7. Mia
Chapter seven
Mia
T he blaring fire alarm pierced through the smoky haze of the club, mingling with the chaos and confusion of panicked patrons. Mia's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted toward the exit, fear and adrenaline fueling her every step.
"Get back here!" Chad's gruff voice echoed behind her, but she didn't dare look back.
Her breaths came in short gasps, each one a desperate plea for freedom. As she burst through the club doors, the cold night air stung her skin like tiny needles, but it was a welcome sensation compared to the suffocating atmosphere inside.
"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath, her green eyes darting around for any sign of escape.
"Thought you could get away that easy, huh?" Chad sneered, his hulking figure emerging from the shadows near the entrance.
Mia's heart skipped a beat, terror gripping her as she stumbled backward. "Stay the hell away from me, Chad!"
"Come on, Mia. You know you ain't going nowhere." Chad lunged toward her, his massive hand reaching out to grab her arm.
Her instincts kicked in, and she sidestepped his grasp just in time. She felt a surge of relief as his fingers brushed past her skin but failed to capture her. The brute had strength, but he couldn't catch her if she kept moving.
"Fuck you!" she spat, taking off down the street.
“Little bitch!" Chad growled, his heavy footsteps pounding the sidewalk behind her.
Mia's mind raced as fast as her legs, trying to come up with a plan to evade Chad and find safety. But every thought was drowned out by the sound of her own heartbeat, echoing in her ears like a relentless drumbeat urging her to run faster, farther, and never look back.
Drenched from head to toe, Mia's shoes squelched on the wet pavement as she rounded a corner. There it was, just like he had promised: a red Audi idling in the darkness. Her gut churned with a mixture of fear and anticipation, but she knew there was no going back now.
She sprinted the final few yards and wrenched the passenger door open.
"Get in!" Jax shouted from the driver's seat, his muscular arms gripping the steering wheel. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes locked on his hotness. It felt wrong to be attracted to him amidst the chaos, but she couldn't help herself.
Coming to her senses, she ducked into the car and slammed the door shut.
"Here," he said, tossing her a towel. He handed her a Baloo stuffie too. "I know it's not Shere Khan, but it'll do."
"Thanks," she mumbled, wiping her face with the towel and clutching the stuffie close to her chest. His caring and protective nature made her feel safe, and she couldn't remember the last time someone had looked out for her like that.
"Quick, strap in," he instructed, his voice firm yet gentle. "We need to get out of here."
"All right," Mia replied, fastening her seatbelt with trembling hands. She felt the tension and anticipation building in the pit of her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Jax asked, glancing over at her with concern in his eyes.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," she lied, trying to mask the fear that threatened to bubble over. "Just get us out of here, please."
"Got it. Hold on tight," he said, revving the engine and peeling away from the curb.
As they sped off into the night, Mia couldn't help but steal glances at Jax, admiring the way his glasses framed his intense gaze and how his perpetual five o'clock shadow added an air of mystery to his appearance. She shook her head, trying to clear the inappropriate thoughts from her mind. This was no time for attraction or distractions; they were in danger, and she needed to stay focused.
"Let's hope we lost him," Jax muttered, checking the rearview mirror. "If not, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve."
"Tricks?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Trust me," he replied with a sly grin. "I'm pretty resourceful when it comes to this kind of stuff."
She tightened her grip on the Baloo stuffie. As much as she wanted to trust Jax, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive about their uncertain future.
And yet, despite the danger, there was something undeniably thrilling about being on the run with someone who seemed to truly care about her well-being.
The city lights blurred past them as Jax expertly steered them through the empty streets. Mia clutched the Baloo stuffie to her chest, her heart still racing from their narrow escape.
"A cell phone," Jax said, glancing over at her. "Do you have one?"
"Uh, yeah," she answered, fumbling in her purse and pulling out the cheap flip phone. "But it's not like a normal one. It's just for customers to call me for private chats. No data or anything."
"Hand it over," Jax said, holding out his hand.
Mia hesitated for a moment before giving it to him. She watched as Jax turned it over in his hands, examining it. Then, without warning, he rolled down the car window and tossed it to the side of the road.
"Hey!" Mia cried out, shocked by the destruction of her only means of communication with the outside world.
"Trust me," Jax said. "It was necessary. They could've tracked us through that thing. We need to stay off the grid as much as possible."
As much as Mia hated to admit it, she knew Jax was right. He was putting himself on the line to protect her, and she had to trust him. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling the first tendrils of trust weaving their way into her heart.
"Okay," she whispered, more to herself than to Jax. "I trust you."
