PROTECT ME Read online

  "No" Mia said. She turned on her heel and began making her way down the path and away from the Monument. With her mother gone, maybe she could --

  Before she had taken three steps, Mark was standing in front of her, effectively cutting her off without even touching her. “Excuse me?” he growled out.

  "Look," Mia pulled up as Mark stepped in front of her. "Hiring you was my mother's idea. Not mine. I have no idea why she thought I needed a babysitter, but I don't and --"

  "Your mother is an important woman. She clearly thought that might put you in some kind of danger? I'm to understand she's voting on some new legislature this weekend?" He tried to sound reasonable.

  "Be that as it may," Mia continued with a sigh. "This whole thing is ridiculous. So here is how this is going to go down. I'm going to walk around. I'm going to look. I might even take a few photos. And you... you're going to hang back. We're not going to talk. You aren't going to walk beside me – in fact, I would prefer if no one could even tell we are together. Got it?"

  For a moment, Mia thought that Mark was going to argue. His eyes cut into her with a look of disgust. Any other situation would have resulted in Mark “showing” the other person how it was actually going to be, but instead he smiled and replied with a curt, "Perfectly."

  For the barest second, Mia actually felt a pang of guilt at the way she had behaved. But it was only for a second. She soon remembered the situation she had been forced into, and quickly felt that guilt melt away. The way she saw it, this whole thing was pointless and Mark The Bodyguard needed to know where he stood.... close enough for her to steal glances at when he wasn't looking, but not so close that he got in the way.

  So, offering him a small, albeit insolent smile, Mia sidestepped Mark and proceeded on her walk. As she did, Mark fell in behind her, but not too close. Just the way she had asked.

  --

  The day went pretty much as Mia had envisioned it. Although Mark did as he was told and hung back from her, his constant presence was a point of continual annoyance as the long day wore on. Although she tried to ignore him and pretend he didn't exist, the fact remained that he was really hard to ignore.

  And every time she caught sight of him, she was reminded about how her mother had deserted her. Again. Even though she tried not to let it show to others, the way her mother never chose to be with her really hurt. Eunice’s job had always come first, and the only time she took an interest in Mia was when she was controlling her life. Mia had stopped counting the nights she fell asleep crying because it was a nanny that had tucked her in – never her mother. She pretended that it was okay, that she didn’t care, but just once, she wanted to come first.

  She had started to take her resentment for her mother out on the people around her. Her friends soon learned not to go against her, and not to get in her way. She realized that she had a certain power over people. Since she was rich and beautiful, and her mother was a very powerful woman in politics, Mia was always surrounded by people wanting to be near her, and wanting to be her friend. And her friends constantly vied for her attention and approval, so Mia used that to her advantage. She manipulated those around her, and if she couldn’t manipulate them, then she made sure they couldn’t be in her circle. Most people would call her spoiled – and she supposed she was, but she would trade the money, her family’s prestige, and all that went with it, just to have a childhood where her mom was home every day, baking cookies, and wanting to talk to her daughter about her day. Where she felt like she was important. That someone who wasn’t paid to care, cared what she was doing.

  She dreamed about having the freedom to make her own decisions, follow her own path. As it was, Mia was lucky her mother let her have her own apartment, but Mia wasn’t fooled – she was sure her mom had people “protecting” her in New York. Meaning that she was under surveillance by her own mother! So why should it be any different here? She wondered, with frustration.

  So, each time she caught a glimpse of Mark’s reflection, she felt deserted and alone. And she took it out on him.

  "Bathroom break!" she announced early in the day. At the time she could see Mark enjoying an exhibit, and delighted in the way he was forced to leave it.

  "The Lincoln Memorial next!" she declared, even though it was all the way across the Mall. Mia was dressed in a simple sundress and flats. Mark was in a full black suit. The day was scorching and the walk would be torture for him.

  "I need to rest my feet. I'm going to sit here. You... you can sit over there," she indicated when they reached the Memorial. She pointed to a patch of grass a good fifteen feet from the bench they were at. This time she caught a glimpse of irritation in his eyes. He hid it quickly, instead choosing to stand beside the bench she was sitting on.

  Like her mother, Mia was used to getting what she wanted. In fact, it was only in regards to her mother that this fact didn't hold true. For everything else, Mia's word was law. And that carried over into her relationships with men. Mia almost exclusively dated men who were wealthy but weak, and they did what she wanted, when she wanted it. She had never dated a man that she couldn’t control before.

  It was because of this that she treated Mark as if he was beneath her. She expected him to act subserviently to her, but for some reason he wasn’t doing that. Although he kept his expressions hooded, once or twice she almost caught a hint of derision in his look – almost as if he was disgusted by her. Once, she could have sworn that he almost had pity in his eyes, and that just wouldn’t be tolerated! How dare he pity her! Or look down on her! She came to the conclusion that it was time to ditch the man in black. It was time to be free of her mother's will. At least for the day. And if Mark lost his job because of it, well it was exactly what he deserved!

