by Alexia Praks
But now she knew better. This was the other side of James Maxwell that she didn’t know about, even though she had worked for him, very close to him in fact, for several years.
And to think that she even wanted him as her man. When she didn’t even have a clue what this man was capable of. And now she instinctively knew he was capable of anything and everything without having to witness any of his ruthless actions with her own eyes.
This man heading toward her now, with that murderous expression in his eyes, would exact any revenge for himself or those he loved with a passion. And that scared her to death.
Her body was frozen in place as she uttered, “James? What? How? Why?”
James came to a stop inches from the woman, and with a cold, hard voice, he asked, “Where’s Mia?”
Sophie swallowed hard as her body shook in uncontrolled cowardice. With shaky hand, she pointed toward the other door. “There…”
With eyes still dark and sharp, he said, “Cole will deal with you.” With that, he headed toward the door, Matt and Andy following after him.
Scott came toward Sophie. “So you’re the bitch who helped that sick bastard Herbert kidnap my future sister-in-law, eh?”
Sophie turned to him, her eyes wide and teary. “Future sister-in-law?”
Scott folded his arms across his massive chest as he chuckled. “Hmm.” He moved his face toward her and whispered softly and seductively into her ear, “And you, sweetheart, will suffer the consequences.”
He was smiling, his eyes twinkling, as he moved back while he watched Sophie’s face turn pale with fright.
It was then Cole and his partner came in, and the moment Sophie saw the two, she knew she was in deep shit.
“She’s yours, Cole,” Scott said. “James can’t be bothered getting his hands dirty with the likes of her.”
Cole, with menace in his eyes, nodded. “With pleasure.”
Scott was whistling merrily as he headed toward the door James, Matt, and Andy had rushed through. Behind him, Cole dragged the crying and begging Sophie away. Her fate was undoubtedly far worse than death itself, if death indeed didn’t come soon enough.
The screaming continued to echo throughout the warehouse as James, Matt, and Andy raced up the stairs, along the corridor, and through the rooms.
Once James burst through the last door, he had his emotions under control once again because he knew this was it. He knew what he was about to see would tear at his heart, stir his wrath, and if he couldn’t control himself, all hell would break loose. He’d likely kill Herbert on the spot, and fuck, he didn’t want to do that, especially not in front of Mia. It’d give her nightmares for days to come if she saw the murderous rage in his eyes.
Week or years even.
Fuck! Just going through the kidnapping was too much for her already; he knew that. And he didn’t want to torment her any more than she had already experienced.
The moment he stepped through that busted door into the small, dark room, he saw Herbert over Mia, the fat man’s hand in the air, ready to beat her again. And the moment he saw Mia—his beloved woman sprawled on the concrete floor, naked, and her slender body covered in bruises, blood, and cuts—a cold, dark anger rose into his being.
James turned into a commanding, ruthless demon as he marched toward Herbert. In the flick of an eye, his strong hand gripped Herbert’s fat wrist, twisting it back with painful force. In another flick of an eye, he effortlessly hauled Herbert back and half shoved, half threw the man against the wall. His might was so strong and so forceful that Herbert was none the wiser as the man’s body crashed hard against the wall and fell to the floor.
Now that that piece of repulsive garbage was out of the way, James came down to his knees as his eyes never left Mia, who was staring at him in disbelief. He noted tears flowing down her cheeks as she started crying.
“Ja… James?” she whispered softly, her eyes searching him. “You’re… really… James? I’m… I’m not… imagining…?”
James took off his jacket and wrapped it around her naked body, then gently cupped her face as he nodded. “Yes, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the forehead as she sighed in relief and clung to him.
“Mia.” It was Andy’s voice. Her brother came around and kneeled on the concrete floor beside her.
Mia turned to him and said, “Andy. You came. All the way from Vegas.”
“Of course I came,” he said, his eyes on her face, noting the bruises. “What the hell did he do to you?” he asked, his voice still shaking.
