Page 2 of Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 6)

And Sophie? The vile woman who had conspired with Uncle Herbert, what would James do to her? I didn’t know, and honest to God, I didn’t want to think about it.

I pushed that thought out of my mind and tried to figure a way of untying myself instead.

I wriggled my wrists again, gritting my teeth as I held back painful groans that desperately wanted to escape. Shit! Why were the binds on so tight? Why did Uncle Herbert have to tie me like this? Surely, knocking me unconscious and locking me in this room was enough.

I growled loudly when I got too frustrated. Just as quickly, I silently cursed myself. Shit! I shouldn’t have done that. What if Herbert heard me? I prayed he hadn’t, but of course, it was too late when the noise of footsteps from the distance, I assumed from the other room, reached my ears.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

The footsteps were getting louder, obviously getting closer. I shut my eyes, my heart racing in dread as I waited. Then I heard the clicking of a door being unlocked, which was followed by the door squealing open.

I turned my face to the left, away from the door, my eyes shut tight. Just as I heard the door bang against the wall in a collision, that godawful smell assaulted my senses, the disgusting stench that belonged to Herbert Weston.

My body started shivering in a cold sweat as the reek got stronger and the footsteps on the concrete floor louder. Then I felt his monstrous presence hovering over me at the side of the bed, and I silently groaned, sick.

“Mia?” I heard him saying my name. “You’re awake?”

I stayed dead silent as my body remained still.

Suddenly, I heard him chuckling. “You’re playing dead again, aren’t you? You’re good at that, you know.”

I felt his heavy body sit on the side of the bed, and I wanted to scream out so badly, yelling at him to leave me alone, for him to stay the hell away. But of course, I remained silent, playing dead, as he had said.

I felt his thick, sweaty hands on my face, stroking me. Then I smelled his stinky breath and knew his face was inches from mine, which made me want to vomit in repulsion.

“You’re even more beautiful than before, Mia,” he said, giggling in excitement. “All grown up.”

I didn’t have to open my eyes to know he was currently assessing my body from head to toe because I could feel this uneasy, nauseating feeling inside me.

“Uncle is going to make you so happy. Uncle is going to make you feel so good.”

God, his words and actions made me sick with disgust. I want so badly to open my eyes and tell him to fuck off. I wanted to kick him in the groin and bash him on the face until I was satisfied. But of course I couldn’t because I was tied up and, more importantly, I doubt I’d manage to bash any sense into him because he was way bigger than me.

So silent and playing dead I stayed until a moment later when he decided to leave, seeing that I wasn’t going to respond to him after all.

“I’ll be back, Mia,” he said. “You just wait. Uncle needs to take care of some business.”

He didn’t leave quick enough for my liking, and once I heard the door click shut and the lock back on, I opened my eyes, sighing a breath of relief.

“James,” I said softly under my breath. “Please hurry.”

Chapter 2

James

Once the cold, hard fact that Mia Donovan—the young woman to whom he had just recently confessed his love—was kidnapped, James Maxwell became strangely calm, morbidly serious, and utterly dangerous. His eyes and demeanor were dark as he stared off into the quiet street, at the telltale signs of a van making its quick escape not too long ago.

Of course, he was certainly in his element now, having suddenly and without warning found himself the prey, which he’d definitely enjoy hunting.

“I’ve assembled the team,” Scott said. “They should arrive soon.”

Eric added, “It shouldn’t take them long.”

James nodded. Then he returned his attention to their surroundings. “We need to thoroughly inspect the road. If the meeting was here, then there should be more evidence. Tire markings.”

Scott nodded. “We’ll wait until the team arrives.”

James agreed. “Now let’s check the surveillance recordings.”

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