"Breast cancer?" Eric's face had turned white.

  "Yes. That's when Mia rambled off a plan. The doctor had barely left the room. Sometimes I wonder if she had already known about the cancer. Her plan was for me to take over her life. At first I said no, but then she said her dying wish was for me to become her and she reminded me of our blood oath. She'd gone behind my back and reached out to the doctor I'd worked with in Mexico. So, for six months, I learned everything about her. We hired men to train me in combat as much as they could while I was pregnant. Then, after I gave birth, I had plastic surgery. Mia lived for nine months, and I lost my friend. The military had placed her on leave while she went through treatment. When I switched out, she was cancer-free. We had the same blood type, and we were both five eight."

  "This is crazy, Mia," Brock scrubbed a hand over his face. "Why did Tabitha have your son, and where is Tabitha now?"

  "I wanted my son to live a happy life. Part of me worried his father would come for him. He had the same eyes and nose as Donovan so there was no denying Lucas was his son. Technology made seeing him over the internet each week easier. Going to their house was too much of a risk, but we FaceTimed at least twice a week."

  Kat tapped the table. "You think it's Donovan who took your son?"

  "I'm not sure. Donovan can be ruthless, but there is more to him. I don't think he would strap a bomb to his own son, but someone in his family might. Being Cyrus’s wife didn't give me access to their money, but being Donovan's son creates a whole different picture. One where Lucas is next in line to take over the family."

  A Black SUV showed up on the laptop screen. My heart dropped as Donovan stepped out of the vehicle and sauntered up the stairs to my parents' home. Where my son was eating chocolate chip pancakes.

  CHAPTER 4

  Paxton

  "So, this is where you grew up?" I stared up at the massive mansion. I had enough money to buy a house the same size, but growing up poor had made me stick an exorbitant amount of money in investments. The Ellison family that adopted us had money, but I still remember many nights going to bed hungry. I had stashed a few million in safety deposit boxes and a safe in my house, worried my accountant might steal from me.

  Which proved Mia and I came from two separate worlds. My brother had told me not to fall for her, but my heart and romantic side didn't understand how this woman could be dangerous to me. She could probably kill me with her bare hands, but my brain worried more about the damage she could do to my heart, because I fell for her the second my eyes landed on her. I could already hear my brother saying my feelings were lust and nothing more, but I believed in instalove.

  Mia's brother had met Donovan at the front door. The two men stood toe to toe in a heated conversation on the steps before he got back in his SUV and drove away. I'd mentioned to Mia she ought to go to the hospital before we went and got her son, but she'd flipped me off and demanded a ride to her parents' home. Brock and Wes refused to let her go alone, so they followed behind in an SUV.

  "It's a show of power and prestige." She winced as she took the first step. I wanted to point out the blood seeping through her shirt but knew it would be pointless. "I never thought I would step back in this house. Now, I've come here twice in less than twenty-four hours."

  "Let's go pickup your boy, but then I'm putting my foot down. You need to go to the hospital. You're bleeding. If something is wrong internally, who is going to be around to take care of your son?" My words were harsh, but she needed to think past her sole focus.

  Mia narrowed her eyes at me. "You don't think those thoughts are going through my head?" Brock cleared his throat from the side, and Mia shot him a glare before she continued. "Let me get Lucas, then we can stop at the hospital, but until he is by my side, I don't care what the hell any of you think."

  I’d dated a lot of women hoping to find my Cinderella. None of the women I went out with were so independent, and I wasn't sure if that was the reason she turned me on even more. Most just wanted free plastic surgery or for me to buy them things.

  "You guys don't need to come in. I plan on grabbing him and leaving." I was sure she wasn't embarrassed by us, but I didn't think she wanted us to meet her family. I'd only met Kat a few times, but I wondered if the woman had formulated a plan to kill Mia's dad and mom for what they'd put her through.

