Chapter 105
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?”
James didn’t have time to answer. He raced down the footpath and across the garden toward the gate. There he shouted, “Peter. Open the gate.”
The security guard came rushing out of his office and asked, “What’s wrong, Mr. Maxwell?”
“Mia! Have you seen Mia?”
Peter nodded. “Yes, sir. Just fifteen minutes ago. She went out to meet Miss Wilson down the street. She said she wouldn’t be long.”
“Fuck!” James swore again. “Open the gate! Now!” he demanded.
“Yes, sir,” Peter said and rushed back inside his office.
Behind him, Scott and Eric arrived. Scott shouted, “James, what the hell? What the fuck is going on?”
His face contorting in the dark, James said, “I think Mia’s in trouble.”
“What?” Eric asked.
The gate opened, and James raced out.
He sprinted across the street, and in a split second he turned the corner. As he came down the road, he searched wildly about him, seeking Mia.
The place, however, was deserted. Not another soul was in sight. Scott and Eric arrived behind him, also searching about the place.
“Here?” Eric asked as he ran across the road to the other side, scanning sharply.
James nodded. “The note Sophie left for Mia. Their meeting was here.”
“Fuck,” Scott muttered. “Then where are they?”
The three men raced up and down the street, looking for any sign of Mia or her presence before they’d arrived. Then Eric stepped on something and glanced down. He picked it up and cursed.
“James!” he called out to his brother. “Is this Mia’s?”
James rushed over and grabbed the broken phone from Eric’s hand.
A sense of fear and sickness descended in his stomach once he recognized the phone he’d bought for her back in Vegas. There on the broken screen was his name and number, ready to be dialed. Bile rose from his gut, and he swore loudly in anger and frustration. “Shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
He was in a full-blown rage now. Fuck! Whoever did this was going to fucking pay. He wasn’t going to let them get away with it.
He turned to his brothers and said, “Call everyone. We’re going to hunt those bastards down.”
Scott nodded at Eric. The brothers then pulled out their phones and called in the team.
Still looking down the street, James raked his hand through his hair, his whole body shaking in terror.
“Mia,” he said under his breath. “Fuck, please be all right, Mia. Please.”
