The Alliance Read Online Free Page A

sack again. Whoever was there to let her out would feel her rage. She felt a hand grab the bag.
    â€œNo,” the man said. “Leave the cargo.”
    Mia cringed. She was being referred to as property.
    â€œThis cargo stays with me,” Andrew said.
    This situation could not get more degrading.
    â€œIt is nonnegotiable,” the man said. “Madame Martineau expects the cargo for dinner.”
    Mia wasn’t sure if that meant their next host wanted to eat with Mia or thought she was getting a special food delivery.
    â€œEverything will be fine,” Zack said.
    The hand on Mia’s bag let go.
    â€œDon’t be scared,” Andrew said in a whisper. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
    Truthfully, Mia wasn’t scared. She was annoyed. Everyone piled out of whatever type of vehicle they were in and Mia was alone. She heard the driver walk around to his door and they took off. More than anything Mia wanted to climb out of the bag and feel the wind blow across her face, but since Andrew had explained the situation with the army officer she knew it was a dumb idea. Instead she let out a sigh and stayed in the burlap sack, feeling as useful as a piece of fruit.
    The vehicle started to slow down. Mia heard her driver open the car door and walk around toward the back.
    â€œYou’re still in there?” he asked. “I thought you would have crawled out by now.”
    Mia took that as her cue and burst her hands through the tiny opening. The man laughed and Mia took a big gulp of fresh air.
    â€œI suppose it was best you stayed cautious,” he said. “But a woman traveling alone or at all won’t bring much suspicion in this country. Come, I’ll help you down.”
    Mia was in the bed of a truck, but it was low to the ground and had wooden sides. Not like the big ones she’d seen in America or the military vehicles Affinity possessed. Since she’d learned how to drive, cars held a new fascination for Mia. She stood up and walked to the man, who helped her down.
    They were in the back of a beautiful house. Mia looked around the yards, which were gigantic. She saw a wall border the property and sculptures and fountains placed around the area.
    â€œWhat is this place?”
    â€œThis is the garage,” he said. “Employee quarters as well.”
    â€œAm I posing as a servant?”
    He let out a laugh.
    â€œI’ll walk you to the main house,” he said. “Madame Martineau is eager to make your acquaintance.”
    â€œWho is she?”
    â€œThe prime minister of France,” he said. “This is the estate of whoever holds that title.”
    Mia looked around at all the splendor. The buildings looked timeless. They walked along a path, surrounded by beautiful flowers. In the distance she saw the home that must have belonged to the prime minister. It was a giant stone house and matched every other aspect of the property in its beauty. Mia had never thought a place so grand existed.
    â€œWhat is your name?” Mia asked.
    â€œAlbin Fabre,” he said. “I am one of Madame Martineau’s advisers. How was your journey?”
    There were so many words to describe Mia’s trip—­“awful,” “confusing,” “boring,” “agitating”—­but Mia didn’t want to respond with any of those choices.
    â€œFine, thank you,” Mia said.
    â€œYou are a very brave woman,” he said.
    Mia looked up at him and he smiled back at her, nodding his head.
    â€œI’m sure Madame Martineau will want to tell you most of the details about the next leg, but rest assured we all support you here.”
    While Mia was eager to learn what her future held, her main concern at this point was that she had a hand in it, or at least some control. They approached the large house and a person walked out to greet them.
    It was an older woman; she had short blond hair and wore a fitted