Chapter 25 Mia
twenty-five
Mia
The butterflies in my stomach fly around as I stare at myself in the mirror.
Kieran had a stylist and hairdresser come over to help me get ready for tonight's gala.
Since the moment I met him at the auction, I would never have thought that he was the romantic type, but he shows me how wrong I was every day.
The two ladies he had hired did a great job, too, but I can't really focus on it.
The only thing I seem to be able to focus on is the fact that I'm about to come face to face with Ella and Mikhail. Fear slides down my back when I think about Mikhail, considering the last time I saw him he was threatening me.
"You look beautiful." A deep voice comes from behind me, making me jump. When I look into the mirror and come face to face with Kieran, my heart skips a beat with how gorgeous he looks in a classic tuxedo.
"Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself," I whisper, dropping my gaze down to my feet.
"Mia." He says my name like a command, making me look up. "Don't worry about tonight. I've got you."
Kieran places his hand out waiting for me to take it. I glance back at the mirror and this time I'm able to take in my strapless burgundy form fitting dress. It really is beautiful. One last deep breath and I turn back toward Kieran, placing my hand in his.
He smiles at me before muttering, "Good girl."
His praise washes over me making me shudder. Kieran leads us through the house toward the car. I turn toward him when I see a limo sitting in the driveway. He must see my questioning look because he answers before I can even ask. "I thought it would be nice to make this more like a date."
"I like that," I mutter as we climb into the limo.
Taking it all in, I let out a breath, feeling slightly overwhelmed. Growing up, I'd been exposed to this type of extravagance, but always on the outskirts.
“When I was little, at my mother’s wedding to her second husband, I think he wanted to impress Anastasia and I, so he rented a limo for all of us to leave in. It was one of my favorite memories, I felt like a princess,” I say, turning away from the window and looking over at Kieran.
My husband.
“This reminds me of that,” I add as a melancholy feeling washes over me.
Kieran grips my hand. “That’s a beautiful memory, mo bhanphrionsa.”
“That marriage only lasted six years, before he died—a mysterious death. Three years later she married Ella’s dad.”
Tears fill my eyes, I try to blink them away but can’t seem to.
Kieran grips my face with his other hand, looking deep into my eyes when a few tears slide down my cheeks.
He doesn’t say anything, just leans over, kissing each one.
When he pulls back he whispers, “Don’t cry, Mia.
I promise to erase all of those sad memories and fill you with so many good ones. ”
When the limo comes to a stop, the sadness turns to anxiousness. I begin clenching and unclenching Kieran’s hand.
A fury of thoughts invade my mind all at once. Oh fuck, I’m about to see Mikhail and Ella. What if she doesn’t want to see me? What if he tries to kill me? Or worse, kidnap me?
Kieran's grip tightens around mine as if he can read my spiraling thoughts, he demands, "Stop. Everything will be fine. I’ll protect you.”
"I’m just nervous. The last time I saw Ella…" I trail off not wanting to think about that night.
He leans in, giving me a soft kiss on my lips. "Trust me, nothing will happen."
"I trust you," I whisper against his lips.
When the limo comes to a complete stop, my heart rate starts to kick up. He gives me one more kiss before saying, "It's going to be fun."
Kieran pulls back from me as the driver opens the car door.
I watch as Kieran climbs out of the car, already commanding the air around us.
I swear he was a member of the royal family in another life.
Kieran holds his hand out for me, he does this gesture no matter what we're doing, as if he's taken it upon himself to lead me through life. How gentlemanly he is, it’s not something I ever expected, but I can't say I don't love it.
I place my hand in his, using it to help me climb out of the car. Kieran never lets go of my hand, even as I smooth down my dress, listening to the people around us, while he tells the driver he'll text him once we're done for the night.
"Are you ready?" he asks, once he's done giving instructions.
I nod my head, the butterflies in my stomach taking off. Shit, this is going to be a long night. Kieran walks us through the crowds of people, entering the beautiful art gallery. My eyes dart around, not sure what to take in first. Paintings of all kinds fill the walls along with a few sculptures.
"Would you like me to get you a drink?" Kieran asks me.
"I would love that. Do you mind if I go look at that sculpture?" I ask him, pointing toward a metal statue of Hera.
"Sure. Just don't leave my sight," he demands before walking toward the bar. I can still feel his gaze on the back of my neck as I circle the statue. I'm entranced by the metal work, and how the folds of the fabric that she's encased in looks as if it's flowing off her body.
I don't realize someone has walked up to me until a deep voice speaks. "I wasn't sure if he would bring you."
Turning around, my stomach drops when I see Mikhail standing in front of me as if he wishes to tear me limb from limb. Pushing down feelings of fear that are threatening to take over, I reply, "Mikhail."
"Mia. Are we really going to stand here and pretend that you didn't try to ruin my wife's life?" he snaps at me.
"I'm sorry—" I begin, but suddenly the air around us becomes electric. A hand touches my lower back, pulling me into him. I don't even have to turn around, I already know it’s Kieran.
Mikhail notices him, too, his gaze leaving mine and zeroing in on Kieran.
Tension wraps around us as both men battle it out in a silent staring contest. I can't look away.
Watching the two of them is like watching two male lions circling each other, and as the prey in between them, you don't turn your back on either of them.
"Is everything okay here, Mikhail?" a melodic female voice asks, approaching the group and pulling my focus from the two macho men.
