Taken_ A Dark Mafia Romance - Piper Stone Page 0,83

to fall in love after I was engaged to be married. I also wasn’t supposed to be kidnapped, taken away for God knows what reason and enjoy the fact I had been. Everything was surreal, including my continued thoughts about the sect.

I could no longer piece together even fragments of the puzzle that Matteo had laid out. Maybe I was simply too naïve or hadn’t paid close enough attention, but for my father to consider giving me to the mafia was incomprehensible. I wanted to stand in front of him and demand answers before yelling at my mother that she was nothing but a fool.

But what good would that do?

Maybe he had hoped running to the sect would help.

Ugh.

I placed my head into my hands, the wind already whipping outside. I could almost taste grains of sand, the gritty granules threatening to choke me. We would return and Matteo would discover and destroy whoever was threatening the sect.

Even if that included my father.

As the wind began to howl, I took several shallow breaths, ready to slide back into Matteo’s comforting arms. He could certainly protect me from an itty-bitty storm. Just as I was about to lie down, I heard his phone ringing, the sound coming from the bathroom where he’d left his clothes.

I darted a glance in his direction, but the chirping noise hadn’t awakened him. Who would be calling at this time of night? Christian? Maybe. I struggled with what I should do until the ring stopped. The decision was made.

Then the phone chirped again. I eased back the covers, curiosity burning within me. Something had to be wrong. I padded across the floor, trying to remain quiet as I walked into the bathroom, partially closing the door. As I held the cell phone in my hand, my hackles instantly rose.

Unknown caller.

No. Something wasn’t right. I held my breath and slid my finger across the screen, remaining quiet.

There were no sounds at first. Then I heard a heavy sigh. When the caller spoke, the words were tinny, obviously disguised.

And they sent a shiver down my spine.

“This is your last warning. She belongs to another. Marry her and the sect will be destroyed, every dirty little secret exposed, including yours.”

“Fuck you,” I hissed, realizing my mistake almost immediately.

The utter silence was terrifying, but the laugh was one I’d remember well into every shift of darkness.

“How does it feel to be nothing more than a toy, little girl?”

I refused to back down to some spineless fuck. “How does it feel to be a useless piece of flesh?” I countered, sensing Matteo’s rage a split second before the phone was ripped from my hand, light flooding the small room.

“Your time is finished, asshole. You will never threaten either the sect or anyone in my family again. I’m coming for you,” Matteo barked into the phone, a snarl pushing past his lips.

One second passed.

Three.

Five.

“Fuck you.” Matteo’s hand shook as he pulled the phone away from his ear.

I backed away, watching the myriad emotions crossing his face.

“What did he say to you?” he demanded, taking several deep breaths. When I didn’t answer right away, he snapped his head in my direction. “We’re not playing games, Winter. I need to know what the motherfucker said to you.”

“He asked me how I felt to be a toy. He said that I was promised to someone else. I take it that meant the mafia.”

He held the phone to his head, closing his eyes. “Why did you get the phone? You disobeyed me.”

“I thought there might be a problem. I’m sorry.”

I was shocked as he jerked into motion, crowding my space and shoving me against the wall, smashing one hand against it. “You have no idea what kind of men you’re dealing with.”

“I understand what crime syndicates can do, Matteo. I’m been around the block more than once.”

He laughed softly as he tilted his head. “The Taglionis use violence to get what they want and while they are dangerous, they can be handled. Their weakness is greed. What the sect is facing is much worse.”

“He said something else, Matteo. He said that every dirty little secret will be exposed, including yours. What haven’t you told me?”

I wasn’t surprised that he had no reaction, his stare as dark as the ones I’d seen before, filled with such venom.

“Talk to me.”

His gaze drifting away, he walked out of the room.

Exhaling, I grabbed a robe off the back of the door, struggling to put it on as I hurried into