Mia’s frightened scream, “Let me go, Herbert! Let me go you bastard!” echoed from the abandoned building across the parking section, loud and clear.

James came to a jerking halt the moment he heard her voice. He stood frozen in place as his stomach sank and his head spun in fear. Fuck!

He wasn’t the only one to come to a complete stop at Mia’s anguish. Matt and Scott, too, did the same, while Andy looked so sick that Matt was worried and wondered whether it was a good idea for the boy to accompany them inside.

“That was Mia,” Andy said, his voice shaking. “It was Mia. She’s here!”

James nodded.

Without hesitation, they all raced toward the entrance of the building. Once they reached the double doors, James kicked them opened. A second later, they found themselves inside the warehouse filled with an assortment of rubbish and junk. The men rushed around, searching, but there was no sight of a human anywhere.

“There’s another building out back,” Matt said, nodding his head in the direction of an exit.

James said, “Let’s go,” and the team rushed out.

A moment later, they were in the courtyard of the building. It was then they heard more screaming, both Mia’s and Herbert’s voices.

“Fuck!” James muttered under his breath as he raced toward the sound.

The others ran after him, and a moment later, James burst through the door of the main warehouse. Instantly, he saw Sophie in the middle of the place.

At the sound of the door crashing open, Sophie jumped and turned. When she saw it was James, she blinked in confusion, wondering why he was there. Of course, she was very certain the man would not come after Mia. After all, the girl was just one of his many toys that he could replace at any time once he lost interest.

When she noted Matt Caine, followed by Scott Maxwell and another young man who looked a lot like Mia, behind James, her eyes widened.

Fuck! What the hell are they all doing here? she wondered in dread. Was her assumption wrong? Could they be here to save Mia Donovan? But that couldn’t possibly be.

She flicked her gaze back to James Maxwell, and when she noted the dark, murderous rage in his Prussian-blue eyes, it hit her and a sense of fear finally settled in her.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! James Maxwell looked ready to kill.

Fuck!

It was only then that Sophie Wilson realized what Mia had meant when she said James was going to kill her and Herbert, and she felt sick to her stomach.

For the longest time, she had thought that James Maxwell was simply another rich man, another billionaire with all the money and the toys and the luxury in the world, and that woman meant nothing to him. In his world, they could be easily bought, like cars and houses. After all, she had known that Mia Donovan was simply a contract to him after she had done some research and dug into her background. But…

But now she knew better. This was the other side of James Maxwell that she didn’t know about, even though she had worked for him, very close to him in fact, for several years.

And to think that she even wanted him as her man. When she didn’t even have a clue what this man was capable of. And now she instinctively knew he was capable of anything and everything without having to witness any of his ruthless actions with her own eyes.

This man heading toward her now, with that murderous expression in his eyes, would exact any revenge for himself or those he loved with a passion. And that scared her to death.

Her body was frozen in place as she uttered, “James? What? How? Why?”

James came to a stop inches from the woman, and with a cold, hard voice, he asked, “Where’s Mia?”

Sophie swallowed hard as her body shook in uncontrolled cowardice. With shaky hand, she pointed toward the other door. “There…”

With eyes still dark and sharp, he said, “Cole will deal with you.” With that, he headed toward the door, Matt and Andy following after him.

Scott came toward Sophie. “So you’re the bitch who helped that sick bastard Herbert kidnap my future sister-in-law, eh?”

Sophie turned to him, her eyes wide and teary. “Future sister-in-law?”

Scott folded his arms across his massive chest as he chuckled. “Hmm.” He moved his face toward her and whispered softly and seductively into her ear, “And you, sweetheart, will suffer the consequences.”

He was smiling, his eyes twinkling, as he moved back while he watched Sophie’s face turn pale with fright.

It was then Cole and his partner came in, and the moment Sophie saw the two, she knew she was in deep shit.

“She’s yours, Cole,” Scott said. “James can’t be bothered getting his hands dirty with the likes of her.”

Cole, with menace in his eyes, nodded. “With pleasure.”

Scott was whistling merrily as he headed toward the door James, Matt, and Andy had rushed through. Behind him, Cole dragged the crying and begging Sophie away. Her fate was undoubtedly far worse than death itself, if death indeed didn’t come soon enough.

The screaming continued to echo throughout the warehouse as James, Matt, and Andy raced up the stairs, along the corridor, and through the rooms.

