Chapter 3
Mia
Sebastian doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me with this blank look on his handsome face.
“Umm, hello. You need my help.”
“Yeah, let’s eat and we can talk after we get some rest.”
I know we just got off a fifteen-hour flight, but I’m actually not tired. I slept most of the journey, and I feel revived in a new country. Can you believe I’ve never been out of the United States?
Overprotective father syndrome.
He barely let me leave New York on vacations with my friends. ‘Take security’ is always his motto if I ask to leave town. It’s absurd I have to ask permission since I’m a grown woman, but I never enjoy upsetting my father. Mainly because dealing with him when he’s angry is never good.
Sebastian is a mini copy of my father, telling me no at every turn. Have you ever had to work with someone you’re attracted to? And to have that same man constantly tell you no at every turn?
It’s frustrating.
So is being transported against my will. I remember the burner phone in my bag, and a small ray of hope enters my mind. I can call my father.
“I have to use the restroom,” I tell Sebastian.
“Through the hallway and on the left, if I remember correctly.”
I laugh a little. “I’ll find it.”
I leave the kitchen, and follow his directions, walking past elaborate tapestries hanging on the wall. This place has an ancient history feel to it. Like a museum.
At the end of the hall, I find the bathroom and slip inside, locking the door. I pull out my phone, dialing my father’s number.
“Pick up,” I whisper to myself when he doesn’t answer.
“Mia, are you ok in there?” Sebastian says, knocking on the bathroom door.
“Yes, I’ll be right out,” I yell at the door. To not raise suspicion, I flush the toilet for good measure and run the sink to wash my hands. When I exit the bathroom, Sebastian stands there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Give me the phone.”
“What phone?”
“Come on, Mia. Stop playing around. Who’d you call?”
I take the phone from my purse, handing it over to Sebastian. “I called my father.”
“What did he say?”
“He didn’t answer.”
“Good.”
No it’s not good. The fact that Bishop’s on the loose and everyone knows I’m missing makes me fear for Sophia. Did someone figure it out? Did she get taken by Bishop? Is she dead?
There are so many questions I need answered.
I follow him back into the kitchen, propping a hip against the counter. “Why are we here?”
Sebastian ignores my question as he looks in the fridge for something to eat. “Do you like eggs? I had the house fully stocked.”
“Sure, eggs are ok.”
“Some toast.”
“If that toast comes with a side of answers, sure. Sebastian, why am I here?”
He pulls an egg carton and butter out of the refrigerator. “I need you to get a hold of Nate Scott for me. That’s it.”
“Nate Scott?”
“He’s here in Ngau Tau Kok district.”
“He is?” I haven’t spoken to Nate in ages, and I’m not sure why Sebastian wants to meet with him.
A long time ago, Nate worked with my father. I guess you could say Sebastian sort of took Nate’s position as my father’s number two. Either way, it has me wondering what exactly is going on and if we should worry about Bishop Blackstone.
“He’s here working for some new crime lord of the South Seas.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Sounds mysterious.”
Sebastian laughs, but his eyes are haunted with a mystery of their own. I’ve always trusted him. Should I not now? What’s the real danger here?
“What?” he asks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“You’re looking at me like you’re seeing me for the first time.”
Maybe I am seeing Sebastian for the first time. He looks different today. I guess I’m used to seeing him in suits with a scowl on his face. Right now, he’s casual in jeans and a basic black tee.
He’s a very good-looking man.
For being older, he’s got muscles in all the right places, and for a second, I fantasize about if he’s got a six-pack, or should I say sex-pack, going on under his t-shirt. Staring at him right now, I can see why he gets women to fall at his feet. And for a moment, I wonder what his strong hands would feel like against my skin.
“So,” I start, changing the subject, “when do we go see him?”
“I need you to call him and set up a meeting.” Sebastian tosses my phone in the microwave.
“What are you doing?”
He turns it on, and I watch as my phone spins around in circles. “They can track you through your phone.”
“Who?” My father? Bishop?
“Anyone.” Sebastian steps closer. And for the first time since I’ve been with him, I feel almost afraid. Like here I am, on my own, no one knows where in the world I am.
“I liked that phone. It was so pretty.”
The microwave pops and the phone turns into a pile of goo that shoots sparks out of it.
“Well, you can get a new phone.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You owe me a new phone.” I hold up my hand. “With,” I pause, then continue to make sure he’s paying attention, “a new diamond case.”
