Chapter 45

Mia

I was immediately outraged at his declaration. “Excuse me? But I’m still Andy’s sister. I’m staying here with Andy today and tomorrow and the next day until he’s better. Even if I have to extend my annual leave,” I said clearly with a no-nonsense tone in my voice.

I knew I had said only for the first couple of days, but it was important I made myself clear. I wanted the two men to understand I needed to be with my brother in times such as these.

James folded his arms across his chest. “It’s fine if you stay with Andy,” he said.

Matt instantly scowled at James. “What the fuck?”

“Come on, Matt,” James said. “You’re in no state right now to look after Andy.”

I understood what James meant. Matt needed a good, long shower to freshen himself up. Besides, he also needed food to nourish his body and then a good, long sleep. Suddenly I wondered why the two men were so different after such a long and horrendous night, working hard looking for my brother and then saving him. James still looked disarmingly handsome in his suit while Matt looked exhausted and disheveled like he had been to hell and back.

“Besides,” James continued, “we’ve got a fuckload of shit we need to clean up.”

I knew the cleanup must be something to do with the people who had taken Andy.

“You’re right,” Matt said, getting up from his seat. Standing there tall, he stared down at Andy. “I’ll be back this evening.”

Andy didn’t respond, and Matt stalked out the door like he was really pissed.

“I’m staying here,” I said loudly to James.

He watched me for a moment as if he was going to refuse my statement. Then he took out his wallet and handed me his credit card. I stared at it, wondering what it was for.

He chuckled. “I’m not going to starve my girl now, am I?”

I licked my lips. “I’ve got my own money.”

“You’ve got what? Two hundred dollars cash? Hardly enough to get by in Vegas. Take the credit card, Mia. I’m going to be a bit busy in the next few days. If you’re staying here with your brother, you’ll need money for food.”

Andy said, “He’s right.”

I sighed and reluctantly took the credit card. “Thanks,” I said.

He rested his large hand on top of my head and then leaned over to kiss me on my forehead. I sucked in a shaky breath as I closed my eyes. When he moved back, he said, “See you tonight, sweetheart.”

Then he and Matt left. I sighed as I stared at the closed door, my mind on James.

“He likes you,” Andy said, drawing my attention to him.

I turned around and asked, “What?”

He repeated, “He likes you. He calls you sweetheart. When was the last time you heard anyone calling you that?”

I felt my heart skip a beat. Andy was right. I had not heard the endearment sweetheart said to me since our parents’ deaths. James was the first since then. Andy had never referred to me as sweetheart. Even though deep down we loved each other dearly as siblings, I was simply Mia to him, and he was just Andy to me. It was just that using any endearment words between us was weird. More so, however, it was painful because the words such as sweetheart, honey, darling, dear, pumpkin, etc. reminded us of our beloved, dead parents.

When James called me darling or sweetheart, however, I felt a sort of lovely glow in my heart. Did that mean James liked me as Andy had said? I didn’t know, but the thought made me deliriously happy.

Andy beckoned me to sit on the seat that Matt had vacated. I obliged and even moved the chair closer to him.

He said, “You like him too, don’t you?”

I couldn’t hide it. I had never liked any man before because I’ve never met many of them. We’ve lived quietly, Andy and I. So it was to be expected. Besides that, the few males alive I knew of were bastards, such as my boss and work colleagues at the restaurant. Of course, there was Uncle Herbert as well. He was one hundred times more of a bastard and also happened to be a child molester. So it wasn’t surprising when a guy like James Maxwell came into my life—a guy who was tall, dark, handsome, and oddly enough kind to me—how could I not like him? How could I not fall for him? Even that first time I had met him on the road when he had nearly driven into me, I had fallen for him. I had liked him. I had wanted him—not in just him having amazing, crazy sex with me, ravishing the innocent me to his heart’s content and making me cry for more, but really wanting him to be in my life. I wanted him to love and cherish me for the rest of our lives, like the way Dad had cherished and loved Mom. But of course I knew that was impossible. I knew the want and the like and I think the love was only one-sided. My side. It was an unrequited love for sure.