"Good," he replied, his eyes never leaving the road ahead. "Because you’re my responsibility now, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Silence swallowed the car, the headlights cutting through the inky darkness. Mia clutched her damp clothes and shivered, feeling the tension build between them.
"Sorry about the stuffie," Jax said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "They didn't have Shere Khan. I really wanted to find one for you. But I think Baloo will be a good friend." He glanced at her with a small smile. "He'll keep you safe."
Mia looked down at the stuffed bear nestled in her lap, its soft fur slightly damp from her wet towel. She shivered slightly, realizing how cold she was in her wet underwear.
“You must be freezing,” said Jax. “Sorry about setting off the sprinklers. I had to create as much of a distraction as possible.”
She nodded. “It’s okay. It worked. I . . . hope the other girls are okay. I think I heard a couple of them running out behind me.”
“That’s good,” Jax replied. “I’d like to help them all. Eventually. Me and my brothers are working on it. But you don’t need to worry about that right now.”
Mia frowned. “Why did you want to help me , though? Is it true that you know Savannah?"
"Yeah," he replied, his eyes fixed on the road. "I do."
"Are you taking me to her?" Mia asked, hope blossoming in her heart. She missed her best friend more than anything, and the thought of reuniting with her was almost too good to be true.
"Look," Jax sighed, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "We're doing everything we can to stay off-grid. You can't see anyone else yet. The more people we involve, the higher the risk of being traced."
His words struck Mia like a thunderbolt, and she felt her stomach churn with disappointment. But deep down, she knew he was right. They couldn't afford any mistakes. Not when their lives were on the line.
"Okay," she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I understand."
Jax glanced at her, concern etched on his face. "I promise, as soon as it's safe, I'll make sure you see her."
"Thank you," Mia managed, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. She leaned back into the seat, cradling Baloo in her arms and feeling the weight of their situation settle heavily on her shoulders.
"Get some rest," Jax urged gently. "We've got a long road ahead of us."
As she closed her eyes, Mia felt the adrenaline of their escape slowly ebb away, leaving a bone-deep exhaustion in its wake. She drifted in and out of sleep, the steady rhythm of the road lulling her into a restless slumber.
"We're here," Jax murmured, his voice gentle yet firm. Mia blinked, disoriented for a moment before realizing they were at a motel.
Mia's eyes scanned the area, taking in the dimly lit neon sign that flickered above the single-story building. The place was far from luxurious, but at least it seemed secluded.
"It's nothing fancy, but it'll do for now," Jax said, killing the engine.
Mia nodded, her heart hammering in her chest. “Are we . . .sharing a room?”
Jax turned to her, his eyes boring deep into hers, full of sincerity. “Listen,” he said. “I’m going to check us in under a false name. We’ll share a room to avoid raising suspicion. But I promise you, I swear, I’m not going to touch you, Mia. That’s not what this is about. I didn’t set you free to hurt or harm you. From this day forward, your body belongs to you, okay? Not Meathead Chad. Not the assholes in that club with a wad of cash. And sure as hell not me. You’re your own person, Mia. And if any man—or woman—ever tries to take anything from you ever again, I’ll kill them. You get me?”
Mia’s eyes welled up with tears. She had never in her life felt protected by someone. Never felt as though she had worth or value, or like anyone saw her as precious. Now, Jax was acting like she was somebody worth looking after, worth saving, and it was truly humbling.
“Thank you," she said, her voice cracking. “I . . . don’t know what to say. I guess trust doesn’t come easy to me. And I wish I hadn’t needed saving in the first place. I don’t like relying on other people, but . . . seriously. Thank you.”
She put on a soft purple hoodie and some leggings Jax gave her, then followed him into the motel office, their footsteps echoing in the empty lobby as he checked them in under a false name. “Mr. and Mrs. Khan,” he said.
Mia tried not to giggle since Jax was obviously referring to Mia’s beloved tiger.
The guy on reception didn’t notice and handed them a key with a yawn.
They trudged out of reception looking for Room 34, and as they did, Mia felt a thrill of excitement. She’d been cooped up inside the strip club, day and night, for six years. Before that, she was in a basement somewhere, made to do disgusting things to men for money. Now, heading to a motel room with her own key, made her feel like royalty. She might as well be about to stay in the Ritz-Carlton.
"Here we are," said Jax. As they entered the motel room, she noticed its sparse furnishings. A double bed, a TV, a tiny bathroom, and some brown and gold curtains which had clearly seen better days.
And yet, somehow, it was a million times better than her old room. There was just one thing missing.
“What’s up?” asked Jax. “I see tears in your eyes.”