Once James burst through the last door, he had his emotions under control once again because he knew this was it. He knew what he was about to see would tear at his heart, stir his wrath, and if he couldn’t control himself, all hell would break loose. He’d likely kill Herbert on the spot, and fuck, he didn’t want to do that, especially not in front of Mia. It’d give her nightmares for days to come if she saw the murderous rage in his eyes.

Week or years even.

Fuck! Just going through the kidnapping was too much for her already; he knew that. And he didn’t want to torment her any more than she had already experienced.

The moment he stepped through that busted door into the small, dark room, he saw Herbert over Mia, the fat man’s hand in the air, ready to beat her again. And the moment he saw Mia—his beloved woman sprawled on the concrete floor, naked, and her slender body covered in bruises, blood, and cuts—a cold, dark anger rose into his being.

James turned into a commanding, ruthless demon as he marched toward Herbert. In the flick of an eye, his strong hand gripped Herbert’s fat wrist, twisting it back with painful force. In another flick of an eye, he effortlessly hauled Herbert back and half shoved, half threw the man against the wall. His might was so strong and so forceful that Herbert was none the wiser as the man’s body crashed hard against the wall and fell to the floor.

Now that that piece of repulsive garbage was out of the way, James came down to his knees as his eyes never left Mia, who was staring at him in disbelief. He noted tears flowing down her cheeks as she started crying.

“Ja… James?” she whispered softly, her eyes searching him. “You’re… really… James? I’m… I’m not… imagining…?”

James took off his jacket and wrapped it around her naked body, then gently cupped her face as he nodded. “Yes, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the forehead as she sighed in relief and clung to him.

“Mia.” It was Andy’s voice. Her brother came around and kneeled on the concrete floor beside her.

Mia turned to him and said, “Andy. You came. All the way from Vegas.”

“Of course I came,” he said, his eyes on her face, noting the bruises. “What the hell did he do to you?” he asked, his voice still shaking.

Mia looked as though she didn’t know what to tell him. Andy, on the other hand, looked as though he was about to burst in rage.

Matt noticed and came to pull Andy up as he said, “We need to get Mia out of here.”

Andy nodded, his eyes flicking to Herbert currently trying to get up from the floor. Suddenly, he marched toward the man.

“Oi! Andy!” Matt snapped.

Andy, however, wasn’t listening. He came to stand in front of Herbert and demanded, “What the fuck did you do to my sister?”

Herbert managed to clear his head of the surprise attack and raised his head. When he saw Andy, his eyes widened, though no one was sure what his expression meant. Shocked surprise?

“Andy? Fuck!” he muttered. “You’re really Andy? Fuck! Look at you!” He came charging forward, which took Andy by surprise. “I’ve been searching all over for you.” He laughed out insanely. “Come back to me, Andy. I want you. Fuck, I want you both back. Uncle will take care of you both.”

Andy was sickened at Herbert’s words. What the hell is this man on about? He was mental; that was for sure.

The way Herbert seemed rather pleased to see Andy and wanted to embrace the boy in his sick, twisted way paralyzed Andy in his spot. He felt he was that young boy again, trapped in fear and anxiety of the tyrant uncle who had bullied, molested, and raped him.

Before Herbert got ahold of Andy, Matt smoothly stepped in front of the boy. Herbert came to a complete stop as Matt’s fist flew into the man’s face.

Herbert went tumbling back.

“You’re not touching Andy again,” Matt said coldly. “He’s mine now.”

Herbert spit out blood from his mouth. “Fuck!” He laughed loudly, as if he found something very amusing. “Well…” He continued, his eyes on Andy with a sort of leering expression that disgusted him. “Andy is fucking beautiful. No man can help himself from wanting to fuck that tight ass of his.”

Andy finally managed to snap out of his paralysis and barked, “Fuck you, Herbert. You’re so going to pay for what you did to my sister.” Without thinking and in one swift action, he pulled the gun from Matt’s waist, and pointed it at Herbert.

James, who had Mia in his arms, said loudly in warning, “What the fuck are you doing, Andy?”

“Andy, put the gun down!” Matt said through gritted teeth. “Put the fucking gun down, Andy.”

Mia, who was watching her brother with tears in her eyes, shook her head. She couldn’t utter a word as her whole body became rigid in fright. God, she didn’t want her brother to be a murderer. “No… Andy…”

“I’m going to kill this bastard, Mia. He’s hurt you so bad,” Andy said, his hands shaking as he pointed the gun at Herbert. “He hurt us so bad. It’s the only way. He needs to pay for what he’s done.”

“It’s not the way, Andy,” James said.