Mia looked as though she didn’t know what to tell him. Andy, on the other hand, looked as though he was about to burst in rage.
Matt noticed and came to pull Andy up as he said, “We need to get Mia out of here.”
Andy nodded, his eyes flicking to Herbert currently trying to get up from the floor. Suddenly, he marched toward the man.
“Oi! Andy!” Matt snapped.
Andy, however, wasn’t listening. He came to stand in front of Herbert and demanded, “What the fuck did you do to my sister?”
Herbert managed to clear his head of the surprise attack and raised his head. When he saw Andy, his eyes widened, though no one was sure what his expression meant. Shocked surprise?
“Andy? Fuck!” he muttered. “You’re really Andy? Fuck! Look at you!” He came charging forward, which took Andy by surprise. “I’ve been searching all over for you.” He laughed out insanely. “Come back to me, Andy. I want you. Fuck, I want you both back. Uncle will take care of you both.”
Andy was sickened at Herbert’s words. What the hell is this man on about? He was mental; that was for sure.
The way Herbert seemed rather pleased to see Andy and wanted to embrace the boy in his sick, twisted way paralyzed Andy in his spot. He felt he was that young boy again, trapped in fear and anxiety of the tyrant uncle who had bullied, molested, and raped him.
Before Herbert got ahold of Andy, Matt smoothly stepped in front of the boy. Herbert came to a complete stop as Matt’s fist flew into the man’s face.
Herbert went tumbling back.
“You’re not touching Andy again,” Matt said coldly. “He’s mine now.”
Herbert spit out blood from his mouth. “Fuck!” He laughed loudly, as if he found something very amusing. “Well…” He continued, his eyes on Andy with a sort of leering expression that disgusted him. “Andy is fucking beautiful. No man can help himself from wanting to fuck that tight ass of his.”
Andy finally managed to snap out of his paralysis and barked, “Fuck you, Herbert. You’re so going to pay for what you did to my sister.” Without thinking and in one swift action, he pulled the gun from Matt’s waist, and pointed it at Herbert.
James, who had Mia in his arms, said loudly in warning, “What the fuck are you doing, Andy?”
“Andy, put the gun down!” Matt said through gritted teeth. “Put the fucking gun down, Andy.”
Mia, who was watching her brother with tears in her eyes, shook her head. She couldn’t utter a word as her whole body became rigid in fright. God, she didn’t want her brother to be a murderer. “No… Andy…”
“I’m going to kill this bastard, Mia. He’s hurt you so bad,” Andy said, his hands shaking as he pointed the gun at Herbert. “He hurt us so bad. It’s the only way. He needs to pay for what he’s done.”
“It’s not the way, Andy,” James said.
Matt was behind Andy now and gently put his hand on Andy’s arm. “I know how much you want this for him,” he said. “We all know the bastard deserves a death sentence, Andy, but you’re not the one to do it. Listen to me. I don’t want you to dirty your hands in this sort of shit. Your hands are clean, Andy, and I want to keep it that way.” He moved closer and said softly, “I don’t want you mixed up in this bloody world, Andy. Think of your sister.”
Andy’s hand was wavering now, and he hesitantly turned to look at Mia. When he saw his sister shaking her head, crying, and begging him, “No… Andy… Don’t do it,�
�� he growled loudly in anguish as he fell to his knees.
“I want to kill him, Matt,” he said in anger and frustration. “I really do. I hate him. Hate him so much for what he did to us. I…” He sighed and closed his eyes. “Please make sure he gets what he deserves.”
Matt nodded as he took the weapon out of Andy’s hands. Then he roughly grabbed Andy by the arms and hugged him tight. With his lips against the boy’s hair, he said, “You know James and I will.”
Andy clung to Matt as he tried to hold back the cry that desperately wanted to escape.
It was then Scott came into the room and said, “Everything all right?”
“Scott,” James said. “Take Mia to the car and wait there.”
