Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 3, 4)

As he stared at the passing bright lights of Las Vegas, James flicked his mind to Mia. Instantly, his eyes darkened. He remembered the brave face she'd put up when he'd told her that her brother was missing. He had avoided using the word kidnapped in consideration of her sensitive constitution. She was new to his dark and dangerous world, a domain most citizens avoided at all cost, deluding themselves into believing it didn't exist. Fuck! It bloody hell existed. And he was one of the men who controlled it.

He knew Mia had done her best to stay calm, to do whatever she could in the situation to help find her brother.

That's my brave girl, he thought, a smile forming on his lips. She understood the state of affairs, unlike his bitchy ex-wife Whitney. He could just imagine the woman would be hysterical if she were in this type of situation. Of course, she didn't have a brother, or any siblings for that matter, since she was an only child, rich and spoiled to the core. Though, he couldn't imagine she'd cared if any member of her family were to go missing. After all, she hadn't given a fuck about her own daughter when she'd run off with her then lover. The sad thing was she still didn't give a fuck about Aria. What was even sadder was the fact that, day by day, Aria's memory of Whitney was slowly disappearing. One day, James was sure Aria wouldn't even know who Whitney was.

Of course, Whitney would blame him, because she could. This was because of who and what he was, the sort of business he was involved in.

Fuck! He was a Maxwell. One of the few powerful families who controlled America behind the scenes, the billionaire elites most feared. Dealing with this type of business was in his blood. It thrilled him, and he loved it.

His mind suddenly turned to the fear mixed with worry he'd seen in Mia's eyes. He had felt utterly protective of her then. He hated it when he'd seen her wearing that particular look a few days ago when he'd first made love to her. He knew now it was because of her Uncle Herbert who had been molesting her when she was young. What a fucking sick bastard.

Oh, he vowed to himself she'd never wear that look in front of him again. Ever! He'd make sure of that. He'd protect her and those she cared for. She was his, and it was his responsibility to take care of her.

Once again, he reminded himself he'd have to deal with Mia's uncle and her job back in Mystic Spring as soon as possible. After all, she was his mistress now, and his mistress simply didn't work. Least of all as a kitchen hand in a shitty restaurant, with a boss who didn't respect her. Of course, her only job now was to please him, both in and out of bed.

It was some fifteen minutes later when they arrived. It was four in the morning, and the place was dimly visible, thanks to the lights along the streets.

James got out first and noted Tory was waiting patiently. He wasn't so pleased, however, when he saw William as well, leaning against the car, his arms crossed over his chest, a dark smirk on his face.

Matt glared the moment he eyed Tory. He slammed the car door shut and proceeded to head over to Tory.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Tory greeted as the men came his way.

"Tory," James greeted in return.

Matt said, "You better not get in my way."

Tory chuckled. "No problem."

William cocked his head to one side when James said, "I didn't know you'd be joining us."

He shrugged his broad shoulders. "I figure it'd be fun."

James knew William had a thing against the Mexican. It was some deal that had gone seriously wrong a few years back, and he'd never really forgiven them. In a way, they were the same, William and him. Forgiving people who had screwed them up in the past wasn't in their nature.

It was then a dozen more men joined them, all wearing black suits and donning firearms. Their stances were tense as they waited for the instructions from James.

And indeed, James barked out orders, telling them to secure the perimeter and to shoot before questioning if it wasn't one of their own.

The small troop of men in black suits quickly and expertly dispersed and went about doing their assigned job in securing the area.

"Shall we, gentlemen?" James said, leading the way toward the ominous building.

Walking beside him was Matt, his hands fisted tight. James understood Matt was both angry at the Mexican and worried about Andy's welfare. He knew his friend blamed himself for what happened, for giving the Mexican an opportunity to abduct Andy, for letting his guard down. James, of course, would feel the same if anything were to happen to Mia.

Fuck! This type of shit had better not happen to Mia.

