Page 19 of Liberating Mia
As if the stars were aligned in his favor, his cell phone rang. Seeing the name displayed on the screen, his gut tightened. He showed Desai. The other man crossed his fingers.
“Here’s hoping it’s good news.”
“Amen, brother,” he replied before answering the call. “Scholtz?”
“Hey. I think you guys are going to want to come on down to the party. Seems it’s about to get lively.”
“Sounds good. On our way. Just don’t party too hard without us,” Finn replied. Ending the call, he turned back to his partner. “Sorry, bud. Looks like you’re going to have to forego dinnertime with the parentals. We’ve been summoned back to the harbor.”
Chapter Fourteen
From her position, Mia could just make Dylan out as he stood at the large window that overlooked the warehouse space where she was caged like an animal. She fancied she could feel his cold gaze across the great distance and shivered.
There were so many of them held captive in the substantial number of cages that lined the floor in neat rows all around her. She had no idea how many since she couldn’t see beyond the metal crates stacked on each side of her. But, by the constant flow of sound and the god-awful smell, it was surely a large number.
They weren’t allowed out of the cages to use bathroom facilities. Were barely fed enough to feed a small child. And she was convinced the only reason the barbarians tasked with watching them didn’t beat or rape them was because Dylan was fanatical about “maintaining the integrity of the merchandise”.
Mia couldn’t wrap her mind around the monster he truly was. How had she never seen in? Had the signs been there and she hadn’t been paying attention? She felt so stupid for being taken in by his charm and worldliness. Cheated that she’d been duped when he was clearly evil to the core.
As if she’d conjured him, Dylan strode toward her. An intense hatred welled within her as she watched him. The man she was supposed to be spending the rest of her life with. She’d thought she was in love with him, but she’d had plenty of time for introspection. Eventually, she’d come to understand that what she’d mistaken for love was, in fact, nothing more than infatuation.
“Hello, darling. How are you doing today?”
Mia would have given almost anything to be able to slap that smarmy smirk right off his face. The best she could do in the moment was simply ignore him and pray he went away. But she doubted it. He seemed to take great delight in taunting her.
“Ah, still not talking to me, I see. No matter. So long as you’re listening. I have some good news.”
The gleeful gleam in his eyes had Mia bracing. That look meant nothing good forher. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of asking, she continued to ignore him. Unexpectedly, he reached through the bars and gripped her by her hair, dragging her closer to where he stood. She struggled against his grip, trying to get away from him despite the cramped space. He merely tightened his fist. Pain tore through her, and she immediately stopped.
He grinned that sick grin she’d come to despise. “Now, now dear. There’s no need to be so difficult.” Using her hair for leverage, he turned her face this way and that, studying it closely. “I’m so glad to see that the bruising and swelling has gone down so well. Once we get you sanitized, you’ll fetch a pretty penny.” He paused, waiting. Possibly expecting her to respond. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “I’m happy to report we’ll finally be able to get you all shipped out tonight. Isn’t that exciting? Soon, you’ll be going to your new home.”
Bracing herself for the pain she knew would come, Mia yanked with all her strength, managing to break free of Dylan’s grasp, falling on her ass. Scuttling back to the farthest corner, out of his reach, she raked him with a scathing look.
“Fuck you, Dylan,” was all she said.
“My, my. Such a dirty mouth. I didn’t know you had it in you. Makes me wonder how much opportunity I’ve missed out on. Is there a dirty girl under all that prim and proper?”
Tears of pain and frustration welled in her eyes. Dropping her head, she refused to look at him any longer. Refused to let him see her tears. He didn’t deserve them. He’d lost the right to see her cry the day she’d witnessed him brutally murder someone she’d thought he considered a friend.
“Let me give you a word of advice, Mia. You’re going to want to lose the stubborn streak. Your future master may well take pleasure in beating it out of you if you don’t. And it would displease me greatly if I were to hear that one of my buyers was unhappy with their purchase.”
“Well, looky what we have here. How the mighty have fallen, no?” a voice boomed.
Mia’s heart sank further. Apparently, the gods felt she wasn’t having a shitty enough time. Dylan’s brother, Mason, had never been one of her favorite people. Unlike his brother, Mason had never hidden who and what he was behind a false veneer of charisma. He’d allowed that black soul of his to show, proudly.
He’d also never missed an opportunity to corner her and put his hands all over her. His touch made her skin crawl, and she’d always gone to great lengths to avoid being alone with him.
“Mason, what are you doing here?”
Despite how she was feeling about Dylan, in that moment, she was grateful to him for drawing his sibling’s attention away from her.
“I need to speak to you. I’ve heard some disturbing news via the grapevine.”
“We’re getting ready to get the cargo out tonight. Can’t it wait?”
“No, it can’t.”
Sighing, Dylan checked his watch. “The disruption better be worth it, little brother. Otherwise, I’m going to be seriously pissed.”
