She moaned into his mouth, her body pressing against his. He pulled back slightly, his eyes tracing the curve of her lips, his hand sliding down to her waist. She shuddered beneath his touch, her fingers curling around his shirt.
Without breaking their kiss, he lifted her up, carrying her towards the bed. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her body arching towards him. As he lowered her onto the sheets, he trailed kisses down her neck, his hands roaming over her skin. Her breathing quickened, her nails digging into his back.
He pulled away, his eyes dark with desire. “I want you,” he whispered, his voice thick with need.
She nodded, her own desire evident in the way she pulled him back down to her. They moved together, lost in the heat of the moment, their bodies becoming one.
The sudden crunch of tires on the gravel driveway outside pulled them apart, and Mia jumped up, her eyes wide with panic. She darted to the window, peering out into the darkness.
“It’s my father,” she whispered, her voice filled with a dreadthat made Max’s heart constrict.
A sleek, black car pulled into the garage at the side of the house, and Max could see the stern-faced man in the backseat. His instincts screamed at him to protect Mia, but he knew he had to leave. If her father found him there, it would be a disaster.
“I need to go turn the cameras back on before he finds out they were off,” Mia said, her face pale.
Max watched her, his heart pounding with worry. “Be careful,” he warned, but she was already hurrying out of the room.
He moved to the window, pushing it open, his tiger senses flaring to high alert. He dropped down onto the grass, silently making his way towards the gate. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig underfoot seemed to echo around him. He kept an eye out in case any of the guards who had been out with Ethan decided to do a walk around the property. His heart pounded in his chest.
When he made it to the gate, he turned to ensure he wasn’t overlooked then scaled it quickly and jumped over the other side. His body shook with the adrenaline of the close escape, but he couldn’t help but worry for Mia. He glanced back at the mansion, a dark silhouette against the night sky, and silently promised to protect his mate, no matter what it took. The best way to do that was to get the location of the cartel so that they could end this once and for all.
Chapter Ten
Mia
Mia’s heart pounded like a jackhammer as she hid in a powder room near the control room. Her breaths came out in shallow huffs, and her senses were on high alert as she waited for the right moment to come out. The house was buzzing with the return of her father and his associates. Their boisterous laughter echoed through the grand halls, and bounced off the expensive imported crystal chandeliers.
Mia could hear the drunken slurring of her father’s voice, his words loud and coarse. It was followed by the equally inebriated chatter of his associates. The thud of their heavy footfalls passed her hiding spot, making her freeze. Her heart pounded against her ribcage. The scent of cigar smoke and expensive cologne filled her nostrils, making her nose twitch in discomfort. She waited until the sounds of their voices became faint before she made her move.
Moving like a shadow, Mia darted out from her hiding spot and hurried to the control room, praying her father’s men were too distracted to notice her. The control room was a hub of screens and sophisticated equipment, the lights on the panel casting an eerie glow in the dim room. With deft hands, she reached out and flipped the switch, turning the cameras back on. Relief washed over her as she saw the feeds from all over the property come alive on the screens. She had done it. The cameras were back on.
But she wasn’t out of danger yet. She needed to get out of the control room without getting caught. If someone saw her coming out, there would be no explaining it away. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and carefully slipped out of the room,her heart pounding. The corridor was clear. Her pulse roared in her ears as she retraced her steps, avoiding the busy areas where her father and his friends were.
It was a close call, but Mia made it back to her room without getting caught. Her legs felt shaky as she closed the door behind her—her body finally letting out the breath she had been holding. She had made it. She was safe. But the sense of relief was short-lived, replaced by a rush of adrenaline that buzzed through her veins.
But even amidst the chaos, Mia couldn’t help but think of Max’s worried gaze as he had left her room, and of his promise to protect her. She had faced danger tonight, a danger she had put herself in. She knew she couldn’t keep risking her life like this, not when there was another way, not when she had Max on her side. The thought of him brought a sense of calm amidst the storm, but it was short-lived. The booming knock on her bedroom door brought Mia back to reality. The harsh sound reverberated around her quiet sanctuary, a grim reminder of the impending confrontation. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself then opened the door.
One of her father’s burly bodyguards stood at the threshold. He looked her up and down before his hardened gaze met hers.
“Your father wants to see you,” he informed her in a gruff voice.
She nodded curtly, her stomach knotting with unease as she followed him down the grand staircase, her mind racing with a dozen possibilities. What did her father want with her at this hour? Could he know about Max? Her calls to the FBI?
As she stepped into her father’s private study, the door closed ominously behind her. The room was filled with cigar smoke,making the air thick and heady. Her father sat at the head of a long mahogany table, his associates on either side of him. Their eyes followed her every move, their gazes lecherous, their leering smiles sending chills down her spine. Either her father didn’t notice or didn’t care about their behavior. She hated it. She loathed them and this life with every fiber of her being.
Breaking the uncomfortable silence, her father, a sturdy man with piercing eyes and a menacing air, cleared his throat. “Mia, I’ve decided it’s high time you got married.”
The room fell silent as his words echoed off the high ceilings. Mia felt her heart plunge into her stomach.
“Robert’s son,” her father continued, pointing towards one of the men whose smirk widened at her stunned expression.
The man grinned. “You remember my son, Mark?”
The son in question was a repulsive, violent brute. She’d heard about his transgressions—how he’d beaten up one of the society women who moved in the same circles with them. The young woman had been too frightened to press charges. Mia had always hated him, and now she was supposed to marry him? Her mind reeled at the thought. She would never marry him, even if she hadn’t just met her mate.
“Yes, of course,” she said, forcing a smile.
“Consider it done. We’ll have the wedding next week,” her father declared nonchalantly, as if he was discussing a business transaction.
