"No, son. Not resistance, that's what's happening right now. If you don’t get married soon, then they will be coming for all of us."
"All of us?"
"Yes, the Irish don’t mess with traditions you know that”—Da lets out a breath as if this is costing him— "It's why I'vebeen trying to get you married. This time I'll let you choose the bride, as long as you’re married within the next six months. After that, I choose."
"Fine."
"That was easy. Do you have someone in mind?"
My mind drifts to the only woman who has been on my mind for the past year. The way her back arched when she came. How she tasted like the most delicious combination of salty and sweet. If I’m going to marry anyone, it's at least going to be with the woman who has taken over all of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I have someone in mind."
"We're here, brother. I'll grab her duffel and put it in the living room." Henry turns, looking at me before getting out of the car.
I open my door and look up at the brownstone I bought a while ago, one that will become the place that Mia and I call home.
I look over at my sleeping beauty and pick her up, carrying her over the threshold of the brownstone. Making a beeline for thetemporary bedroom I set up in the basement—just for this moment—I place her on the bed, taking care not to wake her.
The drugs should be wearing off soon, which means I need to be ready. Moving toward the nightstand, I pull out the handcuffs I had custom made just for her. When I bought them, I thought we would use them in a different way, but this will work, too.
Leaning over, I give her a small kiss on her forehead as I handcuff one of her hands to the headboard, whispering, "I can't have you running off. At least not until you've agreed to stay with me.”
A throat clearing brings my attention to the door of the bedroom. Henry is standing there, and if he's surprised by the little affection I’m giving Mia, he doesn't show it. Good man.
"He's here," he says.
"Good. Let's get this over with. I’m ready to spend time with my wife, alone."
Everything is about to change for me and Mia.
ten
Mia
My head pounds as I start to come to. Why does it hurt so badly? It feels like someone is marching through it. I roll over to try and relieve some of the pain, but instead I’m restricted by something holding my arm. "You need to open your eyes, Mia. Something isn't right," I think to myself.
Slowly, I try to open my eyelids, but they feel heavy and don’t want to cooperate. Maybe I'll just keep them closed as I drift back to sleep.
A soft noise, that seems far away, has me jolting out of my sleep. "Who's there?" I whisper, but no one answers, and I don’t hear anymore noises. I need to see what is going on, but every time I try to open my eyes theyprotest.
Thinking back, the last thing I remember was Kieran standing in my apartment, trying to get me to marry him. Does he have something to do with this? What am I thinking, of course he does. But I can't do anything about it yet, my body still feels really heavy like I’m glued to this bed.
I try to fight it by thinking about anything and everything, but my brain feels way too sluggish and I fall asleep once again.
The click of a door wakes me, but this time my body doesn't feel as heavy. I’m even able to open my eyes. I look around the dark room, but don’t see anything out of the ordinary. I’m about to scream to see if anyone can hear me whenhesteps into the moonlight.
"Kieran," I gasp.
He steps closer to me but stops shy of actually touching the bed. Why would Kieran kidnap me? I haven't seen him since the auction. The moment the thought enters my mind, a flash of a memory of him showingup at my crummy apartment. Another flash has him demanding that I marry him, and I refuse.
Could he have kidnapped me because I wouldn't marry him. If so, he isn't winning any favors from me now. I rattle the arm that he has handcuffed to the headboard while looking him dead in the eyes. "Uncuff me."
“No. You need to eat something,” he tells me, but the idea of eating something makes my stomach roll.
“Uncuff me,” I repeat again.
He tilts his head along with a smirk that gives him an even more unhinged look. God, this man is psychotic.
