Taken_ A Dark Mafia Romance - Piper Stone Page 0,13

was being dismissed by my own mother but as I backed away, I realized that there was fear in her eyes. ‘Special.’ The word was more of a threat. Ugly memories started to surface, leaving me aching inside.

* * *

Hatred.

The word finally entered my mind. I hated my parents. This was nothing more than a trap. Why would they do this? They had to have a reason. Was this all about power? Had my father been promised more money, additional work for his business? I could only imagine. At least the party would give me an opportunity to find out more of what was really going on. I stared out the window, my skin crawling as if everyone could see me. I backed away, finally turning and glaring at my reflection.

Virginal.

Prom queen.

The words filtered into my mind constantly as I stood in front of the mirror, enraged from the party, the dress, my life. Hell, I was furious enough I’d refused to unpack my clothes. I wasn’t staying. Just get through tonight. That’s all I needed to do. The ugly frock that my mother had likely fawned over was reminiscent of prom dresses from the seventies. In other words, I looked like one giant puff ball.

With sequins.

And all white.

Hell. Fucking. No.

I quite frankly didn’t give a shit who was attending the party or what expectations my parents had. I wasn’t going to be caught dead in this... atrocity. I’d stood gawking in front of the mirror long enough the party had already started, the music just another reminder my parents were living in the past. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy or appreciate big band music, but on this special occasion? Huffing, I grabbed my third glass of wine, the bottle swiped from the caterers on the way to my room and attempted to savor the flavor.

At least merlot was on the menu. I could only imagine the selection of food. I moved toward my window, peering out at the festivities below. Torches had been lit in several locations, the large tent adorned with LED lighting, everything twinkling in the full moon.

I was sick to my stomach. There wasn’t a single piece of clothing I owned left in the house and I certainly hadn’t brought anything but a simple dress with me. They’d planned this out so damn perfectly. Ugh!

Smiling, I raised my glass to my unseen mother. She and I were exactly the same size. Two could play at this game.

I shifted the crystal stem onto my dresser and crept out of my room, listening for any invasive staff members. They were all downstairs fawning over the guests. Goody for them.

As I’d expected, there was every color of the rainbow with regard to the silks and satins she’d purchased, the collection of dresses likely only worn once. My color of choice? Black, the deep ‘V’ in both the front and back scandalous on every level. I had difficulty picturing my conservative mother in the attire, but everyone had dirty little secrets.

Including my family.

I even raided her jewelry box, selecting one incredible ruby medallion necklace, the very one I’d fawned over in my childhood. I stood back after applying the blood-red lipstick, happy with the results. A single spritz of my mother’s extremely expensive perfume sent all the way from Paris was the piece de la resistance.

Whatever they had in mind I could at least face in style.

There was no grand entrance to make, at least not in my mind. I simply grabbed a glass of champagne away from one of the dozens of waiters, appreciating the lust-filled look he gave me in return.

There were at least two hundred guests, a few I’d even consider celebrities. While I was aware many of them owned houses in the Hamptons, I’d met very few. Being sent away to school since the time I was a child had precluded any bonding attempt with neighbors. As I stood in on the outskirts watching, a cold chill trickled all the way down the backs of my legs. This wasn’t about a birthday celebration. My instincts were on high alert. My father never did anything without a hidden agenda. How was he planning on using me for personal gain tonight?

He needed something that only I could give.

I was disgusted by the thought, backing away into the shadows. I was turning twenty-four, the magic age for the community. Everything in my world seemed to be turning upside down, my instincts kicking into high gear. My parents had