Scott said, “Sure thing,” as he came forward.
Once James transferred Mia into Scott’s arms, he said, “Leave us.”
Matt said, “You, too, Andy.”
Andy reluctantly nodded and, a moment later, headed out of the room after Scott.
Once the sound of retreating footsteps disappeared in the distance, James and Matt eyed each other and then returned their attention to Herbert.
James was the one in command in this situation, and he came to stand close, in an intimidating manner, in front of Herbert.
Herbert, despite his big stature, swallowed hard at the sight of James. There was undoubtedly a sense of wolf-like demeanor about the man in front of him, ready to take him down and devour and slay him.
“Who… who are you people?” he asked, his voice shaking.
James said bluntly, “I’m Mia’s boyfriend, James Maxwell, a very powerful man.” He nodded toward Matt behind him. “And that guy? He’s my best friend and happens to be Andy’s boyfriend. I don’t need to tell you that he’s my business partner and helps me run everything, right?”
At the information, Herbert went pale as a ghost and started sweating like a pig. “Look… I didn’t mean to… Mia… She’s my niece, and I just…”
James shook his head in the negative. “I don’t want to hear your fucking pathetic excuses, Herbert. In fact, I don’t want to hear a fucking word from you except for your screams.”
Herbert shook his head as fear overwhelmed him. “You… can’t… kill… me,” he stammered.
James put his finger to his lips as an indication for Herbert to shut his trap.
Herbert obediently nodded as his eyes flickered toward the exit. Of course, both James and Matt noticed and knew what he was up to.
Suddenly, Herbert made a mad dash toward the door. Matt, however, smoothly intercepted the man and sent his fist flying into Herbert’s face again, sending him staggering backward and hitting the wall. James charged forward, and with a cold rage that had been simmering within him since he had found out Mia had been kidnapped yesterday evening, began beating the shit out of Herbert, who begged and cried for his life.
Once James had enough, it was Matt’s turn, and by the time Matt had enough as well, Herbert was sprawled on the concrete floor, a bloody mess. He barely looked like a human being, and it was doubtful anyone would recognize him now, considering the condition of his face. There were probably a few broken ribs as well as limbs for sure.
“I’m… sorry,” Herbert murmured. “I’m… sorry… I… I… did… those things… to… to… Mia… An… Andy… I’m… sorry. Please…. mer… mercy… Have… mercy. Sp… spare… life…”
James’s face was a dark mask as he took out his gun and pointed it at Herbert. He said coldly, “You didn’t spare a thought for Mia’s life, did you? And you beg me to spare yours? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” With that, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet buried itself into Herbert’s forehead, killing him on the spot.
As Herbert fell back, dead, Matt said, “Fuck! I wish I was the one to pull that trigger.”
His eyes still dark with rage, James said, “We better get going.”
Matt nodded.
As they came down the stairs and toward the main warehouse, Cole met up with them. James knew that Cole had sorted Sophie, and damn, but the man looked rather satisfied, unlike James. Fuck, he wished there was more he could have done.
“Clean up the mess, Cole,” James said.
“Roger that, boss,” Cole said. “Err, is Miss Donovan safe?”
James nodded. “She’s safe, Cole. Thanks for your help.”
Cole sighed in relief at the information and nodded in appreciation. “No worries, boss.”
James and Matt then headed out the door whilst Cole called for his men for cleanup.
Chapter 10
Mia
I was cuddled securely in Andy’s arms when the sound of a gunshot echoed from the distance, which was followed by this dreadful silence descending upon us. I knew instantly that James had shot Herbert Weston dead, and without a doubt, I felt relief. I knew it was inappropriate to have this sort of feeling when a man’s life was taken from this earth, despite the fact that man had caused so much pain, but I couldn’t help it.
Herbert Weston was dead, after all. The man who had tormented us was gone forever. He could no longer hunt us down and hurt us, and God, I felt that was a blessing.
