by V. Domino
“Mia, Woods you’re not going to need that?” he said with a sadistic smirk as he slapped the taser out of my hand and picked me up swiftly. I slapped him until he was forced to drop me. Two more guys walked in as they heard the commotion and I wondered how there was no other person coming into the bathroom. Anyone that could rescue me from what was happening. The second guy chuckled. He was big, burly bald headed and the expression on his face, menacing. Once again, I tried to run and looked at the small window in the bathroom thinking maybe I could crawl out of it and escape that way, but it had seemed that the third guy had made his way around me and I stood there wobbly and surrounded..
“Listen, calm down! We aren’t going to hurt you?” he said, but I wasn’t trying to hear that.
“What the hell do you guys want? I don’t know you and I don’t bother anyone. Why are you in the bathroom? Get out of my way, you stupid piece of shit!” I yelled out as the first guy once again picked me up. I balled my fists up and started to beat at his shoulders as carried me out of the bathroom with ease. I was scared, but angry more than anything.
“Didn’t the boss say this would be an easy job?” This seems a lot more difficult than necessary,” the first guy said.
“Boss? What boss? Let me go right now!” I screamed wondering why nobody seemed to hear me. I was loud, but also I sounded muffled, like something was wrong with my voice. Hopefully, someone would hear me and call the police for me.
“This bitch really has a mouth on her, doesn’t she?” the first guy said aggravated as I bit the side of his face. He growled and dropped me to the floor. Scrambling to get up and try to make a run for it, I stumbled again realized that my drink had been spiked and I wasn’t going to get out of this situation. My hair was grabbed and a big hand came across my face as he hit me. I wanted to say something else, but I couldn’t as all of a sudden I felt tired. Soon after, there was nothing but darkness as my eyes closed.
Now, I sat my body moving as the car moved. My head was pounding and I felt a bit dizzy. I tried to think of a way to get myself untied and tried to escape. I grunted a little and one of the guys appeared to be listening.
“Ah, so I see you’re up. We are almost there sweet cheeks. Don’t worry,” he said, laughing and I wished more than anything I could slap that stupid laugh right out of him. I wanted to yell and kick, but I couldn’t do a thing when I was tied up and gaged.
It seemed like hours, before the car had finally stopped. My heart started to race and I couldn’t help, but think I would finally meet the same fate that had befallen my brother Micah 3 years ago.
There was some noise and once again I was picked up and put over one of the guy’s shoulders. I thought about all the things I said I would do after Micah passed and haven’t done. I was going to die. I felt it, but if I had to die I was taking these three assholes with me.
They finally stopped and put me down. I heard some shuffling and a door open. I tried to think of all the places they could’ve possibly taken me.
But then I heard that voice. A voice that hit me like a ton of bricks. That voice had been engraved on my heart for years and it sounded so close, yet so far. A voice that had haunted me for many nights over the years. A voice that used to send sweet chills down my spine, and a voice that had turned my heart into an icebox. It couldn’t be. But as much as my heart had hoped the universe wouldn’t be this cruel, the blindfold came off and I knew that it was. Jackson Messina or Jax as he was known to those close to him. The devil in human form. At least he was to me. He stood there, his dark brown hair different than the last time I saw him. He wore a black suit and a red tie that was loosened around his neck. The black shirt he wore underneath was unbuttoned at the top. The middle of his hair was longer and the sides shaved. He now had a goatee, and I found my heart thudded just a bit. His hazel eyes held a gaze that I knew all too well. He was still very much the king of his empire and I wanted nothing to do with it or him.
Even in my anger he was heaven. He was hell. He was sin wrapped in an Italian and Scottish package that I just couldn't shake no matter what I did. I had thought I was done with him being in my life, but here he was standing there like he didn’t just have three people take me from where I was trying to enjoy myself. Fuck him for still making me feel anything. And fuck him for all of this.
“Are you fucking kidding me Jax? What the hell would possess you to have dumb, dumber and dumbest come and kidnap me from a fucking bar? Kidnapping? You know a fucking crime?! Not that you immune from any kind of crime. That is your whole fucking life after all. Crime!! Crime here, there and everywhere. You’re like the fucking Dr. Seuss of crime. Why couldn’t you just call me like a normal person? I told you many times I don’t want nothing to deal with your bullshit again. Whatever happened between me and you before is in the past. Leave it there!!” I yelled pacing. I was enraged. Anytime I was angry like this, I paced. My feet also hurting as the heels I’ve been in this whole time, had my feet hurting.
“Love bug you left me absolutely no choice. You wouldn’t answer my calls. You wouldn’t respond to my texts. This was the only way I could get you here safely,” he said the coolest expression on his face.
“That’s bullshit and you know it Jax. You always have a choice. Always. This is not okay! Not okay by a fucking long shot! Besides, you know why I have been keeping my distance. Stop with this crap!”
I was livid as I tried to calm myself down and pacing was doing little to help that. A mix of things went through me. Hatred, sadness, pain and bewilderment. I glared at him and I was sure that the anger I felt could incinerate the spot where he stood. He deserved all of that and so much more.
