Abducted By My Father's Best Friend (Taken)

“Did you have any issues getting here?” I step aside and let him in.

Jeremy shakes his head. “No one even bothered me.”

“Good.” It’s a relief that everything we’re putting into play is working out in our favor.

I know Hector De Laurio wants to meet with everyone, and I’m eager to finally be able to tell my story, but at the same time, I don’t know what Georgio is up to right now.

I feel so out of the loop because I don’t know what’s going on anywhere.

“What did Hector and Don say about Oliver and Enzo? Does anyone even know they were the ones helping Georgio orchestrate this whole thing?”

“I’m not sure what everyone knows. All I know is Hector and the other families have the information you sent me.”

I pat Jeremy on the shoulder, bringing him into the kitchen, where Mia still sits at the table. “Good job, brother.”

“There’s still the issue of Bishop Blackstone.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” The minute we step inside the United States, Bishop will get wind of it.

He’ll be after Mia in no time.

I need to not only protect her from the other three families that will most likely go after her father, but I need to keep her safe from Bishop as well.

I’ve got my work cut out for me.

“Any word on his whereabouts?”

Jeremy rubs at the back of his neck. “Everyone’s been on the lookout for him.”

“Any idea what they’ll do to Georgio when they find out what he’s done?”

Jeremy smiles. “Maybe they’ll let Bishop deal with him.”

I chuckle.

“That’s my father you’re laughing at,” Mia says. Her eyes fill with tears, and I move closer to her.

“Mia, I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean anything by it.”

“No, I know. I just…” her words fall away, and the tears roll down her cheeks. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”

I crouch beside her, and thumb away the wetness on her face. “I’m so sorry.”

Jeremy’s silent, knowing when to take a cue. He leaves the kitchen, and I reach out to Mia.

She pushes away my comfort and stands. “It’s fine. Really. I just need some time alone.” Mia empties her plate into the trash and sets the plate in the sink. “I’ll be down later.”

She moves toward the staircase, and I don’t go after her. I know this must be hard on her.

I find Jeremy outside, smoking a cigarette on the patio.

I sit and reach out my hand. “Have another?” I don’t normally smoke unless I’m in a high-stress situation, and I think this is exactly that.

He offers me one, and I bring the cigarette to my lips, igniting the flame to light the smoke.

I breathe in. Ah, that feels so fucking good. “Any ideas on how we’re going to reenter the country?”

He shrugs, leaning back against the lounge seat. “I don’t fucking know. I don’t know how to get you two safely into the country without Bishop finding out.”

“Maybe we can sneak her in under a different name? Who is that friend she was pretending to be back in New York?” I lean forward as my idea takes form.

“Sophia, I think? We should get on that.”

“Last I heard, Dean Maddox had taken Sophia, thinking she was Mia.”

“Tomorrow we can call him, get a plan in place.” He puffs on his cigarette.

“I just want Mia to be safe,” I tell him.

“I can see that.” His tone is all-knowing and I laugh a little.

“What can I say? She’s the one.” I lean back, taking another drag from my cigarette.

I consider Jeremy a friend. He’s been with me for so long, working side-by-side with me for many years. “The one?” he questions.

I shrug. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

Jeremy says nothing, just continues to smoke his cigarette, until finally he snubs it out in the ashtray. “How does she feel?”

I rub a hand through my hair. “I don’t know.” I stamp out my cigarette as well. “Everything’s all fucked because of her father right now. I feel horrible about what he did. I’m not sure what is going to happen to her.”

“Maybe you could step up, take care of her.”

I smile, thinking about Mia. “She doesn’t need a man to take care of her. She’s strong. But I still plan on being there when she needs me.”

“Good.” Jeremy grabs another cigarette from his pack. “I think tomorrow we call Dean and see what he has to say.” He lights his cigarette and I stare up at the clouds drifting across the blue sky.

“I like it.” The plan works, and tomorrow we’ll get everything settled so I can figure out where Mia and I stand for a future together.

I’m not lying when I say that I’ve never felt this way about any woman before. I never have. And I don’t know what that means for a future together, but I’m open to the idea of it.