Matt was behind Andy now and gently put his hand on Andy’s arm. “I know how much you want this for him,” he said. “We all know the bastard deserves a death sentence, Andy, but you’re not the one to do it. Listen to me. I don’t want you to dirty your hands in this sort of shit. Your hands are clean, Andy, and I want to keep it that way.” He moved closer and said softly, “I don’t want you mixed up in this bloody world, Andy. Think of your sister.”

Andy’s hand was wavering now, and he hesitantly turned to look at Mia. When he saw his sister shaking her head, crying, and begging him, “No… Andy… Don’t do it,” he growled loudly in anguish as he fell to his knees.

“I want to kill him, Matt,” he said in anger and frustration. “I really do. I hate him. Hate him so much for what he did to us. I…” He sighed and closed his eyes. “Please make sure he gets what he deserves.”

Matt nodded as he took the weapon out of Andy’s hands. Then he roughly grabbed Andy by the arms and hugged him tight. With his lips against the boy’s hair, he said, “You know James and I will.”

Andy clung to Matt as he tried to hold back the cry that desperately wanted to escape.

It was then Scott came into the room and said, “Everything all right?”

“Scott,” James said. “Take Mia to the car and wait there.”

Scott said, “Sure thing,” as he came forward.

Once James transferred Mia into Scott’s arms, he said, “Leave us.”

Matt said, “You, too, Andy.”

Andy reluctantly nodded and, a moment later, headed out of the room after Scott.

Once the sound of retreating footsteps disappeared in the distance, James and Matt eyed each other and then returned their attention to Herbert.

James was the one in command in this situation, and he came to stand close, in an intimidating manner, in front of Herbert.

Herbert, despite his big stature, swallowed hard at the sight of James. There was undoubtedly a sense of wolf-like demeanor about the man in front of him, ready to take him down and devour and slay him.

“Who… who are you people?” he asked, his voice shaking.

James said bluntly, “I’m Mia’s boyfriend, James Maxwell, a very powerful man.” He nodded toward Matt behind him. “And that guy? He’s my best friend and happens to be Andy’s boyfriend. I don’t need to tell you that he’s my business partner and helps me run everything, right?”

At the information, Herbert went pale as a ghost and started sweating like a pig. “Look… I didn’t mean to… Mia… She’s my niece, and I just…”

James shook his head in the negative. “I don’t want to hear your fucking pathetic excuses, Herbert. In fact, I don’t want to hear a fucking word from you except for your screams.”

Herbert shook his head as fear overwhelmed him. “You… can’t… kill… me,” he stammered.

James put his finger to his lips as an indication for Herbert to shut his trap.

Herbert obediently nodded as his eyes flickered toward the exit. Of course, both James and Matt noticed and knew what he was up to.

Suddenly, Herbert made a mad dash toward the door. Matt, however, smoothly intercepted the man and sent his fist flying into Herbert’s face again, sending him staggering backward and hitting the wall. James charged forward, and with a cold rage that had been simmering within him since he had found out Mia had been kidnapped yesterday evening, began beating the shit out of Herbert, who begged and cried for his life.

Once James had enough, it was Matt’s turn, and by the time Matt had enough as well, Herbert was sprawled on the concrete floor, a bloody mess. He barely looked like a human being, and it was doubtful anyone would recognize him now, considering the condition of his face. There were probably a few broken ribs as well as limbs for sure.

“I’m… sorry,” Herbert murmured. “I’m… sorry… I… I… did… those things… to… to… Mia… An… Andy… I’m… sorry. Please…. mer… mercy… Have… mercy. Sp… spare… life…”

James’s face was a dark mask as he took out his gun and pointed it at Herbert. He said coldly, “You didn’t spare a thought for Mia’s life, did you? And you beg me to spare yours? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” With that, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet buried itself into Herbert’s forehead, killing him on the spot.

As Herbert fell back, dead, Matt said, “Fuck! I wish I was the one to pull that trigger.”

His eyes still dark with rage, James said, “We better get going.”

Matt nodded.

As they came down the stairs and toward the main warehouse, Cole met up with them. James knew that Cole had sorted Sophie, and damn, but the man looked rather satisfied, unlike James. Fuck, he wished there was more he could have done.

“Clean up the mess, Cole,” James said.

“Roger that, boss,” Cole said. “Err, is Miss Donovan safe?”

James nodded. “She’s safe, Cole. Thanks for your help.”

Cole sighed in relief at the information and nodded in appreciation. “No worries, boss.”

James and Matt then headed out the door whilst Cole called for his men for cleanup.