“It’s nothing,” replied Mia. “Just . . . I couldn’t bring my things with me. There was only one thing I needed, really.”
Jax smiled, putting his backpack down on the bed. He opened up his bag and pulled out a copy of The Jungle Book . It looked just like her copy, but neater.
“You bought me a new copy?”
“I got the same edition as yours so you’d understand the coded message I sent you. Figured you might miss your favorite book, so I brought it with me.”
Mia smiled. “Thank you.” She pulled her warm hoodie around her. “I feel . . . spoiled. None of the other girls from the club get to have all this. I hope I deserve it.”
Jax nodded solemnly. “Each and every one of you deserves it. But I’ve heard about your past, Mia, from Sav. Your foster father, the way you were captured on your sixteenth birthday. You have every right to be here. Away from all that. It’s time for you to start living. And I promise my brothers and I will find a way to help the other girls too. We won’t rest until every damn girl in this city is set free.”
A tentative smile played on Mia's lips, and she felt a surge of gratitude toward Jax. She almost wanted to hug him . . . almost. She had felt so many men’s hands on her over the years that she preferred her own space right now. It made her feel safe.
“Now listen,” said Jax. “Why don’t you go and take a nice warm shower? You must still have damp underwear on under those clothes. I have a bunch of new clothes for you in this bag. Put on whatever you like. Then we’ll talk . . . and eat.”
Mia’s stomach rumbled. “Okay. Sounds good.”
Mia went into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Alone in the bathroom, she found herself crying, trying to remain completely silent so Jax couldn’t hear her. She didn’t want him to think she was sad about being rescued. She was happy. Of course she was. But it was all so complicated. She had been through so much. She wasn’t even sure if she would ever feel truly safe or normal and she was terrified.
She took a long, warm shower, amazed at how much better it felt than the crappy trickle of lukewarm water she was used to at the strip club. She turned the water up hotter and hotter, until it was so hot it scalded her skin, but still, she kept the shower on, trying to burn away all the bad memories.
A knock at the bathroom door interrupted her. “Mia? You okay in there?”
“Yeah, just coming!” she called, getting out of the shower and wincing as she dried off her sore skin. She put on the fresh clothes Jax had provided for her, surprised at how cute they all were. White panties with unicorns on them, frilly white socks, a purple hoodie with a jungle picture on it, and black leggings with a white bow pattern.
In the main room, Jax busied himself with organizing the canned food he had brought along. Mia glanced at the assortment, her stomach tightening with memories of her poor nutrition over the years.
"Is this all we have?" she asked, her voice wavering.
Jax looked up, concern furrowing his brow as he realized her hesitation. "Hey, you're right. You deserve better than canned corn and sardines." He scratched his stubbly chin. “You like pizza?”
Mia swallowed. “I . . . don’t know. I never had it before.”
Jax arched a brow at her and gave her a look of utter disbelief. “You never tried pizza? Oh boy. Well, do you like bread? And tomatoes? And cheese?”
Mia nodded.
“How about toppings? Anything you don’t dig?”
Mia bit her lip. “I don’t know. I’ll try everything.”
Jax nodded. “Well. In that case, I’m gonna get you everything.” He grabbed his coat and started to head out the door.
“Wait!” she called. “Are you just leaving me?”
“Probably best you don’t come,” he said. “Keeping a low profile and all.”
Mia frowned. “But . . . don’t you need to . . . watch me? Make sure I don’t escape?”
“You already escaped, babygirl,” said Jax, flashing her a wide grin. “I’m not keeping you here. Your life is your own.” She noticed the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled and felt a warmth run through her.
He was right. She had escaped. And all she had to do now was stay that way.
“Tell you what,” said Jax. “Keep the television on while I’m out. Watch some cartoons. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Mia nodded. "Thank you, Jax," Mia said softly, watching him leave with a mix of admiration and gratitude.
Mia put on the television, something she hadn’t done for years, and she was shocked by the loud voices and bright colors, which felt completely alien to her. She switched it off again, and lay on the bed, curled up with Baloo the bear. Alone, she felt her thoughts start to spiral. Fear crept back in. What if Jax had decided to leave her? What if Chad had followed them here and was about to burst into the room and hurt her? What if the guy who worked at reception had seen Jax go out and knew that she was in here alone and now he planned to come in here and do things to her against her will?
She shuddered. It was hard to know if she’d ever truly trust a man again. Even Jax, who she had no option but to trust, who appeared to be helping her, was still a source of anxiety. What if he let her down? Grew bored? What if he was lying about knowing Savannah?