  The plan was a simple one, to slip away when Mark wasn't looking. Well, at least in theory it was simple. In practice, it was going to be a little more complex as Mark was always looking. Every time Mia glanced in Mark's direction, his eyes were on her. Those piercing, beautiful eyes. They saw everything, boring right through her.

  The only way she could plan an escape was through a bathroom visit, she realized. It would give her a moment alone and there might be a window to climb through. It was as they went to exit the National Air and Space Museum, that Mia came to a sudden halt.

  "I've got to go to the bathroom," she announced.

  "Again?" Mark sighed as he came within speaking distance of her.

  "Yes, again," she snapped back. "I didn't know that you were keeping track of my visits. Have you also been calculating the amount of fluid I've taken in? Have you been adding up how often I should be --?"

  "Alright, alight," he said, clearly trying his best to remain calm and professional. "I actually need to go too. I'll meet you out in front here in two minutes, okay?"

  "Perfect!" Mia beamed. Perfect was the exact word to describe the situation too. To think, Mia had been planning to go look for a window to climb through. Now all she had to do was wait for him to disappear inside the men's room and she could run off.

  And that was exactly what she did. No sooner had Mark walked beyond the doors of the male lavatory, did Mia turn on her heel and sprint from the museum's doors. Free at last.

  --

  Now that she had ditched the shackles, Mia decided to get as far away from the National Mall as possible. And so, on foot, she began the long journey across the grounds.

  She strolled around aimlessly, knowing the grounds were too busy with tourists for Mark to ever catch sight of her again. The sun beat down on her as she did, doing all it could to sap her energy. Every few minutes she'd looked over her shoulder, checking to make sure that she wasn't being followed. And then she would walk some more. It was long, and excruciatingly boring, but at least it was done in isolation.

  As she continued on her journey, and with nothing but time to think on what she had done, she actually felt a small wave of guilt ride over her for the position she had put Mark in. It wasn't his fault really, and hone
stly, he wasn't that bad a guy. It was just a case of being the wrong person at the wrong time. And he was sure to be worried too, probably beside himself really.

  Mia decided that the first thing she would do when she saw Mark again was apologize. It was the least she could do. He probably wouldn't accept it, but it would go a long way in easing her conscience. This future act of goodwill did much to improve her mood as she felt herself relaxing as she made her way across the Mall. But then she felt eyes on her.

  Someone was watching her, she was sure of it. She spun on her hell, looking this way and that for the culprit, but she couldn’t see anyone. She could just feel them. Watching.

  It had to be Mark. Somehow, he had found her and was now taking great pleasure in creeping her out. Mia furrowed her brow as she looked across the street and spotted an underground parking complex. Free to enter on foot, it would serve her purpose nicely.

  Feeling the eyes still on her, Mia hurried into the parking complex and hurried into the staircase leading down deeper into the building. Parking level three, four, five. She passed them all as she headed further underground.

  By level six, Mia was sure that she was completely alone. With room for over thirty cars to park, the next part of her plan was simple enough. She was going to hide behind one of the concrete posts and wait until Mark passed her and went deeper into the structure. All she had to do was find a pole to --

  "Hey!" Mark’s baritone swept across the parking lot, echoing off the concrete walls, ceiling and floor. Mia spun on her heel, her stomach dropping the moment she spotted Mark about fifteen yards away heading towards her.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he accused, glaring at her.

  "Oh, hi Mark," she said sweetly. "There you are."

  She battered her eyes and offered him her most sincere smile. It was a move that worked on most men, and usually turned them into putty in her hands. But, from the look on Mark's face, she was pretty sure he wasn't going to be having any of it.

  "Don't give me that," he blasted as he reached her. The tie that he had been wearing was gone. His rigid chest muscles bulged against his shirt, threatening to pop out as a thin layer of sweat trickled across his bare skin.

  "Give you – hey!" she yelled as he grabbed her by the arm. "What do you think you're doing?"

  "Oh this?" he said, looking at his hand, wrapped around her upper arm. "This is me, dragging you back."

  "Let go of me, now!" she yelled. "When my mother hears about this --"

  "Tell her," he offered. All courtesy was out the window. She really had pissed him off. "What do you think she’ll say when she finds out the danger you put yourself in?"

  "Danger? Please," Mia scoffed. She tried to pull herself from his grip but was again unable. "You don't really think that I’m --"

  "Selfish is the first word that comes to mind. Maybe a little arrogant too? And believe me when I say that nothing would give me greater pleasure than leaving you here to your fate. But your mother is the one paying me, not you. So, you're coming with me and if you so much as misstep from the direction I drag you, I will handcuff you. And I couldn't be more serious in that."

  And Mia believed him too. Looking into his eyes, she saw that the fire he had been containing all day, was well and truly released. It was intimidating... and slightly arousing. Mia had never been around such a man before. No one like this...

