by Alexia Praks
I stood there rooted to the spot at the door as I watch Andy painfully opening his eyes, probably for the first time since he had been admitted in the hospital. My brother was gazing at me, at first without really seeing, as though he was in confusion. I couldn’t blame him. He was probably pumped with morphine and dazed and sore from the beating. Then when he recognized me, I saw the darkness within those beautiful brown eyes of his, and knew he didn’t want me to see him like this. He looked pained the moment he recognized me. His condition reminded us of the many times he had been beaten up by Uncle Herbert.
“Andy,” I said softly, my voice weak.
I felt James hands about my shoulders, as encouragement for me to move forward. Empowered, I did, my gait slow and weak.
Once near the side of the bed, I couldn’t help myself and collapsed on Andy, tears in my eyes. I hugged him tight in my arms as I buried my face against his bandages chest.
“Andy! You’re okay. You’re safe.” I sobbed. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re safe.”
With my face against his chest, I felt his body shook with emotion.
“Mia,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I worried you. I’m so sorry.”
I raised my head, tears in my eyes. “No. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault,” I said, shaking my head. “You know that. I’m just so glad to see you safe and sound.”
He rested his hand on my head as I continued to hug him, taking in the moment, feeling his warmth and his body against me, to confirm myself that he was indeed here with me—safe and sound.
When I finally lift my head again, it was to see Matt watching me across the bed. I gasped and straightened up as the man had a dark look in his eyes as though he was pissed with me or something.
“Matt,” I said.
The man looked tired and out of sort with dark circles under his eyes.
Andy reacted to my word as though it was the first time he had realized Matt was in the room. He turned to look at Matt for a brief second and then glanced away. I noted the pain and the embarrassment in his eyes, and wondered yet again the real relationship between the two.
“How are you feeling?” Matt asked.
Andy licked his dry lips. “In a shit load of pain,” he replied.
I reacted by turning to James. “Should we ask for some more painkiller for him? Should I ring for the nurse?”
Matt said, “They already gave him a lot of morphine.”
I nodded as Andy closed his eyes as if that would help ease the pain in his body.
“You have three ribs broken,” Matt said. “And a fuck load of bruises. Luckily, that’s about it. No internal damages.”
I sighed at the good news. The ribs would soon heal themselves. The bruises would soon disappear as well.
“I’m so glad,” I said. “I’m going to stay here and help nurse you, Andy.”
Andy was about to utter something when Matt said, “No need for that, Mia. I’m sure the nurse here are very capable.”
I frowned and protested. “But I’m his sister. I have to be here for him.” I turned to James for help. The man, too, didn’t look too pleased with my announcement. I licked my lips and said, “Just the first couple of days. I know Andy needs his rest, but I feel more comfortable if I’m with him during the day.”
“Mia,” Andy said. “I don’t want to inconvenient you.”
“Andy, you’re not inconveniencing me. We’re siblings. You were always there for me. We promised to be there for each other.”
Matt said, “He has me now. You don’t need to bother.”
Chapter 6
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 I needed to make myself clear. I needed the two men to understand I needed to be with my brother in time 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 look disarmingly handsome in his suit while Matt looked exhausted and dishevel like he had been to hell and back.
“Besides,” James continued. “We’ve got a fuck load of shits we need to clean-up.”
I knew the clean-up 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 response, 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 round 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 skipped a beat. Andy was right. I had not heard that endearment words ‘sweetheart’ said to me since our parents’ death. 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, me to him was just Mia, and he to me was just Andy. It was just that using any endearment words between us to one another was weird. More so, however, it was painful because the endearment words such as sweetheart, honey, darling, dear, pumpkin etc. reminded us of our beloved, dead parents. And that was very painful.
When James called me darlings or sweetheart, however, I felt a sort of lovely glow within my heart, and it made me happy. Did that meant James liked me as Andy had said. I didn’t know, but the thought that he really liked me made me deliriously happy.
James didn’t love me. He merely liked me. But at least that was enough for me… For now, at least.
Andy beckoned me to sit on the seat where 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 male 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 along 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 f
or him? Even that first time I had met him on the road when he had nearly drove into me, I had fallen for him. I had liked him. I had wanted him—not in just him doing amazing, crazy sex with me, ravishing the innocent me to his heart’s content and making me cry for more, but really wanted him to be in my life. I wanted him to love me and cherish me for the rest of both 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 he? 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 was complicated, as it was with me for James. Trying to analyze and understand these turmoil 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 lights of days 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 in 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 shit load 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 to see if they can give you more painkiller.”
