Page 59 of Finn

I’m fucking scared for the first time in my life.

18

Mia

My eyes are heavy, but I slowly blink them open. I’m exhausted, and I can’t move my arms or legs. Panic sets in, and I quickly remember what the hell is happening. I look around the room I’m in. There’s a small window at the top of one wall. I can’t see anything out of it because it’s too high. The walls are tan, the floor is concrete, and the very uncomfortable wooden chair I’m tied to is all this room contains. There’s no furniture, no other chairs, nothing.

There’s not much light in here, only what the window provides. It causes tears to fill my eyes because it makes me think of Finn and his fear of the dark. I very quickly understand what he means.

I twist my head and notice a door that is closed and wonder what is going on on the other side of it. I also wonder who is out there. Remembering what Anthony had said before he injected me with that needle, my eyes widened.

My stepdad, Jim, the man who raised me, the man that provided me a very lavish life, is the president of an MC? How could that be possible? He’s a prosecutor. Well, I was led to believe he was. Does my mother know? Is that why she left Porter?

Tears roll down my face at all the thoughts swimming through my head. I have no idea how long I’ve been gone and no idea if or when someone will find me. There’s no possible way for me to know where I am or try to get help.

I’m alone.

My biggest fear comes to life.

I glance at what my feet are tied together with, and my stomach drops when I see that it’s zip ties. There’s no way I’ll be able to get out of these.

My tears are endless as I sit here alone in this room with nothing more than my thoughts and fear of what is going to happen. I’d like to think Jim wouldn’t hurt me or allow anyone to hurt me, but he’s already proven that’s not true. He wants my mom, and I truly hope that Finn and everyone else is keeping her safe.

The sound of the doorknob jiggling has my stomach turning. I turn my head and see Jim walk into the room. He looks unrecognizable right now. His hair is a wild mess. He has on jeans, a white t-shirt, and a leather cut. As he walks, I notice the heavy boots he has on, and I lift my eyes to him.

“You’re the president of an MC?” I ask, dipping my brows.

He gives a manic laugh, and my throat goes dry. I don’t even know this man. How is it possible that someone can be two completely different people?

“Oh, Mia, there’s so much you don’t know,” he says, pacing in front of me.

“What’s the plan here, Jim? Are you gonna kill the girl you raised as your own? Are you gonna make me pay for whatever sins you and my mother have?” I ask, shaking with fear.

He slaps me across the face, and I cry out in pain. With my hands tied, I can’t even reach up and touch the stinging skin.

“Your mother is a saint,” he hisses.

Suddenly I have a thought. It may buy me a little time from whatever it is he has planned. Finn told me I was the light to his darkness. Maybe that’s how he feels about my mom. Maybe that’s why he’s acting this way now. He’s feeling lost without her.

It’s as twisted as he is, but I’ll use anything I can to buy myself time.

“You’re right. She is a saint. I know you miss her. She misses you too,” I whisper.

He snaps his head to me and widens his crazy eyes. “She does?”

I shake my head as tears roll down my cheeks. I’m sorry, Mom, but I need to try to save us both. “Yes. She was pissed to be away from you,” I lie.

She may have been at first, but now I truly believe it was more fear. I don’t know if he mistreated her or punished her or what, but I’m going to try to protect her and myself like she clearly has done.

His eyes soften for a moment, and my racing heart begins to calm a bit. I’m making progress.

“I miss her, Mia. I can’t be away from her any longer,” he says, squatting in front of me.

I nod my head, trying to fight back more tears. Just a few short months ago, I considered myself a daddy’s girl. I thought my life was like everyone else’s. I thought I saw loving parents that provided for themselves and for me. There wasn’t a time I didn’t feel safe or loved. But now I see it was all just lies covered up with so much bullshit it was well hidden. There was no love, only fear. The money we had was because of whatever Jim was up to with his MC. It’s all so fucked up and confusing. I don’t understand why any of this is happening, but I can’t focus on that right now.

“Do you really think she’d like to see me tied up like this? She wouldn’t like seeing us at odds,” I say.

He stands and begins to pace again, running his hands through his hair. “You think I don’t know that? She would be in tears right now.”

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