Page 5 of Fortress of the Brave

“Could be,” I reply. “Haven’t decided yet.”

“You got a better deal?” he scoffs.

“No, but I’m going over to meet Marco to discuss some of the plans we’ve been deliberating on. You could come with me and see how things are done around here, it wouldn’t kill you.”

“I’ve been practically living at the casino,” he scoffs. “I’m pretty sure you’ve got a handle on it for the both of us.”

I roll my eyes.

“Anyway, if you rethink tonight, I’ve lined up some chicks after the game,” he tells me. “You need to follow my lead, little brother, and catch yourself a break. Get some tail. You’ll feel better.”

“Who says I need to feel better?”

“Known you a long time, Dante.”

I side-eye him. He’s got me there.

“Everything’s fine,” I tell him.

He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me but doesn’t say anything. It’s better that way.

MIA

TWO MONTHS LATER …

Ashleyand I walk out of our office building together; she works for an insurance company a few floors up from me. It’s Friday night, and I’m beat. All I can think about is laying on the couch in my pajamas and binging on Netflix.

Ashley is going out with her boyfriend to celebrate their upcoming vacation.

“I want you to have a really great time,” I tell her. “Two weeks away, it’s going to be bliss.” They’re going to the Caribbean; I couldn’t imagine anything more exciting. I would love to go on a tropical getaway. Lord knows I’ve racked up enough vacation time, although where would I even go and who with?

“Justin isn’t going to know what hit him,” she chuckles. It’s their first real vacation together; the excitement is written all over her face.

We hug and say our goodbyes as she heads to the subway, since she lives on the other side of the city. I head to my car. “Stay safe,” I call out. “And send me a message when you get there.”

I wave her off while fishing for my keys. I don’t always take my car, since I prefer the subway, but sometimes I just like to drive through the city.

I hear footsteps behind me, and I turn, thinking it’s Ashley coming back to give me another hug. She’s always so sentimental. Except, when I turn, someone grabs me, placing a hand over my mouth so I can’t scream.

Panic surges through me as I try to fight, my heart rate thumping in my ears as I struggle.

“Mia Michaelson?” the man asks, his mouth close to my ear as I fight against him.

I shake my head, flapping my arms as I scream against his hand.

“Are you Mia Michaelson?” he rasps again.

I stand there shaking in his grasp. I vehemently shake my head at his question. “No,” I garble.

“Don’t lie to me, bitch.” His words are menacing as he places his other hand holding a rag over my nose and then my mouth. It smells weird, permeating my senses, and I feel strange.

Oh god. Is he trying to drug me?

“Give up the struggle, Mia. It will hurt a lot less if you don’t fight.”

I try again, fruitlessly, to pull out of his iron grip, to scream, to do something, but I can’t move. He’s too strong. My eyes search the parking lot around me, but it seems nobody is coming to my aid.

How in the hell can this be happening to me?

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