Taken_ A Dark Mafia Romance - Piper Stone Page 0,89

on your sick cult. I know exactly what you’ve been doing to buy favors.”

Christian and I looked at each other, smiles crossing our faces.

“Let me ask you a question,” I posed as I flagged down the waiter. “You don’t mind if we all have a drink together. Do you? Our treat.”

He seemed more than just uncomfortable, his face reddening as he waved his hand.

“Waiter. Bring us four of your finest tumblers of scotch,” I stated, still keeping my eyes on the senator. He was agitated as hell.

“Yes, sir,” the waiter answered, moving away quickly.

It took a minute for the senator to realize I’d ordered four drinks instead of three, his gaze floating toward the entrance then scanning the room. He was as nervous as I’d hoped he would be. I could even hear his foot tapping underneath the table.

“My brother and I were very sad to hear that you had a falling out with who I believe was your best friend.” Christian said the words in passing, spending time observing the crowd.

“What?” the senator croaked.

“Donovan O’Brien. I totally understand why you couldn’t honor his plea for help. I also believe the Taglionis had no idea about this.” As soon as I issued the statement, the senator snapped his head in my direction.

He swallowed visibly, trying to regain his composure. “Donovan and I have a fantastic relationship.”

“Is that why he threatened to blackmail you with the information he has regarding your second family?” Christian asked casually.

His face shifted to stark white, his mouth twisting.

“I understand there are few words. As I mentioned to you, I’m well aware of your second family. What I didn’t know is who you became involved with.” I wasn’t ready to play the full hand yet. He needed to suffer a hell of a lot more.

“I don’t... understand,” he mumbled.

“I think what my brother is trying to say,” Christian started, “is that we are well aware that your good friend, Donovan O’Brien, came to you for help. It would appear his gambling habit took a significant and very wrong turn.”

I did appreciate how my brother phrased his words, allowing for maximum anxiety.

“And,” Christian said as he scooted his chair closer to the senator’s, “unfortunately, he lost a high stakes poker game, one headed by Carmine Taglioni himself. For all his millions that he squandered away, what he had left was a single prize that was acceptable to offer in exchange for the six hundred thousand dollars he owed. His daughter.”

In all my years, I’d never seen a man so uncomfortable, but I could still see some level of hope in his eyes that we hadn’t been told all the other horrible details.

“The Taglionis knew that a marriage to the daughter of a sect member meant that there was a direct ‘in’ for lack of a better word to the inner sanctum of the Sacred Sect. That would certainly garner them information to further their plans to take over a portion of our world,” I continued, watching as several beads of sweat poured down the sides of his face. “I’m certain your help in making this happen would equate to a hefty sum added to your run for office.”

“That’s crazy. What... What are you getting at?” he asked, the words sticking in his throat. “That has nothing to do with me.”

“Well, it seems your good friend came to you for money at first, hoping you would help him out of his plight. When you refused, he had no recourse but to remind you of your second family, including the fact the woman you’d gotten involved with was the daughter of Carmine Taglioni.” Christian allowed the words to sink in, his expression more animated than I’d seen in one hell of a long time.

“I... No. That’s not true,” the senator insisted.

“Are you certain about that?” I slipped my hand into my jacket, tugging out a damning photograph of the senator and Sasha Taglioni, a baby in her arms. “I will admit, the three of you look very happy.”

While the senator was visibly shaken by the picture, he sucked in his breath, looking away from Christian and into my eyes. “Well, even if that were true, I guess that means I have the support of Carmine. From what I understand, the Taglionis are true enemies of the sect,” he hissed.

I leaned so close that I was able to see the various colors in the man’s irises. “You don’t threaten the sect, Senator Bellows. I would have thought you understood that