“Would you have come to me if I asked you to me nicely,” he said, his tone now putting me on edge.
“You’re asking me this right now after you gave those guys instructions to take me out of the bar and brought me here. You of all people, the man of oh so many words and that is what you say to me? Fuck you!”
He smirked at that and then shook his head.
“You already have love bug.”
I could feel my cheeks turn red as his stupid goons were still in the room. Of course I knew that. I spent years trying to cleanse myself from all the mindless fucking we had done. All the fucking where I allowed my stupid heart to feel more than it should’ve. I was so naïve back then.
“And every single day I wish I hadn’t,” I said, balling my fists tightly, trying to contain all of what he was making me feel. I hated him. Hated him so much.
“I know you don’t mean that,” he replied, chuckling which quickly turned into a cough. It seemed to have rattled his chest and for a moment, I found myself slightly worried. Was something wrong? Is that the reason he dragged me here against my will. For a moment, the anger I felt dissipated and a felt a twinge of regret in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t deal with this right now. Not now. It was too close to all the other bad memories for me.
Once he stopped coughing, that antagonizing smile was back.
“Oh, God, I love when you are mad. Gets my dick hard. You’re still my feisty girl.”
Turning away, I shrugged back the tears that were threatening to come. Why did he still have such an effect on me? Why couldn’t he just die or something? No! Not die. He needed to suffer for the pain he had caused me. Maybe disappear. Yeah, that was good. He needed to disappear.
Instead of coming back with some witty or sarcastic retort, I glanced over my shoulder and looked at him, the corners of my mouth quickly gravitating downward.
“That’s one of the many problems Jax. You always wanted me to be this feisty person like our relationship was normal. Nothing about us was normal.”
I paused, sighing to get my thoughts in check.
“We were two broken people that let sex turn into way too many emotions. Those emotions were used against your enemies. Enemies that cost me someone dear to me. So I would like to go home, get out of this dress and go to sleep right now!” I said.
&n
bsp; “I can’t allow that. I know this isn’t the way you wanted to spend your holidays, but I can’t let you go home.”
“Why not?”
“I have reason to believe your life is in danger. In danger because of me and while I know this wouldn’t make you happy the only way I can assure your safety is that you stay here with me. I will keep you safe with my life.”
“What do you mean I’m in danger?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” he replied.
I did know, but I wasn’t happy and I was slightly scared.
“I will make sure you have everything you’ll need, but for now it’s best for you to stay right here with me.” His accent came off strong at that and I cursed him in my head furiously.
“What does that even mean? And did you know those stupid pricks drugged me to get me here?” I asked.
His gaze that was mocking quickly turned to anger as he glanced at the three guys by the door.
“You drugged her?” he yelled out, his voice bellowing from the big living room that we stood in. I remembered that voice and tone well. It was when he got a little too angry. A little too mad. His temper was one that could cause everything and everyone around it to burn. And while I felt a smidgen bad for the guys, they drugged me, tied me up and brought me here.
“Uh, yes sir. She was in a bar. We felt if we didn’t it would make it harder to pull off. Besides, she was a bit of a problem. We tried to take her calmly, but she kept hitting us and she bit me,” the bald guy spoke, his voice shaky.
“I made it very clear that was to bring her here. Nothing I said remotely sounded like drug her drink. What if something happened to her while drugged? I should kill you both right now where you stand,” Jax yelled out.
My blood ran cold at that because I knew that was something he could do and do so with no hesitation.
Jax came towards me then and quickly his hands touched my face. I flinched a bit and he leaned over to me.
“Do you think I’m going to hurt you?” he asked loud enough for me only to hear.
I didn’t respond, as his long fingers touched my face looking over it for any signs of me being hurt.
“If she wasn’t standing right here, I’d probably end your lives right here,” Jax said quickly, but deadly turning and making his way to the guys who now looked afraid. I could see the gun hanging from the back of his pants and I panicked.
I hoped he didn’t plan to kill them right here. I couldn’t deal with it. Grabbing the gun, he quickly hit the bald one over the face with it.
“You ever do the opposite of what I tell you and your family will never see you again? Do you understand me? Mia is the equivalent of me. You protect her with your fucking life. Get the fuck out!” Jax yelled and the guys quickly made their exit.
For a moment there was silence and then he turned back to me. I was shaking by this point partially because I was cold and the other half because I could tell Jax was in a mood. He could be very dangerous when he was like this.
“I’m sorry they drugged you Mia. I should’ve gotten you personally,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
“I wouldn’t have come with you Jackson… Jax. You know that. There is no reason for me to be here”
“Well love bug, you are wrong.”
“Stop calling me that. I’m not your love bug.”
“You used to be. You used to be everything to me.”
“Bullshit!”
“I have never lied to you,” he responded taking off his suit jacket.
“Yes, you did. You lied about my brother.”
It was quiet again, but only for a moment as I watched him pour himself a drink.
“Even then Mia. I never lied.”