The thought that I was one of those girls who fell for a guy who would never return her feelings made my heart ache painfully.

“Mia,” Andy began. “Be careful. James isn’t from our part of the world. It’s dangerous being close to him. You understand?”

I nodded. Of course I understood it was dangerous being close to James. He was a billionaire. His very life was always in danger, wasn’t it? Especially in the type of business he was dealing with—the money, the underground market, and everything that went on there.

Even though I have yet to fully understand my brother’s true relationship with Matt, I couldn’t help but voice my own concern for him as well. “Isn’t Matt the same?” I asked.

Andy nodded, his eyes dark.

“Then why? Why do you stay with him?”

He chuckled sadly. “Oh, Mia. Believe me I’ve tried to leave. But I just can’t.”

I watched him as pure agonizing emotion played in his eyes. His face was dark when he said, “I’m chained to him, Mia. Whether by design or fate, I don’t know. I just can’t get away from him. I hate him sometimes. But… I… I’m chained to him. I… I have these feelings for him. It’s so fucking confusing and complicated. I don’t know. I just don’t know why or how or what the fuck ever… I just don’t. He makes me happy, and then he makes me angry and pissed.”

I understood the meaning behind his words. I understood his relationship with Matt was complicated. I understood his feelings for Matt were complicated, as it was with me for James. Trying to analyze and understand the turmoil of emotions I had for James was certainly difficult and unsettling. Sometimes it was easier to brush those emotions aside, lock them inside your heart, and never let them see the light of day like they never existed. It was less problematic to live that way. No complication. No heartaches.

But then again, sometimes those emotions had the nag of emerging without you realizing, and you couldn’t help but ride with the flow of it. The ups and the downs and everything in between.

I sighed, dismissing the thoughts of James from my mind. I said, “Get some sleep, Andy. It’ll help heal you faster.” Of course I didn’t know if that was true or not, but Andy looked so exhausted I just wanted him to rest.

“I’m in a shitload of pain, Mia,” he muttered as he closed his eyes. “Don’t leave me, okay?”

I said, “I won’t. I’ll go and ask the nurse if they can give you more painkillers.”

He chuckled. “Thanks. That’d be awesome.”

I nodded. After Andy closed his eyes and his breathing became even, I got up from my seat and headed out. My mission was to find the nurse looking after Andy.

I was just opening the door when I noted two big guys in suits standing on either side, turning to me.

One nodded and the other said, “Hi.”

“Hi,” I said, wondering who they were. They looked like bodyguards. Then it hit me. But I had to make sure and asked, “Excuse me, but who are you guys and why are you standing here in front of my brother’s room?”

“Mr. Maxwell instructed us to guard Mr. Donovan,” one said.

“We work for Mr. Maxwell,” the other said.

“Oh, I see,” I said, smiling brightly. Was Andy that important to James and Matt to have two heavily built, kick-ass-looking bodyguards protecting Andy? Then I wondered if James would do the same for me if I were in some sort of danger.

Immediately I snorted at the stupid thoughts. Of course I would never be in danger where my life was on the line. The only danger I was in was falling for the dark billionaire himself. And that was indeed already too late.

I said to the two men, “Thanks for your hard work.”

They looked perplexed at my compliment. But only for a moment. Suddenly, as though they were pleased, one nodded and winked at me while the other grinned at me from ear to ear. I nodded at them again and then headed toward the nurses’ station.

“Wait, Miss Donovan,” the one on the left said. “When are you going back to the hotel?”

“Why?” I asked.

“I’m going to be accompanying you,” he said. “Mr. Maxwell’s instruction.”

I nodded, wondering if James thought I’d get lost on my way back to the hotel. Or was it that he thought it wasn’t safe for me to be alone on the streets? The latter made more sense to me, and I shivered in trepidation at the thought that I was also a target. But how could I be a target? I wasn’t important enough to be one. I wasn’t deeply involved in James’ and Matt’s business to be targeted like Andy. I was merely James’ mistress. Surely I wasn’t that important to even be considered a target?

Back to the bodyguard, I said, “I’ll tell you when I’m going back.”

He nodded and smiled brightly.