Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 5)

I said, "It's fine, Peter. I'm just going to be around the corner. Besides, it's kind of a private talk. Girl stuff, you know."

Peter was hesitant for a moment and then finally said, "All right, Miss Donovan. But you be careful out there."

I nodded.

A moment later, he opened the gate for me. As I walked out, I said over my shoulder, "I won't be long. I promise." I even gave him a cute smile.

He chuckled before returning to his post in the small office.

Oddly enough, the moment I stepped on the other side of the gate, I had this feeling of abandonment that scared me shitless, and I had no idea why. It's only going to be five minutes, I confirmed to myself as I headed down the road.

The street was strangely dark and sinister tonight, and I couldn't help but feel a chilly dread rush through my body. I glanced over my shoulder to look at the house to make sure it was still there, that I wasn't someplace else where I wasn't safe.

God, what was I thinking? Walking out here all alone and meeting Sophie, of all people, the woman who hated me to my bones. What if she had a vendetta against me because I'd been taunting her for the past two days and she thought she got fired because it was my doing? The thought didn't sit well with me, and I shuddered in anxiety.

I thought about turning back when I rounded a corner and saw Sophie there, standing by a van parked down the street. Instantly my thought of backing out fled my mind, and I squared my shoulders as I headed her way.

The closer I got, the more my stomach flipped in dread and the sicker I felt. It was clear I'd never confronted my arch enemy before.

When I was a few steps away, I stopped and looked her squarely in the eyes. I noted she had a dark smile on her face, and her clothing was a bit different than usual. Tonight she wore a dark trench coat, black jeans, and dark sneakers. Was this her type of outfit when she wasn't working as Aria's nanny? My instincts, however, told me otherwise. Sophie wouldn't dress like that, in something so distasteful, unless she had to.

I licked my lips and said, "So where do we begin?"

Sophie shrugged, and I noted she wasn't looking at me. Rather, her eyes were following something behind me.

She said, "I think we should begin with him."

I frowned as a sudden chill ran down my spine. Suddenly I noticed the smell... that god-awful smell that made me want to throw up. The smell that reminded me of my past... of that small bedroom back in New Hampshire... me and Andy being bullied and molested... and Herbert Weston.

My head spun, and my body felt weak with terror as I slowly turned around.

The moment I faced him--the man who never stopped haunting my nightmares--I sucked in my breath.

There I stood, frozen in fear, as I stared at the man I had hoped to never see again.

"Hello, Mia," he said. "Uncle has come to take you home."

Instantly I snapped out of my haze of fear and, my body shaking uncontrollably, said, "No. I'm not going anywhere with you, Herbert." I twisted around and glared at Sophie. "You bitch. You tricked me."

I knew I had to run away if I didn't want to end up in Herbert's clutches again, if I didn't want to go through the terror I'd been through when I'd been a teenage girl.

I tightened my grip on the phone in my hand as I continued to swear at Sophie as if my life depended on it.

"You think you're going to get away with this? When James finds out you planned this whole thing, that you joined forces with this disgusting man, you're both going to be dead. You obviously don't know James very well. He'll murder you without batting an eye. I swear you'll pay if anything happens to me."

Sophie laughed lightly. She was actually laughing at me and my threats. Once she was done with her sour amusement, she said, "Yeah. Like I'm going to believe you. James may be a billionaire, but when it comes to something like this, he knows nothing, sweetheart."

I shook my head at her naivety. I said as I slowly walked backward, the phone in my hand tighter in my grip, "You're stupid, Sophie. So fucking stupid. And I'm not going to feel sorry for you when James and his men hunt the both of you down, because that's what he'll do. He'll hunt you down and destroy you."

The moment I felt Herbert close behind me, I swung around and really let my fist fly into the man's face with all my might. The phone smacked his cheekbone, sending him staggering backward against the side of the van.

Sophie was stunned at what had just happened, while Herbert muttered under his breath as he touched the spot I'd whacked.

I took the opportunity of their shocked surprise and made a run for it. I literally ran for my life, my ballet flats hurting my feet and threatening to fall off.