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 to the door. 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.”
I frowned as I nodded back. “Hi,” I said, wondering who they were. They looked like bodyguards. Then it hit me. But I had to make sure and asked, “Err, 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 perplex 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 nurse 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’s and Matt’s business to be targeted like Andy. I was merely James’s mistress. Surely, I wasn’t that important to be even considered a target?
Back to the bodyguard, I said, “I’ll tell you when I’m going back.”
He nodded and smiled brightly.
Chapter 7
James
James knew for a fact Matt was pissed with Mia. The man had been patiently enduring through the whole morning staying by Andy’s side, praying the boy would be all right since he had been admitted into the emergency department. Only when Andy woke up moments ago, the first person he saw was Mia. Not Matt. To further rub salt into wound, Andy didn’t even realize Matt was present until Matt made himself known.
James found the situation oddly amusing and secretly smiled at his friend’s irritation.
Matt was in turn annoyed at James disgusting delight and snapped, “What the fuck are you smirking about?”
James shrugged his shoulders. “Did I tell you that you look horrible?”
Matt nodded. His scowl darkened as he muttered loudly, “Fuck! I need a shower.”
“You do,” James agreed, nodding his head.
At that, Matt chuckled. “That stupid kid,” he muttered. “He made me so worried. I’m sure I’ve gotten a few gray hairs since he came into my life.”
James didn’t deny the fact that Matt had had a lot of worries over Andy since they’ve met. He wasn’t sure about the gray hair part though.
“Your own fault,” he said easily. He didn’t voice the ‘falling in love’ part that went with the ‘your own fault’ bit because he knew Matt would be pissed.
“Why the hell did you have to bring Mia in today?” Matt asked sourly. “Couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow?”
James remembered the look Mia had given him the moment he had walked in through the door when he had returned this morning. Those bright eyes of hers as she gazed at him clearly reflected the high hopes and faith she had in him. Those were enough to drive a man’s testosterone into protective mode. It did his. Fuck! He could never disappoint her and slaughter her faith in him.
“Like I want to upset her by making her wait,” he said. “Would you want to wait if you were in her shoes?”
Matt sighed, disgustingly disappointed in himself. He knew he was selfish, but he merely wanted to be alone with Andy after all that shits that had happened. What was so fucking wrong with that?
James heard Matt muttering some dark, foul languages under his breath and chuckled. They both were quiet as they exited the hospital.
The two men arrived at the hotel some half an hour later, and James went straight to his room. There, he didn’t waste any time in sorting out on personal business. He called one of his most trusted men, Cole Packer, to get the job done.
Cole picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, boss, what’s up,” he asked. “You got a new assignment for me?”
James went straight to the point. �
��Mia Donovan. Find out the restaurant she’s working at. Make a visit.”
“Sure, boss,” Cole said.
“She’s resigning,” James said bluntly. “She’s my girl now.”
Cole understood immediately what that meant. “Sure, boss… Mia Donovan… Restaurant visit.”
James was about to hang up when he added, “Oh, and the uncle, too. His name is Herbert. He’s not a Donovan. Find out where he is and make a visit. Take your men with you. Tell him we’re pleased to have finally met with him.”
Cole also understood what that meant. “What’s he done, boss?” He was curious.
“A fuck load of shits I can’t forgive,” James said, his tone hard.
“Sure thing, boss,” Cole said. “It’d be my pleasure.” He chuckled merrily.
“Good,” James said.
“I’ll get in contact once the jobs are all done and dusted,” Cole said. “Bye now.”
James terminated the call. It was then a couple of knocks came at the door. He opened to see a butler standing there with a pretty wrapped box in his hands.
“Your package, sir,” the man said.
James took it and gave the man a handsome tip.
The butler nodded and said, “Thank you, sir.”
James nodded and then shut the door.
Back in the bedroom, he opened the package and took out the outfit he had ordered. Slowly, a smile formed on his lips.
Mia was going to look great in this, he thought, picturing her wearing the lingerie. Lacy, see-through, and sexy to the core. Shit! He was already turned-on imagining her wearing this erotic garment. Suddenly, the image of her pretty face crying whilst he was making love to her came to his mind. The experience was new to him, a mixture of thrill and being in control, of being empowered. He loved being in the dominating position, and yet there were those feelings of compassion and protectiveness toward Mia as well. The feelings that she belonged to him and it was within his power to protect her. It was a great feeling.
