Chapter 104

Mia

I chose to wear my ballet flats for easy walking, though I didn’t change my clothes. I thought this dress—cute, frilly, and short—was fine for now, as I was only going out for a bit and the meeting was just down the road.

With my cell phone in hand, I headed out the door. As I descended the stairs, I wondered if I should tell James. Yes, that was a good idea since I didn’t want him to worry about me. After all, he was always apprehensive that I’d be a target because of him, just like Matt where Andy was concerned.

I went toward the living room, but at the door, I was about to open my mouth to speak when I changed my mind. The Maxwell brothers were in a deep discussion of some sort about something serious. I heard the words Alice, bride, Japan, Dad, wedding, and a lot of profanity from Eric. Because I didn’t want to interrupt them and assuming James wouldn’t notice if I was gone for only five minutes, I changed my mind and retraced my steps. Then I headed out the front door and down the driveway toward the gate.

It was dark, but the garden light was on so I could clearly see where I was going. I was about to reach the gate when a voice said, “Miss Donovan. Are you going somewhere?”

It was Peter O’Neil, the head security guard of the estate. I couldn’t believe he was still in his station, a small building near the gate.

I said, “I’m going out to meet Sophie for a bit. I won’t be long.”

“Do you want one of the guards to come along?” he asked. Then before I could refuse, he said, “It’s Mr. Maxwell’s orders.”

I put my foot down. Honestly, it was only a short meeting just around the corner. Besides, I didn’t want a bodyguard, or anyone for that matter, to see or hear me quarreling with Sophie over James. It’d be embarrassing.

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 archenemy 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’ 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.