  I rested my hand on Mia's back, and she relaxed a little. "We are coming with you. Now let's go get him, because your ass needs to go to the hospital."

  She nodded and pulled open the door. The dark-haired kid ran from the side doorway straight for his mom, his arms outstretched. I put myself in his path, and he slid to a stop. "You have to be careful."

  Mia shoved at my back. "Move!"

  I stepped to the side, and Mia wrapped her arms around Lucas, but the boy gently put his arms around her, making sure not to touch where her wound was.

  Mia's brother and three women emerged from the same doorway that Lucas ran out. The older woman I assumed was her mother, and the two other women I could only guess were her two sisters.

  The one with bleach-blonde hair had tears streaming down her face. "Dalia." Her heels clicked against the floor, and she stood next to Mia and waited. When Mia dropped her arms from her son but kept her hand locked in his, she half hugged her sister.

  "I've missed you, Lydia."

  "I thought you were dead. They all told me you were dead." Her youngest sister wept.

  Mia took a step to the side. "Dalia died years ago. Please call me Mia. It's for Lucas's safety, which is why I need to leave."

  The other woman with brown hair, arms crossed under her fake tits, rolled her eyes. "Nothing’s changed. We all have to accommodate Dalia. The precious oldest daughter of the family." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Things were so much better when you were dead."

  Mia's cheeks turned bright red. "Ashlyn. It's been too long. If you want, we could try and meet next week, if you can pencil me in between your afternoon glass of wine and Xanax. Sebastian, thank you for watching Lucas and helping me, but I think my time is done here."

  A gray-haired gentleman strode into the room in a tailored black suit. Mia had taken out her colored contacts on the way to her parents' house, so I was able to notice her eyes were the same striking blue as the older man's. "I would like to have a word with you before you leave Dal—Mia."

  I shook my head. "We need to get Mia to the hospital. Do none of you understand she was drugged and shot yesterday?”

  "If we want to get down to details, she was hit with a homemade dart and a little tranquilizer," Kat added cheerfully. "I kind of want to see the mob boss's office. This whole ‘going mainstream in life’ has left me a little bored."

  "You went on a rescue mission to the Congo with your husband a month ago," Brock reminded her. "He showed me the mission report. You eliminated half the camp with your sniper."

  "True, but Antonio didn't let me bring any of the bodies home to feed my pets."

  "Oh, you're funny!" Mia's mom interjected. "Surely Mia can meet with her father for a few minutes. I'll have the staff make tea."

  "Are you Italian mob or Russian mob?" Jessica asked. "From the research I've done, the Russians like to slip poison in tea."

  Mia snickered. "Neither. My family's heritage is Jewish."

  "This is ridiculous. I'm out of here. Next time she's here, don't bother calling me." Ashlyn stormed out the back.

  None of Mia's family seemed surprised. Her dad turned to Mia. "A moment in my office." I took a step forward along with everyone else. "Alone."

  No way in hell did I plan to leave her side. He could huff and puff all he wanted. But Mia was ready. "Kat and Jessica, can you stay with Lucas while I speak to my father? As for the rest of the people, I wouldn't even bother trying to tell them to stay back. They won't listen." Her dad gave a tight nod.

  I followed Mia down the hallway past a wall of photos. Not one of them was of her. To the right were two seven-foot wooden doors that opened to a study with a wooden desk. I'd never been in a mafia boss's office, but the deep, rich reds and dark wooden furniture played to the stereotype in movies. Her dad unbuttoned his suit jacket before he sat down. Mia stood rigid in front of the desk. Brock and Wes waited to the side. Sebastian sat on the couch. "Someone is playing a game with you, Mia."

  "Clearly, since they came after my son a second time." She threw her hands in the air. "You didn't need to pull me in here to tell me that information."

  Her dad’s gaze flashed with impatience. "You have every right to hate this family, but we have a certain image to keep up. The older I get, the more I struggle to remember why I'm doing this. But I'm not going to apologize for the decisions I made years ago. You wouldn't believe them, anyway."

