Chapter 127

[MIA]

A pungent smell of gas and blood filled the air—so much blood. Blood trickled down me; my body ached. Opening my eyes required immense effort, as did comprehending my surroundings.

I was in a moving car, judging by the movement outside the window.

“Al—Alex?” I breathed.

I strained to open my eyes further when his comforting voice failed to reach me.

“Alex?” I hoped I was speaking audibly, but my voice was barely a whisper.

“She’s awake!” a harsh, unfamiliar voice screamed, the volume painful to my ears. “Why is she f***ing awake?”

That wasn't Alex. This wasn't…

My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp blow to the head. Pain shot through me; I gasped, trying to scream, but no sound escaped. My eyes closed.

When I opened them again, I felt stronger, but my hands and legs were bound, immobile. Opening my eyes had been a foolish decision; I should have stayed closed until I knew it was safe.

But as my vision cleared, I saw a battered Dominic. His eyes were half-open.

“Dominic!” I whispered, regardless of who might be watching. “Dominic!”

His eyes opened wider at my voice. “Mia…” he whispered back, his voice pained. “Sir will come.”

Then I noticed the blood dripping from his forehead and covering his abdomen. Was he shot? The wound on his stomach looked like a gunshot.

“Dominic!” I cried. “Stay with me.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t…” He couldn’t finish. He seemed to want to close his eyes.

Tears welled in my eyes. “Dominic,” I pleaded, “Stay with me, okay?”

He didn't reply. I looked around. We were tied to the floor of a dilapidated warehouse basement; the lack of windows confirmed this. The door was dusty; I even saw a mouse scurry in the distance.

The blast had injured me, but my wounds had stopped bleeding, which explained why I felt stronger.

How had they managed to kidnap me from a house full of trained soldiers?

Alex. Oh, Alex…

“Dominic,” I called again, “Who are these people? Do you know?”

He weakly shook his head. “Insider job…”

My heart sank. Was Alex okay? How long had I been gone? Would he find me?

“Just stay, okay?” I tried to shift closer, to touch my feet to his, but the ropes held us fast.

Before I could think further, the door burst open, and two large men entered. Tall and bearded—one ginger, the other blond.

“How the f*** do you keep waking up?” the ginger asked, clearly irritated.

I gulped. “Please…” I murmured. “Who are you?”

“Let’s just say your husband has pissed off a lot of people,” the blond replied, approaching me. I shuddered as he knelt before me. “Alex King got f***ing married. His enemies are having a field day knowing even the mighty has a weakness.”

Tears fell as his knuckles brushed my cheeks. I tried to move away, but the ropes held me.

“Maybe she’s that good of a f***,” the ginger sneered.

“What do you say we find out?” The blond’s gaze moved from my eyes to my lips, then lower.

I instinctively pressed my legs together. “Please…” I cried.

“We can knock you out,” the blond offered, “but wouldn’t you want to feel this? My d stretching your py as you beg me to stop. And guess what? My friend here will record it and send it to that f***er husband of yours. The only thing he ever loved, he failed to protect.”

A sob escaped me. “No… please…” I begged, feeling helpless.

My pleas went unanswered. He grasped my shoulders, freeing the ropes binding my stomach—ones I hadn't even realized were there. He threw me to the ground; pain shot through me as my back hit the floor. Just as he moved to assault me, he was kicked away.

My vision blurred, but I saw Dominic, using every ounce of his strength, kick the man off me. “Run, Mia,” he snapped.

“Not without you,” I cried, struggling to rise with my legs tied together. I crawled toward him, trying to untie his hands with my bound ones.

Before I could get far, the ginger reached us. “Did anyone fing ask you to speak?” He screamed at Dominic. “We were giving you a show, but you don’t fing deserve one.”

A pained scream tore from me as the butt of his gun struck Dominic’s forehead, sending the strongest man I knew crashing to the ground beside me.

“No…” I whimpered, tears streaming down my face.

I had to run. I had to run.

I made a desperate attempt to escape, moving as fast as I could with my legs bound. Even when one of the men grabbed my hair, causing me to cry out, I fought back, kicking wildly until one kick landed on his shin. This only enraged him further. With my tied hands, I…

“Alex…” I cried before the man’s hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my screams. I shook my head frantically. “Alex…” I cried, knowing logically he couldn’t hear me, but praying he would.