Chapter 471: Take You Away

Ian was restless, Mina had been gone for hours, and the light of the new day had begun to shine in the sky. He and Zane had argued over the woman for what felt like the one hundredth time since Zane met her, and Drax and Mills had been going back and forth, with the man having to explain to his girlfriend why they could not just go into The Red House guns blazing to pull Mina out. She seemed to forget that while Drax worked for the Lee family, he was a government employee first, which meant that his loyalty was split. Afterall, Cameron was a Lee as well.

Ian was about to go and drown his regret in alcohol, but one of his staff had come running into the room telling him that an unmarked car had come through the gates without a code. Ian did not have to ask who it was, and he was outside waiting before the car even got to the front of his property. The first person out of the car was Cameron, who winked at his cousin before crossing to the other side of the vehicle.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Ian asked.

"Not nearly enough," Cameron replied. "and way less than you did," he added cryptically. He opened the door, revealing that Mina was still handcuffed, and she had a black sack placed over her head. With the way she was leaning on the seats, she was either passed out or sleeping. Cam squatted and unhandcuffed Mina himself and Ian relaxed when he saw the woman begin to massage her wrists and pull the bag from over her head.

"Was all of that really necessary?" She asked with a yawn. Ian was mildly relieved to see that she must have fallen asleep during the ride back.

"I already told you I don't trust you. If you are who you say you are, then I am the one who overreacted and I will make it up to you, but if it turns out that what you told me today was a lie…"

"Whatever," Mina replied, not allowing the President's dramatic pause to have effect. He chuckled before helping her to stand. She barely got a chance to move away from the car before Mills came running out pulling her into a hug and checking over her body for injuries. She was speaking in the Sani language and Mina's actions suggested that she understood. Ian took note of the interaction, although he could not tell if he was reading too much into things.

Mills ordered Drax to carry Mina inside, but Mina ran away from the man, saying that it was too much physical contact. She seemed to be in good spirits which Ian could not understand. Wanting to give the relatives privacy, Drax followed the women into the house. He was almost positive that it took everything within Mills not to open fire on Cameron, and he felt that now would be the perfect time to let her know about the trip he had planned for them. He knew that to Mills; it would seem like a reward for her good behavior.

With just him and his cousin alone with the service members who chauffeured Cameron around, Ian was able to unleash all the words he wanted to say. He asked his cousin if he knew how many times he had called, and he accused the man of being inconsiderate by just taking Mina without telling him where or why he was taking her. Cameron just stood there smirking, and Ian remembered why he and his cousin did not get along. Before he knew it, his fist had connected with Cameron's face and guns were pointed at him.

"Family violence over a woman you aren't man enough to confess to?" Cameron had fallen to the ground with the strike, but he stood up and brushed the dust from his body. "On the bright side, I no longer suspect her of causing your 'incident,' and I am more than sure someone tried to set Lisa up."

"So, you took Mina from my home because she was a suspect and you couldn't even tell me?"

"Even she knew she was a suspect. Do you know she called Lisa and told her that they needed to work together if they wanted to come out of the situation alive?" Ian's face contorted in a way that he had not meant to show. "Exactly. She is not ordinary, and you know that. I am telling you Ian, if your father finds out half of what that woman has done to the company, she is dead and we both know it. If you are not ready to take her seriously, then at least allow me to introduce her to my parents. She could be a great asset to us."

"Mina is a person, not a tool, and you said you would give me three months; it hasn't even been a day. What are you playing at?"

"I don't think you have three months Ian." Ian felt his heart begin to pound, because he also did not believe he had that much time to win Mina over. Not unless he found a way to get them to a place where it was just the two of them with no one else to disturb their piece, and no animosity. "I'm leaving now, and if you ever hit me again, I'm telling your mother," Cameron chided, much in the way he used to do when they were children.

Ian watched his cousin's car drive away, staring at the closed gate for a long time. When he went back into his home he walked straight to Mina's room where the woman was talking to Mills. Drax was standing in the doorway, listening to the conversation, and Ian followed suit.

"Mills, it's not a good idea. I can't afford it."

"Drax will pay for you."

"But I don't know if I like the beach."

"Neither do I."

"The sun hurts my eyes,"

"Mine too."

"But I am dangerous."

"We have so much in common," Mills gushed. "Come on Mina, stop making excuses. Unless you like being handcuffed." Mina shuddered.

Ian looked at Drax mouthing the question 'what's going on?' to the man, who looked like the conversation the women were having was working against him. He told Ian that he had finally convinced Mills to go on vacation with him, something he had apparently been trying to do since her injury, and she was trying to get Mina to go with them.

Ian knew that Drax's long expression was likely because he wanted to have Mills all to himself, and when the men heard Mina agree to travel, Drax let out an audible sigh of defeat. Seeing the opportunity that had just dropped itself into his lap, Ian jumped on it by volunteering to go as well. He told Drax that he would keep Mina occupied, and although he had no idea how he was going to do it, he was sure he could think of something before the time came.

Ian entered Mina's room, and Drax made a head motion that signaled for Mills to leave. Mina did not say much, but aside from her tired expression, she showed no signs that she was mistreated in any way.

"Are you hurt?" Ian asked.

"Don't pretend not to know. He told me that you were the one who invited him to dinner."

"I did, but it was because you told me you wanted to meet him."

"President Lee, I have no recollection of ever having said those words, and if I did, I must have been on drugs." Ian made a face and Mina duplicated it. "Did I say it when I was on drugs? When?" she asked, confused. By this time Mina was looking down on Ian who had been seated in a chair across from her.

"That doesn't matter, but I have to take you away from here."