Control

Title: Control
Chapter Twenty-one
Author: Angelsdee
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Mikaela’s nightmare shows up in the flesh.

Leon just finished moving the four chairs out on the patio and was arranging them around so that the hammock was centered between them. He put 2 chairs close together, for Mia and Brian, on one side and one chair close to the hammock for Dom, and his own chair a bit away from Dom’s.

Mia was helping Mikaela outside to the hammock. “Well everyone sure jumps when your brother speaks, huh?”

“Hey! Look who’s talking?” Mia said wryly.

“I plead insanity and you know that isn’t a stretch for me.” She laughed and Mia giggled.

“Here you go. Plant your butt there and relax.”

Mikaela shot Mia a scathing look. “When did you become so bossy?”

“When you got that fever.”

“Leon, the charcoal is in the pantry in the kitchen. Then come sit and we can chat.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He went inside to get the bag so he could prep the pit for Dom.

“Mikaela, do you think the guys are ok?”

“Yeah, Mia. I think the only reason Dom took Brian’s betrayal so hard is because he cared about him. He let him into your family and it hurt when he found out the truth. He knows Brian made it right at the end but that male ego reared its head and you know men.”

Mia was smiling and nodded her head. “I told Dom earlier about Brian losing his badge. Charges were filed against him for aiding and abetting. He was running from the law when your family found him.”

“And how did Dom react?”

“He said ‘oh’.” Mia was holding in her laughter.

“Oh.” When Mikaela started laughing, Mia let hers go too.

Leon came out with the charcoal and smiled at the 2 women that were in hysterics. He thought it was a refreshing change from the misery everyone felt a couple of days ago. He laughed silently when they laughed so hard that Mia snorted and Mikaela was clutching her stomach.

~*~
Dom was opening up the car on a straightaway and he and Brian loved the power this beast had under the hood. Brian looked at the time on the console and remembered Mikaela’s parting words to him. “Dom.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m supposed to remind you of a promise you made to Mikaela.”

“Shit. That woman knows me too damn well. How long did she give me?”

“Seven minutes. What did you promise her?”

Dom practically whispered his answer. “That I wouldn’t race anymore.”

“You’re joking!”

“No! I’m not!”

“You’re in love, aren’t you?”

Dom turned and looked at Brian’s smiling face. “Definitely.” He brought the car back down to the speed limit.

“I guess so, dude.”

“So Brian, Mia told me about all the shit you went through because of what you did for us.”

“Yeah.”

“You lost a lot Brian. Why did you do it?”

“I had to. Call it a debt of honor or that I loved being a part of your family. I just had to, Dom.”

“Hey, I know what you mean.”

They pulled up to the store and Dom shut off the engine but didn’t move to get out. Neither did Brian. The silence stretched for what seemed like an eternity while they both tried to find the words to make things right.

Brian got there first. “I’m sorry, Dom. I never believed it was you until…I found out it was you. At the end, I just wanted to protect you guys.”

“You did, Brian. You saved Vince’s life, you backed my play against the Tran’s, and you let me go. You did right at the end by me. I was just…hurt. I guess.”

Brian absorbed that and took a chance. “So, are we cool?”

“We’re getting there.” He smiled at him. “You and Mia can have the loft at my place. I don’t think Leon is staying for long but he and Letty are bound to come back sometime when she’s comfortable. I’ve already moved in with Mick. We’ll play it that way until we decide to change it. That work for you?”

“Yeah dude. That is perfect.”

“Well come on. I need to feed my woman. Let’s get this grocery shopping thing done.”

They both got out and Dom hit the alarm. “Hey, did Mia tell you we might be able to go back someday? Your lady’s family is something else. They said that I would probably be cleared in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s great, Brian. And yeah, she told me but I’ve got everything I need right here. My family. And I’m not going anywhere without Mick.”

“I can see that, Dom. Why is she down here? Her family says she won’t talk to them directly. She relays messages through her pilot.”

They walked into the store and Dom answered. “I have no idea why she only talks through her pilot but I know she’s running too.”

“What? From the law?”

“No. Her own demons.”

~*~
Leon finished prepping the pit and started the coals. He turned to the girls and caught Mikaela’s gaze.

“Mia, do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Follow the dogs to the dojo and as soon as they go in, lock the door and the one at the end of the hall. They have no barbecue etiquette. Oh and pick out the order of the CD’s in the player.” Micki gave a quick glance at Leon and Mia picked up the hint.

“No problem. You want to tell the boys to go?”

“Boys! Workout!” The 3 dogs took off into the house followed closely by Mia leaving Leon alone with Mikaela. “Come on, cutie. Sit and tell me.” He flashed her an embarrassed smile and sat down in Mia’s vacated chair. “It’s good to see you smile, Leon.”

“It appears to be something that is spread by close proximity to you.”

“Ah, he’s good looking and a flatterer to boot. This family of yours is full of keepers.”

“You got yours.”

“Yes. I do. So what about yours?”

“I think we might make it. I hope so but she’s going to need time to get over Dom.”

