Page 102 of Regards, Mia

“You wouldn’t kill me.”

Mia tosses her hair off her face and glares at him. “You raised a rapist,” she says, her eyes gleaming. “Maybe Ishouldkill you.”

I’ve never seen Mia look so fierce. I realize she means it. She’s really thinking about killing him. I don’t blame her, but I also don’t want to see her do something she’ll regret for the rest of her life.

“Mia,” I say softly from the hallway.

She turns her head toward me. The mask of indifference fades, and emotions flicker across her face. “I told you to go away.”

I stride into the room. “I didn’t listen.”

“I have this under control,” she says, swiveling her gaze back to the man in the kitchen.

“I can see that.”

Her hand shakes. “I really want to kill this bastard right now.”

I stride across the room and place my hand over hers. “No, you don’t. Trust me.”

The gleam in her eyes dies out, and she shifts her gaze from the man to me. “You shouldn’t have come.”

The need to pull her into my arms is strong, but first I want to deal with the intruder. “Got anything I can tie him up with?”

“Masking tape. Top drawer.”

I pull open the drawer and grab the roll of tape, ripping off a long piece as I cross the kitchen. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

“My leg,” he says. “She stabbed me.”

“I don’t give a fuck about your leg.” I step closer, wrenching one of his hands behind his back.

He cries out as I bind his hands with no mercy. “I just wanted to talk to her,” he says.

“That’s why you cut her wifi, and held her at gunpoint? Sounds like you had more in mind than a chat.”

“You don't know what you're doing,” he says. “You should just let me go and we will forget all about this.”

“That’s not gonna happen,” Mia says.

“You have no idea who you are messing with.” He groans with pain as I shove him into a chair. “I know people.”

“It doesn't matter who you know,” she says. “You broke the law. You're gonna end up where you belong. I'll see to that.”

His bitter laugh sounds despite his compromised position. “You don’t have a great track record when it comes to prosecuting my family, counselor.”

“Call the cops, Jay,” Mia says, holding the gun steady on the man’s face.

I pull out my phone and dial nine-one-one. “You’re a badass,” I say, waiting while the phone rings.

A small smile lifts her lips, but it doesn’t reach her ice-blue eyes. “I know.”

CHAPTER 42

Damn Good To Be Alive

The police show up in less than thirty minutes and take Eric Mattson away.

As soon as I close the door and lock it, I feel like I’m going to pass out. My knees wobble, and Jay grabs me around the waist.

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