She screwed her eyes tight shut, trying to find her happy place. Ever since she was kidnapped, she retreated to her happy place as much as she possibly could. It was an English Oak Meadow, as it happened. Not a real one. But she and Savannah used to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens on free admission days. They loved the English walled garden and used to spend hours lying in the wildflower meadow, dreaming up all the things they’d do with their lives once they grew up. Savannah wanted to be a writer, and Mia wanted to own her own bookstore. They used to joke that Mia would only sell books Savannah had written. They were only about twelve at the time, and for that reason, Mia’s Little was about that age. The time when she felt like life had the most to offer.
The doorknob turned and Mia was startled. She flinched, waiting for something awful to happen, but in fact, Jax walked in with two large cardboard boxes and a couple of cans of soda balanced on top.
“You okay?” he asked, looking over at the television, which wasn’t on.
Mia nodded. “Just wanted to, uh, enjoy the peace.”
“That’s cool. Well, I hope you were serious about wanting literally every topping on your pizza because that’s what I got you.” He put the boxes down on the bed. “I got lemonade and coke too, because I wasn’t sure what you liked best.”
Mia chuckled. “I don’t know, either.”
Jax looked at her with soulful eyes. “I guess we’ll find out then.”
Jax opened up the pizza boxes, noting gratefully that he’d ordered one pizza with no extra toppings, just in case she didn’t like her pizza with everything on it, after all. She tried slices from each one, plus some sips of different types of soda, and quickly concluded that she liked all of it, every damn mouthful, but it all tasted so rich and good that she felt full after two slices of pizza and a few gulps of soda, and let Jax have the rest.
“We’ll save some for morning,” he told her. “Cold pizza is the bomb.”
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Hey, I have an idea," he said suddenly. "Let's play a game. Two truths and a lie. It'll help us get to know each other better."
Mia raised an eyebrow, the challenge sparking a flicker of excitement within her. "Savvy and I used to play that. Alright, you go first."
"Okay," Jax began. "I have a black belt in karate, I've been arrested twice . . . and I'm a Daddy Dom."
Mia considered each statement, her heart pounding at the mention of him being a Daddy Dom. She hesitated before responding, "You don't strike me as the karate type. That must be the lie."
Jax chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope, that's true. The lie is that I've only been arrested once."
"Really?" Mia asked, intrigued. Her mind raced with questions about his past but she focused on the revelation that excited her the most. With a tremble in her voice, she admitted, "I'm . . . I'm a Little."
A slow smile spread across Jax's face, his eyes warm and inviting. "That's good to know," he said softly, the protective nature in his tone making her feel both secure and exposed at the same time. “I wondered. Because of Savannah. But I didn’t know for sure.”
Mia’s lips quirked into a smile. “Savvy’s a Little, too? Tell me about her. What’s she doing now? Is she free like me?”
Jax nodded. “She’s free. She’s safe. And she misses you like crazy. She’s my brother’s Little, as it happens. He’s a Daddy Dom, too. Name’s Blake.”
“Two Daddy Doms in one family? Wow. And Savannah’s, like, your sister-in-law?”
“They’re not married, but yeah. That’s pretty much the size of it. I have another brother, too. Nash. He’s the oldest. Another Daddy Dom, believe it or not.”
Mia couldn’t help it—she laughed. “Wow. What a trio. That’s amazing. I . . . never met a real Daddy before. Although Chad . . .” She shuddered. “Well, he made me call him my Daddy but I didn’t like it.”
Jax’s jaw tightened. “No true Daddy Dom would force a Little—or anyone for that matter—into anything.”
Mia nodded. “That’s what I thought.” She yawned, the exhaustion from the day's events finally catching up to her. "I think I need to get some sleep," she murmured, her eyelids growing heavy.
"Of course," Jax replied, rising from his chair. He handed her a toothbrush and toothpaste and waited for her to change into her pajamas in the privacy of the bathroom, then he guided her to the bed, tucking her in with gentle care. "Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?"
She smiled. “I’d love you to read the start of The Jungle Book to me.”
“I’d be honored,” Jax replied. He began to read to her, his tone soothing and gentle, and before long, she was too tired to take in the words anymore.
As she lay there, the soft sheets enveloping her body, she was aware of Jax settling down on the floor beside her. The mix of safety and growing tension between them swirled within her, a heady cocktail of emotions that left her breathless.
"Jax?" she whispered into the darkness.
"Yes, Mia?"
"Thank you for everything," she said, her voice barely audible.
"Always," he promised, his words wrapping around her like a protective embrace.
Mia drifted off to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Jax's breathing, her dreams filled with the promise of something more—something that terrified and thrilled her in equal measure.