Chapter 41

Mia

James cupped my face with his large hand. I wasn’t sure whether it was to shut me up or comfort me. I preferred to think it was the latter. At least I hoped it was.

Warmth radiated from his body to mine, and I did indeed feel comforted, if only a little.

“We’re looking for him,” he said.

He pulled me into his arms, and I rested my face against his thick, muscular chest. I felt him burying his nose against my hair.

I took in a slow, deep breath, inhaling oxygen into my lungs to calm myself, to think logically. James’ warm, masculine scent tantalized my senses, which only made me want to bury myself deeper into him. He made me want to entomb myself within him and never let go.

“Go back to bed,” he instructed.

Go back to bed? Like I’d be able to relax, knowing my brother was missing. God only knew what was happening to him now.

Suddenly my mind flicked to the Mexican and the Albanian.

I pulled back from James’ arms in a rush and said, “The Mexican! The Albanian!”

James only stared down at me, his face a hard mask, his Prussian-blue eyes dark fires in the depth of the night.

I continued in a hurry, my words jumbled and fighting one another to get out before my brain could process them. “They must have got Andy. We have to find him, James. We have to get him back. We have to get my brother back. He must be still in Las Vegas. Please, James, we have to find him. It’s the Mexican. I swear it’s the Mexican!”

I was a little hysterical, I knew, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Mia,” James said. “Calm down. Everything is going to be okay. We’ll get Andy back.”

I was shaking from head to toe. I knew I sounded like a child when I asked, “Promise?”

James had the gall to chuckle at my childish query. He caressed my cheek when he said, “Promise. Now be a good girl and go back to bed. Matt and I have a lot to do.”

I licked my lips and then nodded.

I knew I would be no help. Las Vegas was a new, unfamiliar city to me. I’d get lost just walking down the streets of this bustling metropolis. Not to mention the numerous gangs out there who controlled their turf with an iron fist. I would only trouble James even more if I were to get into the wrong hands, as I was sure Andy had.

I turned around and headed back into the bedroom, leaving the two men behind to discuss or whatever they were doing in order to find my brother.

In the dimly lit bedroom, I slid between the sheets, staring up at the ceiling. I thought about my brother, and once again, my stomach knotted sickly and my heart raced.

Oh, Andy, where are you now? Are you all right? I knew he wasn’t. What if he was hurt badly? What if his head got bashed in and he was bleeding? What if he got stabbed numerous times? What if he got shot?

The images of my brother wounded and on the verge of dying made me shiver in dread.

I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I just wouldn’t be able to live. Andy was my one and only relative, and I loved him dearly. Without him, I was alone in this world, and I just didn’t know if I could move on.

“Stop thinking about shit like that!” I muttered to myself, a sob escaping my lips.

“I agree,” came the manly voice at the door.

I sat up abruptly to see James’ silhouette, mysterious and handsome, heading my way.

“It doesn’t help,” he said bluntly.

He was right, of course. Thinking like that didn’t help in this type of situation. I needed to stay calm and collected. I needed to keep my head clear.

Looking at James as he was now—dark, powerful, and ruthless—I knew he was exactly that: calm and collected, his mind clear and ready for whatever eventuality. He was a billionaire elite who ruled this city with a firm hand, after all, and he was used to this type of situation and knew how to deal with it.

A moment later, he was on my side of the bed and staring down at me. He rested his hand against the side of my face and said, “I’m leaving to sort some things out.”

As I stared up at him, I desperately wanted to know what those things were, but I was too afraid to ask. In my gut, I knew it had to do with Andy. Suddenly the thought struck me.

Why? Why would a billionaire like James Maxwell even care if his mistress’ brother was missing? Why would he even go further to help her? Was it because he thought it was his obligation as my master, my lover? Or was it something else?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. Just as long as I had this man to lean on during times such as these, which I never had before. It was a blessing for me.

He asked, “Will you be all right?”

I licked my lips and nodded. I’d be alone and scared and worried sick, both for Andy and James. Matt even. But I was determined to be brave, determined to aid them in the process of finding and saving my brother by staying out of the firing line. It was best that way.

James lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine. He was warm and very inviting, easing my mind of the worry.

Then he really kissed me, urging my lips to part for him. I obliged, and he plunged in his tongue, stroking and caressing me until I was almost mindless.

“Mmm…” I groaned as I clutched him.

When he finally let my lips go, I was breathless and dazed, my whole body boiling, aching for more.

“Good girl,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”

I nodded, praying very hard he’d bring me good news of my brother as I padlocked my desire for this billionaire for a later time.

He moved his lips to the side of my ear and whispered, “I’m going to really fuck you like you’ve never experienced before once I’ve returned with Andy.”

I sucked in my breath at his arrogant proclamation as a delicious shiver passed down my spine.

When he moved back a little and I saw his face, his features and eyes were dark. My tummy fluttered in exquisite delirium, and my body ached even more for him.

He lightly brushed his thumb across my sensitive lips, marveling at my flesh, thrilling every nerve of my being.

He smirked when he saw my wanton reaction to his promise. “I expect full submission from you, sweetheart,” he whispered. “It’s a wonderful turn-on when you cry while I fuck you.”

He was chuckling lowly as he moved back, leaving me breathless, dazed, enthralled, confused, and terrified.

I watched him walk out the bedroom door, his gait easy and graceful, like a lion ready for the kill. I was fascinated, mesmerized by his dark charm that bound me to him, entrapping me in his dominating embrace. I was captured, ensnared, and to be honest, I had no desire to escape. It suddenly struck me I wanted to be here with James Maxwell, in his world, being ruthlessly ravished by him.