MIRAGod, it's hot.My skin feels like it is being peeled off, and hot lava is poured between it instead. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are gummed together. I try to speak, but it feels like my vocal cords have been unplugged. Seeing no other option, I scream and scream in my head.Wake up, Mira. Wake up! My subconscious yells. But my traitorous body refuses to obey. Exhausted, I quietly slip back into the shadows, haunted by the coldest gray eyes I have ever seen.***MASONI pace the master bedroom, chancing glances to see if Mira has woken up, and listening to Darth on the cellphone as well. Her shivering stopped a short while ago. Her blood pressure has been stabilized, and she's breathing properly again. Even I cannot deny the relief that swelled in my chest when the doctors proclaimed her stable. I guess my mental victory talks worked after all."Sir, I'm afraid I have bad news."My fingers tighten over the sleek cellphone," I'm listening."" Manora is dead.""What?"
MIRATHE PAST"Move along. Do not waste my time." I ignore the pain in my shoulder and thighs as Cody urges me towards the great doors. When he goes on to open the doors instead of turning into the hall, I give him a wide eyed look."Where are we going?" We are never allowed outside of the brothel during working hours. Ever. Cody turns in my direction, his lips twisting in an ugly sneer,"Do as I say and stop with the questions."I snap my mouth shut after that. I don't know why, but goosebumps rise on my skin, and my stomach tightens with dread. Today's test is on resilience. I hope it isn't one that breaks me. A tinted car comes to a stop before us and Cody pulls open the back door and pushes me inside. I land roughly on my knees, a curse of pain escaping my lips. I hear the bastard's mocking laugh before he closes the door, leaving me with the stone faced driver. I scramble to my knees and sit on the car seat."Um…hi. Where are we going, please?"Just then the passenger door is
MIRAI stare down at Mason, my heart beating a mile per second at the venomous anger that spits from his gray depths. "How did you know about that?" I whisper. His lips tighten." The doctors thought you had cancer. Fucking cancer, Mira." He growls.I look away. I cannot stand his judging gaze."Are you going to be a complete coward? Or are you going to tell me what the hell happened to you?"I take a deep breath, taking the easy way out. I look him dead in the eye and lift my chin,"Well, I was feeling suffocated so I decided to take a walk outside. A second later, I heard gunshots and someone threw me to the ground. That's all I remember."Mason shakes his head in disbelief, and I bite my lower lip to numb the pain I feel at the disappointment in his gaze."I never pegged you for a coward, Mira. You sure as hell know that is not what I asked."Unable to stand our close proximity anymore, I make to move. Mason clamps his arm around my waist, keeping me in place. My eyes snap to his,
MIRAI lie on the bed, simmering with anger and jealouy. Nope, I'm not jealous – definitely not jealous, while Mason has a conversation on only God knows what with that bitch, Halloway. One minute his fingers were driving me crazy, and the next, he goes on to answer the call of that crazy bat. Well, she's not a bat, but still. Gah!Unable to contain my fury anymore, I struggle off the bed, ignoring my aching limbs, and walk to him. He's faced away from me, but when I get within three soundless steps of him, he whirls in my direction, and I freeze. I can sense if Mason is in the same room with me, even without seeing him. Call me a psychic weirdo, but I just can. Can he sense me, too?He holds the phone away from his ear, his eyes narrowed over my frame,"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" He asks with a voice like thunder.I swallow the need to run back to the bed like a reprimanded kitten and lift my chin insread."I would love to talk to my sisters now, please.""No. Get back
MIRAI go through my bathroom routines quickly, and I'm out of the Master's bedroom and wandering down the hall in fifteen minutes. I feel strangely energized. Definitely not like I had just suffered a mini heart attack barely moments ago. Curse my weak heart, by the way.I wrap my arms around myself, hoping I do not run into a certain gray eyed god on my way. After Mason's rather… intense proposal in the bathroom, and my foolish acceptance out of misled pride, I intend to stay as far away from him as possible. I have no idea what plans he has up his sleeves, which means I'm in perpetual danger. Great.I push open all the doors I come across, but they only lead me to empty rooms. Mason isn't in any of them. Good, I guess. I push open the last door before the sitting room and instantly regret it. Mason looks past the blue suited man before him, pinning me in place with those intense, gray eyes. My heart begins a slow thud against my ribcage, my lips seem to be stuck to the roof of my
MIRAI haven't set eyes on Mason since he announced that I'll be working as a waitress at New York last night. I have no qualms about working. I have always loved keeping busy afterall. Maybe this development is a good thing. Maybe it will limit the access he has to me. Surely he would'nt camp out at the restaurant day and night…will he?Our flight is set to depart by ten this morning. Anna is set to arrive by nine, it's already eight forty and Mason is still no where to be seen. Great. I curl up on the sofa. I just need a minute or two to organize my thoughts. I shut my eyes and a minute later, I'm already dozing off.A certain grey eyed, dark god haunts me all the way, into the darkness.***"Wake up, baby."I'm having a very pleasant dream, and I honestly do not want to wake up. In the dream, Mason holds me snug against his chest while I bury my face in his neck and breathe in his delicious, manly scent. Mmmm."Mira. Wake up, baby girl." A gentle hand continuously taps my shoulder
MIRAWe are finally aboard one of Mason's private jets, bound for New York. I lean towards the windows, giving the city of Las Vegas one last, longing glance before we depart. The realisation that I may not be back here in the next one year crashes on me, killing my already dampened mood. Mason hired professionals to oversee the running of the store for him while he'll be gone. I have no idea how to feel about that. I wanted to be actively involved in the growth of the store. It was supposed to be my legacy. I guess not all dreams come true. The hostess announces the departure of the plane and Anna and I buckle ourselves in. Mason had disappeared into the back of the cabin without a word, and without a single glance in my direction. I have no idea how to feel about that either. The plane begins its taxi down the runway and my skin becomes cold and clammy with sweat and fear. As usual, painful memories of the stony faces of those men as they tore their whips into my skin assail me.
MASON"They whipped me…"I dig my fingers into Mira's hips. It is all I can do to stop myself from hurling the nearest priceless, glass figurine against the wall. I stare into her glazed, pain filled eyes and pure, visceral anger burns at the back of my throat. I swear, I will rip them apart with my bare hands. Every single last one of them. "Who were there, princess?" I ask, my voice gruff with rage. Mira squirms above me, trying to get away. I hold on tight to her slim waist, and plant her soft arse more firmly atop me. She's not going anywhere until she tells me all I need to know.After a moment of silence, she whispers softly,"I don't know…I…"I grab her chin suddenly and she jerks in my arms. I pay no mind. I hold her chin firmly until she has no choice but to look at me."Who were they?" I ask again, "don't lie to me, Mira."I see pure, raw fear in her eyes, and it wrecks havoc on my insides. Whoever this person, or these people are, Mira is really afraid of them. They fucki