  "Do you actually have handcuffs?" Mia asked, trying not to stare at his broad shoulders, as his muscles rippled beneath his shirt.

  But Mia never got her answer. As Mark went to speak, the very loud screeching of wheels cut him off. The moment Mark heard this he acted. As if he had been expecting it, Mark suddenly pulled Mia behind him, covering her from the speeding car and backed her up to the parking garage wall.

  "What are you --"

  "Keep quiet!"

  Mia saw it now. It wasn't just one van, but three. They raced down the parking lot and straight towards Mark and Mia. When they reached them, the three vans parked around the two in a circle. Trapping them completely.

  "Mark! What's going on?!" Mia cried fearfully.

  Mark didn't answer. Instead he did his best to keep her protected as the van's three side doors opened to reveal their occupants. Mia let off a silent scream as eight men, dressed in black from head to toe, streamed from the vans. Some had batons, others had tasers. They all had their eyes on Mark and Mia.

  "Run!" Mark shouted. As he did, he charged into the throng of men. The first one that he reached aimed a blow at him with his baton. Mark blocked it and dropped the man with a well-aimed punch. He then scooped up the dropped baton and crashed it into the side of another's face taking that assailant out neatly. He continued the downward swing of the baton, connecting with the kneecap of the brute on his left side, but that was as far as he got.

  One of the eight men drove a taser into Mark's back. He groaned as he dropped to his knees, still managing to complete the jab into another man's face on the way down. Then immediately he felt the burn as another taser shot connected into his back. Mark was out cold.

  Mia should have screamed. She really should have turned and run. But she didn't. She stood frozen with fear. And because of that, she was totally defenseless when she felt an arm wrap around her waist, and then a clothed hand covered her mouth. A moment later, everything went black.

  CHAPTER THREE

  It took Mark a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. Then once they had, it took him a few more to remember where the hell he was and what had happened.

  The last thing he could remember was arguing with Mia. He had held her by the arm and was readying to drag her back to his SUV and cuff her to the steering wheel when... nothing. After that it was blank.

  His head throbbed in pain as he took in his new surroundings. It was a small room, a little larger than a typical bathroom. The walls were black and bare, the single window which provided the faintest source of light was high up and too small to be of any real consequence, and the single door was closed. And that wasn't even the worst of it.

  As Mark went to stand he very quickly came to realize that he couldn’t. He was seated on a wooden chair with his hands bound behind his back – by electrical tape by the feel of it -- and his legs were taped to the chair legs.

  Fuck. Someone had abducted him. How could this happen on such a routine babysitting type of gig??

  "Hello!" he called out. His voice echoed through the empty room, bouncing off the walls and ceiling until --

  "Mark! You're awake!" It was Mia. She was seated directly behind him. He turned his head over his shoulder, just able to spy her. Indeed, she had her back to him, but was clearly as tied up and incapacitated as he was.

  "Mia!" Mark exclaimed. "Thank god you're... are you hurt or injured?"

  "No, not that I think. I just woke up a moment ago." She sounded fine, albeit a little scared, but that was to be expected. "Do you know what's going on?"

  "I thought you might be able to help with that," Mark said. As he spoke he worked at his binds, trying to undo them. There was a trick to pulling one's hands free from tape, he was just a little out of practice, that’s all.

  "Me? Why would I know who --?"

  "Well you're the one who got us into this mess," Mark said, still only paying her a fraction of attention. "I thought you might have an idea who --"

  "Wait!" she spat. "Are you saying this is my fault?"

  "I'm glad you could join us," Mark said disdainfully. He had stopped working on his binds, willing to dedicate a few seconds to putting Mia in her place. He was done with being professionally polite. This was serious shit and she really needed a picture of this reality drawn out for her.

  From the moment they had met, he had disliked her. He had read the report on her, and thought he was prepared for whatever she may try to pull, but he very quickly learned that the report didn't do her justice. She was, to put it bluntly, a self-centered spoiled brat. She got off on pushing weaker men around. That description
didn’t fit Mark, so he was done trying to play nice.

  The purely ironic thing was that when he had first seen her, he had been instantly attracted to her – until she opened her mouth.

  Mia was stunning to look, but apparently she knew it. She had long, lithe legs that ran up to a sleek body with curves in all the right places. But it was her smile that had caught Mark by surprise. It was glowing, and yet saucy at the same time. He wondered how it could have been missed in her description. When she smiled, her eyes lit up and he could truly get lost in those pools. It was too bad that a moment after the first time he saw her smile, she started complaining about the humidity, and then the wind, and then the glare of the sun – Mark had tuned her out by that time. The very brief thought that had first flitted through his mind when he saw her smile, about trying out his ability to flirt again, was quickly stomped on, drowned, then set on fire.

  "You were the one that was meant to be looking after me. If this is anyone's fault, it's --"