MIA
"Our boss wants to see you"
And that was the last thing I heard before everywhere went pitch black. Crazy right?
. . . .
My fingers tapped rhythmically against my temple, my mind clearly elsewhere as I took another gulp of the drink I was pretending to enjoy. The bar was packed as usual but I felt distant from everything.
Rent overdue, tuition fees looming, and no clear way out so of course, the muffled chatter and clinking glasses had nothing on me.
I chose this life. I reminded myself while I took a sip of my drink, only to realize it was finished. Already?
I slammed the glass down on the table, channeling my frustration into the poor innocent mug. I guess the crash must have been so loud considering the amount of heads that turned towards my table like they've never seen a pretty redhead before.
Oh, the glass shattered by the way. Fantastic. Now I get to pay for the damages. Great job, Mia! I sighed, burying my face in my palms. Could this night get any worse?
Oh it did get worse.
I shuffled quietly to the bartender, fishing out my card to settle the bill, twice the price now, thanks to my little outburst. I forced a smile at the bartender and nodded, eager to get out of the bar. It was getting late already and my little brother was home all by himself.
After settling the bill, which now included a bartender who couldn't stopped glaring at me, I tossed my red hair over my shoulder and stormed out of the bar.
The night air slapped against my face, cool and sharp. I walked quickly towards my car, heels clicking against the pavement, still replaying the mess in my head when I saw them.
Two men. Dressed in black.
Standing just a few feet ahead like some cliche out of a Mafia movie. But this wasn't a movie, and they weren't lost.
They weren't just standing. They looked like they were waiting.
I didn't flinch.
Instead, my fingers slid into my purse casually, brushing against the cold metal I'd tucked inside hours ago.
My father may have disappointed me terribly in every way imaginable but he didn't raise me soft. He raised me to be ready. Always. And I never go anywhere without my gun and my cute pink pocket knife as a delicious side dish. Danger never sends invitations.
I was already close to my car , one hand still curling the pretty metal inside my bag when one of them finally stepped forward.
"Our boss wants to see you" he said curtly.
And that was it. No time to react. All of a sudden it felt like something pressed against my neck and then everything spun. My fingers slipped off the car door handle as my knees gave away. Darkness swallowed me whole. Did I just get hypnotised?
KILLIAN
I watched from the back seat of my car as one of my men approached the young lady.
Samantha Voss. Or rather, Mia Martins, as she now calls herself.
The rumors were true indeed. Dante Voss's estranged daughter has erased her name like it was a stain. She might have changed her name, but not her blood. People don't just run from a billionaire father without a damn good reason.
I knew exactly who she was, and that's precisely why I'm here.
Getting close to her was the plan. Making her trust me.. need me, that's how I'd make this game of revenge easier. Cleaner. More personal.
My eyes narrowed as her body crumpled beside her car. I didn't expect her to drop so quickly. Well, what exactly did I expect from Dante's daughter?
"Tch" I muttered under my breath.
My men lifted her unconscious frame and laid her beside me in the backseat. Her hand slumped against the leather, red hair spilling all over her face. Even now, she looked... peaceful. I stared.
Too peaceful.
"Drive" I said, still watching her. "And get the medic ready at the house. If she dies, so do you" I was referring to both my driver and the man beside him.
Within the blink of an eye, she snapped awake.
"Where the hell am I?" She yelled. I turned to her slowly and our eyes met. In that instant, she seemed scared, but it only lasted a second. "And who the hell are you?"
Her eyes were green. No greener than anything I'd ever seen. Stormy, untamed and alive. I liked it.
She tried to sit up , but the weight of confusion kept her still. Good.
"You're safe" I said lazily
"That's not an answer" she snapped.
And just like that, I knew she wasn't going to be easy. Perfect.
My phone lit up with a notification, the screen tilted just enough for Mia to catch a glimpse.
6:17 pm
The time definitely meant something to her seeing as she gasped.
"Shit shit shit shit!!" She cursed. What was wrong with her?
"Stop the car!" She barked, her voice louder now. "I said stop the fucking car right now and take me back to the damn bar!"
Nobody seemed to be listening to her. Oh wait, I forgot I give the orders. Nobody else.
She reached for her bag immediately, her fingers searching, feeling for something she looked like she was so sure would be there. But it wasn't. She cursed again, while I watched her, amused.
"Missing something?" I had to ask
"Just take me back to my car! Please" chest rising with panic, my assistant turned and they locked eyes immediately.
"Anything wrong, sir?"
Of course. Something's always wrong. "Turn the car" and the driver didn't hesitate. Tires screeched as we changed direction. She exhaled. I watched her closely, studying every micro expression while I waited for the right moment to speak.
"Where are we headed?"
"Back to the bar" I replied immediately and she didn't say anything afterwards. She kept playing with her fingers, twisting them anxiously. Was she nervous?
"Mind telling me your name?" I chipped in, trying to soften my tone. After all, the whole point of this is to get close to her, right?
"Mia"
I smile inwardly. A new life, a new name, just like I expected.
"Wh.."
"What the fuck do you want from me?" She snapped again, eyes blazing. That seemed to be her favorite thing to do
She cut me off. Nobody dared cut me off..
"Who the fuck just picks someone up off the floor and drags them away without their consent?" More questions. Great.
I leaned back, letting her words hang in the air between us. This was going to be interesting.
"Well, for starters, I'm Killian"
She shot me a glare. "Well, Killian" she spat my name like it was poison. I loved it. "Are you aware that I can sue you for kidnapping? Because that sure as hell is what this looks like"
I smirked. "And here I thought I was being a hero"
"Don't you dare paint me as the damsel in distress" her jaw tightened.
The air between us crackled and I realized this Sam... Mia, was far from ordinary.
"We've arrived sir" The driver announced
I glanced at Mia with a smirk. "Looks like this little detour ends here" I reached out to the door handle, trying to be a gentleman, already picturing myself stepping out to open it for her.
Instead, she twisted the handle herself and pushed the door open. Without so much as a glance in my direction, she stepped out and walked past me, eyes still burning with a mix of anger and panic.
She was a handful.