I clung to Andy tighter as he, too, tightened his arms around me. I felt we were comforting each other after all we had been through together. Of course, I didn’t know how Andy felt about Herbert finally being dead.
Is he feeling this same sense of relief?
He was free from this dark evilness that kept chasing after him no matter where he went.
I didn’t know, and I raised my gaze to his. When I saw the expression of sadness mixed with relief displayed on his face and tears in his eyes, I too felt tears brewing in mine.
He rested his forehead against mine and said softly, “He’s gone, Mia. He’s gone, and he won’t hurt us anymore.”
I nodded in agreement as he hugged me tightly.
It was a bit later when I saw James and Matt come out of the building. I saw them not as a pair of dark billionaires who ran Vegas and ruled the underground world with an iron fist, not as the head honchos who fought and killed without mercy, but as heroes who had saved my life.
When they came toward me and Andy, I felt my heart melting for them, especially James, my savior, my lover. My hero.
James opened the door of the car, and I scrabbled out of Andy’s arms and over to the man I loved.
“James.” I said his name softly as he reached out for me. Without care of my own tender wounds that were still aching all over my body, I threw myself into his opened arms, so desperately wanting to be close to him.
I buried my face against his warm, massive, comforting chest, my body shaking in the aftereffects of all that had happened.
“Everything is fine now, sweetheart,” he said, his arms tight around me and his lips kissing me on the forehead, his words soothing my fear.
I nodded as tears flowed down my cheeks. God, I didn’t know what to say. I was safe now. James had come for me, and he didn’t look like he was repulsed at my ugly appearance, bruises and all.
Gently moving his arms about me, I ended up being carried princess style by James. Then he got me out of the car and took me toward the other one.
He said to Matt, “I’m taking Mia to the hospital.”
Matt nodded while Andy said, “I’m coming, too.”
My brother was about to come after us when Matt appeared and blocked Andy’s escape. “No, you’re not. We’re going to a hotel, and you’re going to catch up on your sleep. You look like shit.”
“But—” Andy began.
“No buts,” Matt said. “James will take good care of Mia. Besides, she needs time to heal.”
I saw Andy reluctantly nod his head as he retreated back into the car.
I was snuggling my face against James’s neck when I saw Matt get into the car as well. I noted him saying something to Andy as he cupped Andy’s face in his hands. I smiled when Matt kissed Andy passionately on the lips. I didn’t miss the fact that Eric, wh
o was standing by the car, was rolling his eyes while Scott was chuckling away in amusement.
In the car, I cuddled in James’s arms the whole way to the hospital while Scott drove us. Once at the hospital, I was immediately taken into the emergency department, where I was checked for broken bones and internal injuries. Of course, I had a lot of pain throughout my body, so pinpointing any internal injuries was almost impossible. It’d take time, and I needed to go through X-rays and various scans.
Of course, I didn’t remember much of the process as I kept fading in and out of consciousness, and it wasn’t long before I completely gave up and closed my eyes, so in pain and tired I was.
When next I woke, I found I was lying in bed and the pain was dully throbbing all over my body, though I had to admit it wasn’t as bad as it had previously been.
I raised my head slightly and scanned my dimly lit surroundings. I realized then that I was in a hospital room, what with all the monitoring equipment stationed not too far away from the bed as well as the small basin and sink on the other side of the room. And yes, this was a rather large and luxurious hospital room, and I suddenly wondered if this was one of the private suites made specifically for rich and famous clients. If I could stay in this room, it was probably because of James’s power and connections.
I rested my head back against the soft pillows and stared up at the ceiling. I licked my lips as I suddenly found myself feeling rather thirsty and hungry. If I remembered rightly, I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since Herbert…
I shut my eyes as this overwhelming feeling of anxiety came over me. The panic seized me tight around the throat as my whole body tensed. I felt a whimper escaped my lips as tears brewed in my eyes.