  Mia glanced between her brother and father. Her skin was pale, and I needed to get her to the hospital.

  I went to open my mouth, but she spoke first. "Then what do you want to talk about? Dalia died the night of the boat accident. I'm never rejoining this family."

  "Someone named Donovan called me and scheduled a meeting today. Sebastian was able to tell him there was a mistake made, but Mia…the person who called him this morning said he needed to get to my house immediately because a war was about to start."

  She nodded. "How the hell did this person figure out Lucas was Donovan's son?"

  Sebastian rose from the couch and paced. "Until Donovan showed up at the house, I hadn't realized Lucas was his son. You know he runs that family now. There is more—"

  "I do this for a living," she cut off Sebastian. "The longer I'm here, the more problems this will cause. I need to leave."

  Sebastian stepped forward. "Mia, you don't understand."

  "No. You all don't understand. I spent years in hell because of this family. I'm not living that nightmare again. I'm leaving."

  "Mia," her father ground out, but she kept walking. Brock and Wes hung back. I hoped they would get the information. I had a feeling she’d need it.

  "Mia, I swear if you don't sit your ass down on the chair, I'm going to throw you over my knee and paddle it instead," I said. Mia, her son, and I were at my house. Lucas was upstairs trying on the clothes my assistant was able to order and have delivered to the house while we were at the hospital.

  The doctor on duty at Alexander General wanted Mia to stay until the toxicology report came back, but she refused. She seemed to think test results came back as fast as they did on television. When they said she would have them in an hour, she sauntered her ass out of the hospital and didn't listen to a word I'd said.

  "I'm unsettled," she shot back, but handed over the loaf of bread. "I don't like to count on people. Doing everything myself is easier."

  I took a step forward and caged her against the counter, making sure not to touch her side. "Seriously? You count on your team every day. And don't you rely on a Dom to give you what you need?"

  "Paxton, I agreed to come here because Brock informed me he wouldn't give me an update unless I did." Each word was clipped. "I'm sure Brock will find you another person to take over the case. Lucas is the most important thing to me, and I can't get distracted."

  I'd wanted to kiss her since the first day I saw her at Blackwood Mercenary. When Brock mentioned that she would assist in making sure my club had no more problems, I was elated. "I understand your boy is the most important thing to you, but who's watching your back? Who's making sure you're taken care of?"

  "Mom takes care of everyone else and not herself. She still thinks I'm a little boy who doesn't understand the world she works in or comes from," Lucas's voice came from the entryway into the kitchen. "Tabitha explained a lot to me over the years, Mom. You need to stop acting like I'm five."

  Mia pushed at my chest, and I took a step back. "What do you mean Tabitha told you about my world?"

  Lucas ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair. "The part where my mom grew up in the mob and my dad is a mobster."

  "And you never thought to bring this up during our weekly calls together?" Mia asked.

  "Tabitha said you would be angry at her if she told me, but she also worried someone would come for me." Lucas paused for a second. "For the record, I don't think they came after Tabitha or me because of you and my dad."

  "Sperm donor," Mia winced. "That was rude of me. Your father was never mean to me, but he has a very dangerous life. You know I love you, right?"

  Lucas's eyes darted over to me and then back to his mom. "Yes, but I'm old enough to be in your world, Mom. I don't want to live with anyone else."

  I understood the boy wanted to be with his mom. Growing up, my brothers, sister and I had struggled in foster care until one day someone gave us a chance. We were lucky the family had money, but money did not equal happiness. Sometimes I wondered if life might had been better if we stayed in foster care. I would have always had my siblings by my side, no matter what happened. "Lucas, you mentioned you think the person was after Tabitha, but if they killed her, why would they take you if they weren’t after your mom or dad?"

  "I think the original plan was for a ransom, but everything went wrong. They put the vest on me first, and then they killed Tabitha. She leaped for the gun under the coffee table and fired. Before she could get a second shot off, they fired back and killed her. The man who fired back was shot before we left the house."