"Everything is fine, Ella," Mikhail answers with a rough voice.
My eyes clash with hers, making my heart rate pick up. Gearing up for rejection, I try to hurry and build a wall to help protect myself from the tirade that she's about to give us.
But of course, Ella being Ella, does the complete opposite when a smile spreads across her face and she asks, "Mia? Is that you?"
Still not sure what to expect, I wave. "Hi, Ella."
Ella bolts toward me and I have to dig my heels in the ground when she runs into me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. Stunned at the fact that she's hugging me, I go stiff, and my arms dangle at my side, not sure what to do.
Kieran is standing behind us and I can feel his warmth.
When his hand touches my back to keep us steady, I can’t help but relish in his touch.
That’s something I’ve noticed about Kieran, he’s constantly giving me these small touches to remind me that he’s here with me.
It gives me the confidence to return the hug by wrapping my arms around her.
"I missed you so much," Ella whispers in my ear, and every emotion that I was holding back, washes over me.
"I missed you, too. I’m glad we both got out," I say when we pull back from each other.
Ella nods before asking me, "Why are you crying?"
I don’t say anything at first, trying to gather my thoughts. Kieran wraps his arm around my waist. "I was just so nervous about how you were going to react, and this is not what I expected," I tell her as the emotions take over, causing me to sob harder.
"Why were you nervous? I looked for you for a whole year," she tells me which makes me pause. My gaze swings over to her husband, who looks like he's trying to look anywhere else.
If Mikhail is the one who told me to get lost, why would she look for me? Did he not tell her that he threatened me to stay away? I'm so confused, I'm not even sure what to think.
But in Kieran fashion, he asks the question that is running through my mind. "What do you mean you looked for her for a year?"
His gaze narrows in on Mikhail, but this time he doesn't avoid any eye contact, he keeps it on Kieran. I guess it’s like a don't show fear kind of thing.
Instead of Ella responding to Kieran's question, it's Mikhail who answers first. "I didn't want Ella to find Mia. So I made sure it didn’t happen. "
A gasp comes from Ella.
"I understand why you would want to keep me away," I tell him.
"Well, I don't,” Ella snaps, narrowing her eyes at her husband. Her tone drops as she says, "We will discuss this later." Then she turns toward me with a soft smile. "Let's leave these two behind and catch up."
I glance over at Kieran, both of us silently checking to make sure the other’s okay. After a moment, Kieran leans in, giving me a small peck, before whispering against my lips, “Go. Have fun with your sister.
Giving him a grin, I turn back toward Ella. "I would love to."
Silently, I step away from Kieran, following her over to the next exhibit. We both look at the abstract painting of pink, orange, and blue lines, neither of us saying anything, just processing.
"What do you think this is a painting of?" Ella asks me.
Looking over it for a moment, I confess, "I'm not sure. Honestly, it looks just like lines to me. I've never been big into art. That was always you."
She shrugs her shoulders, before admitting, "Sketching was just my way to escape."
Her words bring a prick of tears to my eyes once again but I try to push them back. I don't need to keep crying all night, no matter how many emotions are swirling around. "I'm sorry," I shakily tell her.
"Over the past two years, I've had time to think about everything, and you know what? I'm not sorry," she says, making me look at her, but she continues. "Well, at least not totally. If it wasn't for your mother, sister, and you, I would never have become who I am today."
Ella pauses as we walk over to the next sculpture.
"I would never have met Mikhail. Nor would I have ever known what I was capable of, or realized how strong I am.
Even though you hurt me, I know that you had to endure a lot, too.
After your mother was arrested, she confessed to everything, including how she used to make you auction yourself off for sex. "
Her words and confession that she knows my darkest secret, has my breathing picking up.
I've never wanted anyone to know about that.
I glance around the room, checking to see if Kieran is anywhere near, I'm not sure I would be able to look at him if he knew the extent of how many times my mother made me auction myself off. Even my virginity wasn’t off limits.
"I'm a survivor, Mia, just as you are. We shouldn't let these things tear us apart. We should use them to bring us together."
I nod my head, letting her know I hear what she's saying, because she's right—we should be coming together. "Are you sure that we can do this?" I whisper.
"Of course. We're sisters. Besides—" she begins as her gaze falls on where the men are standing, staring at us, neither of them talking.
"They need us. Mikhail has a new enemy and even if he doesn't want to admit it, he needs allies.
Kieran could be his. We could bring them together.
All of us are connected in more ways than one. "
"Allies are good. I'm in, Ella. Besides, I would love to have my sister back. This time for real," I tell her with watery eyes. Wiping them, I laugh. "I'm such a mush tonight."
Ella pulls me into a hug once again, whispering, but I can hear the shakiness in her voice, "That's okay. We can be mushy together."
When we pull away again, she smiles at me. "Now tell me about how you've been. You’re married to Kieran?" Then the tone in her voice drops. "You know he's the head of the Irish Mafia?"
"Yes, I know. But he makes me feel safe, and I haven't felt that in a long time," I tell her as we continue our way toward the next art exhibit. Tears prick my eyes, because I know the moment the words leave my mouth, I’ve never spoken truer words.
"As long as you’re happy," she says, hearing a hitch in her voice.
After a few moments of us walking in silence, feeling the emotions of the night. We end up talking about what we've been up to the last two years, relishing in the sisterly love that is beginning to bloom.
And for the first time ever, I have more hope than I could ask for.