Sebastian rolls his eyes and hands me his phone. “Call him.”
He gives me Nate’s number, and I give him a death glare. “They track you through the card, ya know?”
“No, only if they have the unique number on the back. Doubt anyone has that.”
I turn away from Sebastian, hating the fact he may be right. I have never tracked anyone by their phone before, so I’m not going to even pretend I know how the technology works. I’m sure it’s got something to do with the GPS. Regardless, I’m missing my phone. It’s like a security blanket. Even though it wasn’t my actual phone, I still felt like it was my lifeline to the world.
I almost feel naked without it.
“Nate?” I ask, after a male voice says hello.
“Who’s this?”
“It’s Mia.”
“DeWinter? Um, what’s up?”
“Hey, I’m in Hong Kong and was wondering if we could meet.” When Nate doesn’t respond right away, I add, “I have something to discuss with you.”
“Um, ok sure.” He rattles off an address, and I write it down on a scrap of paper.
We say goodbye, and I hang up and hand the paper over to Sebastian. “Today at four.”
Sebastian smiles at me like I’m a good little pet that’s done his bidding. I feel like I should wait for a gold star or something.
“Perfect. I’ve purchased clothes for you, so you’ll find everything you need in your room.”
“You bought clothes for me?”
“I knew I’d be bringing you here and you’d need things, so I took care of it all.”
“How’d you know my size?”
“Does it matter? I have my ways. Don’t worry, they’ll fit.”
“So, you’re like a kind kidnapper?”
“I’ve got work to do.” Sebastian passes me, and I grab his arm as he does.
“Wait,” he turns to stare at me, “what is this all about? Why couldn’t you set up your own meeting with Nate? I deserve to know.”
He laughs at this. We’re close, so very close, and he gazes at the connection where I hold on to his ridiculously firm bicep.
“You deserve nothing. If it weren’t for me, Bishop would have found you already and killed you.”
“So, I should thank you for that?” I let go of his arm, his words pissing me off.
“Yes, I’m protecting you.”
He’s not being honest with me. He’s lying about something important, and I’m wondering if he’ll ever tell me. What could he possibly need from Nate? And he can’t stand here and say he took me only to protect me.
I glance around his fortress of solitude and know an escape will never happen. The longest I’ve ever run in my life is a mile on the treadmill. I couldn’t come up with anything clever enough to escape. Could I?
“Get dressed. We’ll leave to meet with Nate soon.” He stops and runs a hand down his jaw. “I needed you to contact Nate because I wasn’t sure if he’d see me. I don’t know if the news has traveled yet.”
I blink at him. “News? Does this have anything to do with why you haven’t been around the restaurant?”
Of course, he blows me off and just shakes his head. “Get dressed. We’ll be leaving soon.”
An idea strikes me. I can go to the cops. Maybe they can take me to the American Embassy, and I can reach my father. He’ll know what to do.
Sebastian shows me to the guest room to change. He wasn’t kidding about buying me everything I’d need. The walk-in closet is filled with a variety of options—casual, dressy, intimates, and an assortment of shoes. He even went so far as to supply me with makeup, perfume, and lotions. Whoever picked these things has exceptional taste, and if I weren’t kidnapped , I’d probably thank them.
I put on a pretty red and white flower print sundress with wedge sandals. Both are a perfect fit. Might as well go see Nate in style, so I decide to wear my hair up in a twist and apply some gloss. It would be a shame to let the expensive perfume go to waste so I dab a drop on my wrists.
When I’m ready, I head back to the living room and find Sebastian already there, waiting. He has a ball cap over his dark hair, and I do my best not to gawk at him. I’ve never seen him wear one. It’s a good look.
Sexy.
Very sexy.
I’m used to seeing him in his expensive suits, which are phenomenal, and always give me a slight tingle in my belly. But black tee and a ball cap has me drooling.
“What?” he finally asks.
I shake my head, pretending I’m not drooling over this man. “Nothing, ready?”
“Jeremy, pull the car around for me.”
Jeremy is Sebastian’s personal security. I’ve met him a few times before when Sebastian had meetings with my father at our house before I moved into my condo. Jeremy’s a bit scary, honestly, and never speaks. Or, looks me in the eyes. Or anything, really.