As I rushed around the corner, intending to head back up the street toward the house, I suddenly felt a rough, strong hand on my arm, pulling me back.

Shit! No!

It was Herbert. He had caught me, his hands rough on my skin. I fought him like a crazy cat as I swung my hands wildly at him, smacking his face and chest, giving him blow after blow with my puny fists. I tried to free myself from the tight grasp, but it was to no avail.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Sophie's voice came bellowing from behind. "Fuck! Quickly. Shut her up, will you? Or someone will hear."

Instantly a hand smashed my face, sending me reeling back. I lost my footing and collapsed onto the concrete slab, my cell dropping from my hand. As I lay there, all I felt was the pain, hot and deep, spreading across my body. My head was spinning, and all I could see was hazy darkness.

I panicked and knew if I didn't clear my head and try to get help or get away soon, I was in deep trouble. I groaned and forced myself to move. Then I spread my hands out, searching for my phone by feeling about the concrete.

"Why do you have to be so difficult, Mia?" I heard Herbert say darkly. "Uncle was only here to take you back home. Do you know how much Uncle has missed you?"

I furrowed my brow and forced my head to clear, and miraculously it did. I opened my eyes and scanned around for my phone. I found it not too far away and scurried toward it. Once close, I snapped it up and, with shaky hands, searched for James's number.

I was about to push the call button when Herbert's feet appeared beside me and casually kicked the cell out of my grasp. I felt sick as tears stung my eyes. My one and only savior was kicked out of my reach. James! Oh God! Oh no!

Suddenly I felt myself being picked up, and a rag was pressed against my mouth and nose. I fought as I tried to breathe, my hands struggling wildly against the big man.

It smelled odd. The cloth. A strong, foul odor. I became weaker, and my mind began to fade.

No! What's happened? Why is my body like this? Mia, don't back down. Get a grip on yourself. Mia! I shouted internally.

But I couldn't win. Something in that cloth was making me sleepy. Then I blacked out.

Chapter 20

/>

James

"I'm going to check up on Aria and Mia for a bit," James said, getting up from his seat. "I think that's enough gossiping about Dad and his new bride."

Eric snorted. "That woman is not Dad's new bride. Don't be ridiculous, James."

Scott chuckled. "We'll get to meet her soon, no doubt. Our old man is coming home next month, isn't he?"

"Yeah," James said as he headed toward the door. As he was about to exit, he added, "You're about to meet your new stepmother, Eric. You should be elated about that."

Eric shouted, "Fuck you, James. It's not funny."

James laughed, shaking his head as he headed up the stairs.

He couldn't believe how sensitive Eric was where the new bride Alice was concerned.

New bride, he thought, his mind turning to Mia. Fuck, he'd said the four-letter word to her this evening, and he still couldn't believe it. Once again, he felt elated, simply elated when he'd finally recognized his feelings for Mia and said those wonderful words to her. Not to mention that quick sex was simply mind-blowing, and her pussy was so fucking sweet too.

Mia, he thought. He loved Mia Donovan. Fuck. He. Loved. Her.

He chuckled as he headed toward his daughter's bedroom. There he found Aria fast asleep. He bent down, kissed her, and then headed out again, wondering if Mia was already in her sleeping garment and in her own bed.

At her bedroom door, he gave a couple of knocks. When there was no answer, he went in, only to find the room was empty. Frowning, he strode to the bathroom and checked there.

Suddenly he felt sick. Fuck! Where the hell is she?

"Mia?" he called out, looking around and checking inside the walk-in closet. She wasn't in there either.

When he came back out, his gut instinct told him something wasn't right. Fuck!

"Mia?" he called again. He was about to head out when he saw the note sitting on the bedside table.

He picked it up and scanned through the short message.

"Fuck!" He swore loudly and rushed out the door.

He sprinted down the stairs, raced across the foyer--which surprised his brothers who were just about to leave--and then out the door.

"James!" Scott called out. "What's wrong?"