Page 14 of Hacker Betrayed

"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?"

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