Behind James and Matt were Tory and William. The two handsome men looked utterly relaxed, though that was merely a farce. Deep inside, they were thrilled and deliriously excited, ready to fuck up the Mexicans and make them sorry for even daring to kidnap one of their friend's boys.

Matt liked to use force and showed up with a grand entrance. He kicked the door down with a bang and roared out, "Carlos! You're fucking screwed for taking Andy. You're going to be so fucking sorry for this."

Chapter 4

James

The men entered the dimly lit foyer. James had his hands in his pants pockets as he eyed the Mexican men surrounding them. Every one of them had firearms in their hands, pointing the dangerous weapons at them, ready for action.

The four billionaires didn't bat an eyelid at the fact that they were severely outnumbered and the loaded guns were pointing at them, ready to shoot them dead within a blink of an eye.

Carlos entered the scene at that moment. Short, stocky, bald-headed, and with a thick, black moustache, he was oozing confidence over where this eerie nighttime conference was heading. He was fucking positive he was going to get his way--a piece of the real estate pie in Sin City where his cartel was so going to soar like a fucking eagle.

"Bienvenido! Bienvenido!" He chuckled, his arms spread out. "I can't believe you actually came because of a boy." He laughed out merrily. "And all four of you, too."

Matt couldn't stand the sarcastic greeting and growled out, "Where the fuck is Andy?"

Carlos shrugged. "We're here to do a deal, are we not, Senor Caine?" He cocked his head to one side arrogantly. "No deal, no boy."

Matt seethed with outrage. "Go fuck yourself, Carlos."

James said coldly, "The snake behind the business, eh?"

"He definitely looks like a fucking snake, all right," Tory said.

"A fat, ugly one," William added. "Damn, James, are we going to have any fun at all? Or are you guys just going to be fucking talking all night?"

"Now we're talking," Tory said, his eyes bright with anticipation.

James understood William's and Tory's eagerness and Matt's impatience. Andy's life could be hanging on the line, and they had no time to waste on bullshit conversation.

"No deal, Carlos," he said. "No fucking way. Like hell I'm going to let your gangs pollute my turf with your imported drugs."

"You heard the man," Matt said, swiftly pulling out a sleek gun from within his jacket. "Now be a good boy and go get Andy for me."

Carlos was seething at the cold rejection. No one had ever rebuffed him before, especially when that deal could make the other party millions.

He yelled, "Like hell you're going to get out of here alive. I'll kill you all."

"That's where you're wrong, Carlos," James said. "You're the one who's not going to get out of here alive."

William cocked his head to one side and said, "You see, Carlos? Us? We're well known. We have connections in high places. If anything happens to us, oh, you'll have hell to pay. But you?"

"No one gives a shit," Tory added.

"If you're dead," Matt said darkly as he unlocked the safety of his gun and moved the weapon toward the Mexican. "Now Andy, bring him here."

Carlos wasn't a very intelligent man. He acted on his fear and rage. Without thinking, he barked orders to his men. "Shoot them! Kill them all!"

Within a flick of an eye, Matt pulled the trigger and shot Carlos dead on the spot, the bullet hitting smack

between the man's eyes. A second later, he pulled another gun from within his jacket. With the two weapons in hand, he went all out and started shooting, bullets flying in every direction.

James pulled his own gun and started shooting, each shot hit smack in the head of his target. William dived low, rolled on the floor, and expertly sat up, hiding himself behind a wall as he withdrew his guns. As with his friends, he started shooting at the Mexicans, his eyes sharp and a sly smile playing across his lips. Fuck! He was enjoying himself tremendously.

The moment Carlos opened his mouth to order the kill, Tory pulled out his gun and expertly moved his body in a karate style, kicking, bashing, and shooting at the same time. Every move was smooth and effortless--graceful.

Within the dimness of the foyer, there was only the echoing of gunshots and the sparks of bullets flying. In quick succession, bodies followed by bodies fell to the floor. In a matter of minutes, every one of the Mexicans were dead, their bodies on the floor everywhere, blood soaking the concrete slab.

William sighed, unsatisfied. "Fuck! That was quick."