Chapter 8 My Beautiful Disaster

“Ouch! Cold.” Claus replied casually. “I just hope this sticks to your memory at least.”

“Maybe when you help me find my husband.” She answered.

“That’s fair.”

Silence once again comes in between the two. While Claus was focused on the road, Mia couldn't shake the memories of her parents' tragic end and the internal struggle between her lingering feelings for Claus. Even her quest to find her husband weighed heavily on her.

She remained silent, staring out the car window as they drove through the Connecticut streets.

“Mia,” Claus called out when he sensed her unease. He decided to break the silence.

“what?” Mia snapped at him.

“Facil! What is with the mood just know. Did I cut you that deep?” Claus teases her.

“It is not funny” Mia snapped.

“Sorry.”

Silence again took over. He didn’t want to piss her off but was uncomfortable with her being worried too. After a while, Claus continued.

“Mia, I understand that you have every reason to distrust me. But I promise you, I had no part in whatever has happened to Rick.”

“I believed you the first time you said it.” Mia said dismissively.

“You did? As easy as that?” He asked further.

Mia looked at him briefly. “I know you, Claus. I can tell when you’re lying.”

“Really? You know me that much? Then what happened to us?” Claus asked, his gaze focused on Mia.

“You are driving. Don’t get me killed before I find my husband.” Mia retorted. She gestured to him to face the road.

“I’ll have to die first before I let that happen to you.” He mumbled.

Mia didn’t grasp what he said. “Sorry?”

“See, it wasn’t intentional. And I promise you, that is my greatest life regret. If there is anything I could do to heal that wound, tell me. I swear by my mother’s grave, that is what I would be doing. I have even left my past behind.”

Mia glanced at Claus, searching his eyes for any sign of deception. “Is there anything you can do?”

Claus understood the question. He can’t possibly bring back her dead parents, and he can’t replace them either.

“How about we start by finding your husband? Just trust me on this, okay?”

“I want to trust you, Claus. I want to do that so badly, but it’s hard.” Mia let out her concern.

“If I manage to trust you. What about others? What can you tell me about Cody? Can we trust him?” Mia questioned.

Claus nodded. “I understand you. Cody is a reliable contact. He’s well-connected, and if anyone can help us locate Rick, it’s him. Just try to keep an open mind.”

“Hmmn.” She muttered.

“Your focus should be on me, not any other person. You already have my word. I will find your husband,” Claus added.

Mia's mind races, and she can feel her thighs tighten. Although she has a praise kink, sometimes Claus’s words about himself turn her on.

Clause never promises people. When he says he will do it, he will definitely do it. This, among others, used to drive Mia crazy about him. She is surprised that something like that still works on her.

She was going to ask him about the drive’s duration again when she noticed he was pulling up, right in front of a random house by the road. She looked around; it doesn’t look like anyone stays around.

“This is where we’re headed?” Mia asked, confusion evident in her tone as she scanned the quiet street, the random house sitting almost lifeless against the backdrop of trees.

“We passed our destination about three minutes ago,” Claus replied calmly, shutting the engine off.

Mia’s brow furrowed. “What? Why?”

He leaned back in his seat. His eyes flicking briefly to the mirrors. “Safety measures. If someone was trailing us, they’d reveal themselves when we slowed down. Better to circle back only when I know we’re clear.”

Mia stared at him, very convinced.

“So, we’re just going to sit here?”

“Better than bringing visitors to Cody. He hates that more than he hates me.”

The silence stretched for a moment before Claus broke it again, his voice quieter, softer.

“You’re still as beautiful as ever, Cariño.”

Mia stared back at him, her nerves dancing. She didn’t know how to feel. Whether to be happy that Claus still finds her beautiful or to be cautious of the impending disaster that reality could cause.

“But you look unhappy.” Claus added.

Her chest tightened at his words, but she quickly scoffed. “Seriously? Do you expect me to be happy when my husband’s been kidnapped?”

Claus tilted his head slightly, studying her. “That’s not all of it. I know you...enough. That sadness…it runs deeper than Rick’s disapperance.”

His accuracy stung, and she felt her defenses flare. The last time she’s been genuinely happy was long before her marriage.

“Oh, really? You think you know everything about me now? You think you know how I’ve lived my life for the past two years?” Her voice rose as the weight of unspoken truth pressed on her chest.

He stayed silent. He could see where this was going. Her anger, her pain, and inevitably, her blame landing back on him. Claus had no interest in turning this moment into another battlefield. Instead, he exhaled slowly and shifted the car into gear.

“Time to go. We’ve waited long enough.”