Once, he went into a room before Sebastian to sweep it for any danger lurking about, and he acted like a ninja warrior, sliding along the wall and peeking around corners. I thought it was ridiculous. Although, I guess I get it. When you work in the industry my father does, I guess you must take every precaution.
Sebastian leads me outside and opens the rear door for me. We sit in the backseat, far apart, as Jeremy pulls away from the house. He takes a winding road down a steep mountain, into the city packed with gobs of people, trading at marts, and bustling about the congested area.
We’re moving at a snail's pace, maybe ten or twelve miles per hour.
“The streets are so packed,” I tell Sebastian. “Where are they all going?”
“Welcome to Hong Kong. It’s always like this.” Too many cars for these streets.
I people-watch out the window. A woman and her son shop at the mart, picking out apples and comic books. Odd combination to have together.
It entertains me until finally Jeremy pulls to a stop in front of a building that rivals New York City skyscrapers. I swear the top floor floats into heaven.
“We’re here,” Sebastian says, stepping out of the car.
I scan the area when I step onto the curb. “Nate lives here?”
Sebastian takes my arm, moving me aside, so I don’t get trampled by people walking along the streets. “I don’t know if he lives here, but this is where he wanted to meet.”
We walk inside the building, it’s like a hotel, and we take the elevator and exit on the third floor and wander the halls until we find the room with three-thirteen on it.
Sebastian knocks on the door and we wait.
Nate opens the door. And it’s been a while since I’ve seen him. A long while. He’s grown a bit of scruff on his jaw, and his jagged dark hair stands in all directions. He looks like he hasn’t showered or ran a comb through his hair in forever, but on closer inspection, I can see it’s the look he’s going for.
He wears a light-blue dress shirt with more than a few buttons undone, showing off a chiseled tan chest underneath.
“Mia,” he says, wrapping me into a hug. His potent scent of musk and man rushes up my nose, and I nearly choke.
Nate’s a few years older than me, and we were somewhat close many moons ago. We never dated, because I don’t think Nate could ever commit to anyone long enough to call them a girlfriend. I never bother with men like that.
Not that I’m looking for anything serious, but I’m looking for something longer than a one-night stand.
Sebastian and Nate are the same. Players. Men who love to score as often as possible.
“Hi, Nate. I can’t believe you’re in Hong Kong.” I can’t believe anyone I know is in Hong Kong.
“Been a long time, kiddo.” He lets go of me, stepping away from his door so Sebastian and I can enter his room.
It’s shabby, dirty, and not at all where I picture Nate staying. There’s old magazines and take-out containers that litter the room. It’s obvious he’s been here a while. “You live here?” I ask.
He smiles. “You can say that.” He moves closer to the couch, pushing a few magazines off one corner so he can offer me a seat. “Want some tea? Tea’s big over here.”
“Uh, sure. This is Sebastian Cain. He works for my father.”
Nate busily cleans up piles of papers and clothes as he makes his way to the small little area with a hot plate. “Oh, right, Sebastian. Nice to meet you, man.”
Sebastian smiles, taking a seat next to me on the dark green sofa. “Charming.”
I slap Sebastian’s knee. “Be nice.”
Sebastian’s not impressed, and it makes me wonder why we’re even here.
Nate rushes back over with three teacups and a pot of tea. He’s jumpy and sort of bounces around the room, and it makes me wonder if he’s on some sort of drugs.
Sebastian notices as well and gives me a look with one brow raised.
“Man, I’ve been here for a year, and I love it. I may never end up going back stateside.” He brushes a hand through his floppy mess of dark hair. “What brings you here, Mia?”
“Sebastian needs to talk to you.”
Nate redirects his focus on Sebastian. “What’s up?”
Sebastian pulls out a piece of paper from his back pocket. “Do these numbers mean anything to you?”
Nate takes the paper from Sebastian’s hand. He stares at it for a moment. “No, should it?”
Sebastian takes the paper back. “Do you know how I can find Oliver Grotto?”
Nate leans back in his seat. “Ah, Oliver. I remember meeting him a few times.” Nate reaches out his hand. “Let me see the paper again.”
Sebastian hands it over. “What are you thinking?”
“Oliver likes holding things in safe deposit boxes. I’m thinking this may be his box number.”
Sebastian runs a hand down his jaw. “Interesting.” He glances over at me, and I give him a smile.
“Do you know the bank where he keeps his box?” I ask.
Nate stares at me, like he’s finally waking up and realizing I’m not here alone. “Mia, why are you with him?”