I wanted to argue with him. Tell him how I knew he was lying, but I also knew that he would act as if I was crazy.
“I know this is overwhelming, but know that the only reason I got you here is because I need to keep you safe. There is something that could put your life at risk because of your association to me and I can’t have anything happen to you.” Jax was staring at me again.
Shaking my head. “We no longer have any association, I don’t have any to you or your life,” I said vehemently.
“No matter what you say, you always will. You will always be a part of me. I will explain more in the morning. The guest room is ready, and I will personally go and get your things so you can be comfortable. For once please don’t fight me on this,” Jax said, his voice much softer than before.
I wanted to have a retort, but I was tired. Very tired and I wanted to sleep. Even though I was still very angry, I knew for now I was safe. Nodding, I sighed and followed him to the guest room.
As much shit as Mia had talked she fell asleep quite easily, and though I knew I would hear it when she woke up, I was happy with the fact that she decided to not give me any more argument.
Besides, I still had too much that I needed to settle before I took it down for the night. Taking my phone out, I sent a text to Julius my bodyguard to tell him to come inside.
A few moments later he stood there. Julius had been with my family for ages. He was about 6”5” and solid muscle. Just what I needed if things got too hairy. I could normally handle myself, but when you were a Messina, you had to always be prepared for the worse. That was just the way it was with the family and the family business.
“I need you to make sure Phil watches over the house while Mia is here. Tell June to go shopping at one of my stores and pick some things out for Mia to have while she stays here. I want her to be as comfortable as possible. I need you with me when we go back the Tavern,” I said to him quickly.
“Yes, sir,” Julius replied, heading right back out.
I was still very much aggravated with the morning’s turn of events and knew I had to get back to the bar I owned to handle it. About 20 minutes later my driver pulled the car up in front of the bar. I got out and slammed the door more annoyed now that I was standing here. Julius followed me in.
I still had my tie on and I loosened it. Ties were something my dad was adamant about. He said there was nothing more dangerous than a well-dressed man who knew how to get things done. That always stuck with me. This tie was a red one. Red for the power that our family had alluded. Red also gave me the confidence I needed when I had to be the ruthless man that needed to be in control. It was also Mia’s favorite color.
Messy Tavern was one of the many properties my family had. This bar was one of my favorites of the ones that my family had owned. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a problem with the books. That meant someone was trying to cheat me and I didn’t like to be cheated.
My agreement with the Bruno family was that they had Joseph Bruno’s nephew Julio run the books. Joseph was an old ambitious man who always wanted his hand in any place where he could get money coming into his family. As a favor to him, my dad Cesar told me to make sure he had a job where he would seem important, but not more important than me. That had seemed to work for a while until lots of money started showing up missing. Missing money was a big problem. Someone was starting to get greedy and I had a sneaking suspicion I knew who. The one thing I disliked more than disloyalty was a thief. Especially one who would sell his soul to the devil to get what he wanted quickly without working for it.
Julio was the kind of guy I detested. Greedy and lazy as fuck. Aligning myself to do business with the Bruno family started to look like a big mistake. One of the many I’ve made over my life. It took everything in me not to beat his ass right then and there, but favors were favors.
If Julio was indeed stealing money from the bar, I would have to show them while they called me the devil. I had hoped that he would spare me having to get into that head space. Exhaling a deep breath, trying to keep calm, I went over and plopped down on the black leather bar stool.
The bar had mahogany wood, with low ceilings. A stage for the occasional party for strippers or maybe a singer or two. There was a pool table in the far right
and behind the bar, grade A alcohol lined the walls.
“Where’s Julio?” I asked the new red headed bartender that stood on the other side of the counter.
“Who’s asking sugar?” she said her accent one I couldn’t place, but I bet she came anywhere from the South and thought she would live a wild adventurous life in NYC.
She had green eyes, cute freckles and huge tits. She was new and for that reason I gave her a pass. However, the next time I wouldn’t be so nice about not knowing that I was the one who owned the bar.
“Tell him the boss is here,” I said coolly looking around as I always did to be aware of what was going on. There was only one person in the bar. That was good in case things got out of hand.
Her eyes lit up as she realized who I was and I watched her slowly lick her lips. I smirked as this. It always happened. I never had a problem getting women. I never even had to chase them. They would all come to me falling at my feet, hoping I would make them my main squeeze. But that would never happen. No matter how many calls and texts went unanswered, they would keep trying. It annoyed me at times, but I did respect their persistence. However, there was only one woman for me that I would completely be exclusive for and she was asleep in my home.
What’s your name?” I asked her and she smiled, biting her lip smearing the bright red lipstick that painted her lips.
If this was any normal time, I would probably take her across this bar. She had my dick hard and I knew mostly for pure release than anything. It would be just a fuck. Something to use that I could release the tension I was feeling.
“Carla,” she said, her Southern accent coming in thick now.
“Carla huh? It seems like you are doing a good job,” I said, laying it on thick and she let out a long drawn out sigh before smiling widely again.