dimitry pulled me closer to him, that devilish smirk spread across his face.

"Do it, baby. Pull the trigger. Come on..." he teased me. "DO IT!" He ordered. Possession raged in his eyes.

"Aurora!" Stephen said in a dominant voice. A warning no doubt.

So much hatred was in my soul at that moment, and without thinking I pulled the trigger.

*Click*.

What?

*Click*.

*Click*.

*Click*.

Realization hit me like a bulldozer. I could have punched myself. I can’t believe it wasn’t loaded. That was the first lesson I ever got from Kai. I should have known it was empty. It didn’t feel as weighted. Rookie mistake. Dimitry's smirk turned to stone as he grabbed the gun while grabbing my wrist in a death grip.

"Oh sweetheart," he cooed, stepping so close his hot breath hit my face, I could smell a hint of cigars and mint. "You had your fun, now I will get mine!" He growled.

He took my wrist and so swiftly twisted it and turned my arm, so it was behind my back. An unpleasant shooting pain blinded my mind. I tried to struggle out of his hold, but Stephen was there and caged me in by holding a firm grip on my shoulders. A look of pain and sorrow on his face.

I continued to struggle against my captors, begging them to let me go. I unsuccessfully tried to kick, punch, and slap anything I could, only to have a tighter grip on my extremities that made me scream in pain.

When Dmitry leaned down to whisper in my ear, I took a chance and slammed my head against his. Fuck that hurt! His grip loosened but not by much and it was only a second before he tightened the grip. I swear my bones were cracking. Was this man made of stone?

Dmitry spat some blood from his mouth straight on his tile floor without concern. Good! My victory was short-lived though.

My other hand was brought swiftly behind my back and I felt him pull my wrists together and a little clanking of metal. I struggled against the tight chain, and I could feel vibrations from Dimitry's chest on my back. He was laughing at my futile attempts.

With a huff, I let my defiance deflate slightly once I was tightly bound. Hot tears cascaded down my cheeks, staining them once again.

Dimitry gave me another kiss on my forehead before giving a new order to Stephen. He said "Take her to the black room. I will punish her after we take care of the shipments." He released his hold on me and walked out the door, putting his Bluetooth device in his ear. Stephen's hot hands quickly grabbed my arms and proceeded to drag me through the house, kicking and screaming, to a new set of stairs leading down.

Well, this is going to be fun.