“I would guess so. I hope everything works out for you. I really do.” She gave him a sincere smile then she clenched her eyes in pain. “Ahhh!”

“Mikaela, are you ok?” Leon stood up and moved to her side.

‘Pain. Can’t breathe. Panic attack!’

“Mikaela!” Her eyes were still shut and she was trying desperately to drag air into her lungs. She heard Leon yell out and could feel his hands on her shoulders but she couldn’t respond. “Mikaela! Are you…uhhh!”

“Hello cutie! Did you miss me?” The voice from her nightmares and it sounded so real. She opened her eyes and saw the face of her tormentor, her demon, sneering at her.

“No. It isn’t you. This isn’t real.” She said it more to herself trying to banish this hallucination from her sight.

He reached out, grabbed her under her arms, lifted her up and dangled her in the air so they were face to face. “Does this feel real?” And he brutally kissed her lips, his teeth dragging against the skin, breaking it. He pulled back and stared at her bloody mouth and smiled.

The fear was creeping into her body and she started to shake in his grasp. “No. You can’t be here.”

“Sure I can, honey. You’re here and I came to get what’s mine but first…” and his voice turned angry, “you have to be punished for letting other men touch my property!” He threw her body against the wall and she slid to the ground.

The dogs were growling savagely in the dojo. Mia headed towards the hallway to see what the problem was when she heard a crash outside. “Mikaela?” Then she heard her scream and ran to the back door.

Leon was coming to and Bill stalked over to him. “You let this fucker touch you!”

“No! I didn’t. Leave him alone!”

Bill pulled Leon to his feet by his shirt. “Yes you did! I just saw it! Don’t fucking lie to me!” Just then Mia was standing wide-eyed in the doorway. “Hello sweetie!”

“Mia run!”

Bill threw Leon at Mia and they both crashed to the hardwood floor. “You sit still, Mia.” He spoke to the unconscious girl. “I’ll be with you as soon as I’m done teaching my woman a lesson.”

The fear was growing in intensity and she was struggling to control it. He was walking over to her and she tried to crawl away but he grabbed her leg and pulled her back to him. “Let me go! You son of a …”

“Shut up!” He punched her across her cheekbone silencing her curses. “Now…let’s see my mark. I’ve missed seeing that and your body.”

He moved to straddle her waist and she brought up a foot and kicked him in the stomach. It wasn’t enough to do anything but push him back a few feet. She was still weakened from the fever and her panic was taking hold.

“You bitch!” He kicked her in the stomach and she curled up in pain. “You dare deprive me. You belong to me and I’ll prove it to you now!” He forced her onto her back and ripped her shirt down the front.

“Stop it! Please!” She cried and struggled against his hands on her body.

He pulled a knife out of his back pocket, opened it, and held it in front of her face. She saw the steel and stilled, frozen in fear. “Now, let’s get back to my mark, shall we?” He slipped the tip of the blade under the thin strip of material between her breasts that kept the cups of the bra in place and cut it, along with her delicate flesh.

The bra snapped away and her breasts were exposed to his eyes. “Absolutely beautiful.” He ran the flat edge of the blade over her nipples. “There’s my brand. You forgot what that means, didn’t you? I’ll have to remind you.”

He leaned down, caught a nipple between his teeth, and bit down hard. No sound came out of her mouth but mentally she screamed at the top of her lungs as her fear overwhelmed her.

~*~
Brian and Dom had just finished loading the grocery bags into the car and were moving to get in when Dom gasped for breath and fell to his knees. “Dom!” Brian rushed around to his side of the car. “Dom, what’s wrong?”

He had one hand at his throat and one on his stomach. He choked out. “I can’t…breathe.” He felt pain and fear sweep through his body.

*Remember! It isn’t yours! She needs you now!*

“Mikaela!” He forced himself to his feet with Brian’s help and handed him the keys. “Get us home! Fast!” He made his way into the passenger seat and slammed the door.

Brian got in and started up the engine. “Dude, what’s going on?” He pulled out into the street and headed towards the house. “Dom, are you ok?”

He was rocking back and forth in his seat trying to get the fear under control. His eyes were clenched tight and he reached his mind out to hers. His eyes snapped open. “Fuck! He’s here! He has her!”

Brian looked at him with confusion and panic all over his face. “Who’s here? Someone has Mikaela?”

“Brian!” They locked eyes and Brian saw something he never thought he’d see in Dom’s eyes. Fear. “Get me to her fast! Please!”

He nodded his head and brought the car to its top speed. “We’re going, Dom. I’ll get you to her!”

They raced down the road towards the house. Dom was taking deep breaths and trying to filter out her feelings. He failed. ‘Rob!’

*I know you’re overwhelmed. This is it, man. This is the pinnacle of her terror.*

‘I can’t help her like this!’

*Yes you can! Just being there will help her! She loves you. Remember I said she goes through different moods when it comes to Bill? She needs anger!*

Brian pulled onto their street, spinning the car sideways, then straightened it out, and skidded to a stop in front of the house.

~*~