  "Ransom for what?" Mia asked.

  "Tabitha started dating a guy named Sean a few months ago," he said. "She didn't want to tell you because you always dig up people's pasts, and she wanted to get to know him without your report."

  "I do that to protect you and her." She groaned as she sat down on the stool. "Tabitha seemed to date men with criminal records or who liked to swindle her out of money. I'm going to need his last name, so I can rule him out."

  "She never introduced him to me, or told me his name. They would meet somewhere, and sometimes she would stay at his place."

  From the little time Mia and I spent together, I gathered she was stubborn and wouldn't let something drop until she was happy with the answers. Lucas was hiding something, and the more she drilled, the more he would clam up. "How about we eat and figure out a plan for Lucas to go to school on Monday? I'm guessing Brock and your team will be here soon. I'd also bet my brothers will show up. And my brothers are always hungry; they'll eat whatever is on the counter."

  I'd left out the part that it was from the years of never knowing when our next meal might be. After our father died, Mom struggled to afford enough food for all five kids. The food situation didn't get much better in foster care. Years later and the four of us struggled to not overeat. I tended to eat more than I needed, but ran five miles every morning and lifted weights.

  For the next hour, Lucas talked about school and basketball. The kid loved sports. I told him about the full basketball court in the backyard, and he asked if he could shoot some hoops.

  My phone dinged, and I glanced down to see an email from the ER doc who examined Mia. I opened the email and read through his remarks. All her labs came back, and they didn't show any issues.

  Mia went to get up to clear the table.

  "Sit."

  Her eyes dilated, and she shifted in her seat. "You are more domineering than I'd expected, but I think it's time we lay down some ground rules. I know the mission was for me to be your sub at the club, but that doesn't mean you can demand things outside of those doors. Hell, I'm more than likely fired or off your case, anyway."

  I'd told Brock I only wanted Mia on the case, and he'd agreed. "Until you heal, you aren't working, and we won't be playing. Yes, we will go to the club and observe, but no play until you're cleared. As for the rules of how this would work, they would've been discussed, but you decided to get yourself almost killed."

  "Not on purpose."

  I nodded and pulled out the chair next to her. "Come sit on my lap."

  "Paxton…we discussed at Blackwood Mercenary that we would only play at the club. I have too many other things in my life to deal with besides this."

  "Now, Mia."

  She narrowed her eyes before she sat crossways on my lap. Her wound was on the side facing out. "Thank you." I pointed to my phone. "The cameras are up so we can see Lucas and when anyone arrives, but I think it's time we do some negotiations."

  "We were never going to have a real D/S relationship. I was to help look for anything suspicious at the club. Why on earth would you think this would be anything more? My life is a mess."

  "First of all, I don't play with anyone without negotiations, and I'm sure Brock's club has the same rules as Club Rose. We will get to your question in a second, but I have a few myself. What parts of being a sub do you like and dislike?"

  Mia's cheeks pinked. "I've never talked about my limits this way. The Doms I did scenes with reviewed my limit sheet I have on file at the club."

  I ran my fingers under the bottom of her shirt against her soft skin. "Communication is a huge thing for me. I fall under a nurturing Dom. We can say no BDSM outside of the club, but I can't turn my personality on and off."

  Her eyes slid over to the phone, and I worried I had lost her. "After I got away from Cyrus, my time with Donovan was confusing. I'm not sure what I felt for him. I never let myself think about a relationship with someone."

  If I had to guess, it was from years of hiding. My friend Bently was also the club psychiatrist and someone my siblings and I met during our time in foster care. He'd told me to ask Brock for another operative, because Mia was way too closed off, and I'd end up hurt. I tried to remind him that nothing worth fighting for was handed to you. "What do you really want, Mia? Do you go to the club for orgasms, or do you go looking for something else?"

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17