by Piper Stone
I was sick to my stomach, hating myself for coming. Well, I was no longer a girl and I certainly had my wicked ways. If this was a ruse, I would make certain they never saw me again.
I stormed into the house, tossing the two small suitcases on the freshly polished marble floor, my anger increasing by the minute. There were people everywhere.
Florists.
Caterers.
Musicians.
My mind was boggled that my parents would think this was all right on any level without warning me. The red flags were flying high. I wanted to turn around and leave; however, Roberto stood behind me, perhaps fearful that I would run. I glared at him before shoving my way past the sea of hired help to the grassy area just off the patio. After only a few seconds, I found my mother fidgeting over a large crimson bow on one of the tent posts.
“Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on?” There was obviously no time to mince words.
Her face fell as she turned toward me, but her usual demure attitude was gone, replaced with a level of fury I’d rarely seen in her. “Don’t you dare talk to me that way, Winter. Your father and I are trying to do something special for you and not only are you late, but you have a nasty attitude.” The slight Irish accent she’d kept after all these years was heavier than normal.
“I’m late because of weather, Mother. Why didn’t you tell me you were planning a spectacular event?”
“We wanted to surprise you. You are our only daughter.” Her mouth twisted after saying the words, her eyes flashing in the old method of trying to keep me in line. My father had never been the nicest of men, often taking out his frustration on his family. I’d learned early on what keeping the peace had meant.
Sighing, I noticed my father was already watching our confrontation from a distance with several of his drinking buddies in tow. The king and his court. They were early for the damn soiree. Even as the sun began to set, I was able to recognize several of his esteemed guests.
Members of several precincts of the police, a few from the fire department, two state senators, and a partridge in a pear tree. I hated the loathsome politics my father had played his entire life, his wealth obtained by favors bestowed.
The moment reaffirmed why I’d left home as soon as possible in the first place. One night. I could get through this to keep that peace, but this was the last time. Period. “That’s bullshit, Mother, and you and I know it. Is this godforsaken party about the sect?”
She offered another glossy-eyed smile. “Well, if you mean will there be community members here as guests, yes, of course. They are our friends.”
“Friends? You told me you hated these people.”
The way her fingers dug into my arm was painful, the horror in her eyes throwing me off guard. “Don’t you dare ever say anything like that. This is our home and our friends are important to us.”
Jesus Christ. What the hell was going on?
Hold your tongue. You can do this. My little voice wasn’t comforting. Maybe it was time to find out what was hidden behind the veil that had been draped over the entire community since the beginning of time. “Fine. Have it your way. However, I don’t have a damn thing to wear, Mother.”
Her face brightened as she released her hold, her hand shaking. “Oh, don’t worry, darling. Your father and I purchased some new treats for you. They’re already hanging up in your room. You should hurry. The party is starting soon. You won’t want to miss a thing.”
“I’m sure you’ve thought of everything.” I hated the nastiness in my tone, but I wasn’t going to be used as a pawn to gain another level of power.
She nodded and the look reminded me of a bobble-head doll. I adored my mother, had always loved hearing her laughter. We’d been close once, but everything had changed when I’d gotten older and I’d never been able to figure out why. “You should go ahead and retreat to your room in order to get ready. Make yourself lovely, darling. This is a very special night.” She turned away immediately, once again fiddling with a bow that was already perfect.
Just like her stunning emerald green dress, thousand-dollar shoes, and her long red hair pinned in a tight bun.
Just like the good little wife my father wanted her to be.
The words coming from her mouth were even more stilted than usual. “What exactly does that mean, Mother? Why don’t you tell me why this is going to be so damn special?” I dared her to admit the truth.
Her smile had returned when she looked at me. “Simply that your father and I wanted to make this special for you. Nothing more. Now, run along.”
I 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 ret
urn.
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 lied to me. This was all about the Sacred Sect. They wouldn’t do this.
Could they?
Even my attempts at hiding behind the glass of bubbly did little but continue to add fuel to red-hot embers. The single recourse I had was leaving, but any attempt at doing so would only cause a scene, embarrassing my parents, a sin worse than taking the name of the Lord in vain. I wasn’t entirely certain I cared.
The frustration continued to build as I heard various groups laughing, enjoying the party while the guest of honor hid in the shadows. This wasn’t like me. I never ran from any situation, even when it concerned my parents. This was grandstanding to a level I hadn’t experienced before. While I could understand such a glorious event for my sweet sixteen or even when I’d turned twenty-one, at twenty-four, birthdays were no longer that special.
Except for the rules...
No, they’d fallen into the trap of the community. I was shaking with anger. The Box. Whatever my father had been offered was enough to give in to the ritual.
Maybe I could con one of the waiters into taking me to the airport in exchange for a hefty tip. I debated my limited choices, feeling entirely too uncomfortable at my own party. Maybe my father selling his soul meant I’d be plied with stocks and bonds. I rolled my eyes at the thought.
I needed air, some time to think alone and away from prying eyes. Any time now my mother would send some of her minions to find me. I slunk further into the darkness, making my way toward the greenhouse, one of my favorite places as a child. It had been a safe haven when my parents had been arguing, the aging structure hidden down a winding stone path through lush foliage. I’d made some of my best decisions from behind the frosted glass.
As I’d suspected, even the aging structure had been decorated with hundreds of twinkling white lights. I took a deep breath as I walked in, adoring the scents of herbs and flowers. For a few precious minutes, I was at peace.
As I made my way through the rows of wooden platforms, I could still envision my mother with her hands buried in the soil, humming one of her favorite tunes as she gave tender loving care to the same plant that she had done the day before.
I stopped in front of one of her favorite roses, the semi-dwarf variety a perfect soft kiss of pink, a color I absolutely loathed. As I bent over to take a glorious whiff, the hairs suddenly stood up on the back of my neck.
I wasn’t alone.
I was prepared to lash out at whoever had dared to follow me, but the intruder had already been here.
Very slowly I turned my head, catching a dimly highlighted silhouette standing near the rear of the greenhouse. While I wasn’t able to see his face, I managed to gather a sense of his physique; long legs and a sculpted chest, his jaw chiseled as if from the finest granite. As his exotic cologne wafted into my nostrils, the scent a bottled version of filth and sin, my nipples immediately hardened. I was shocked I had this kind of reaction to any man, especially one lurking in the darkness.
However, he was a long, tall drink of water. I bit back a slight moan, the reaction totally inappropriate. While it appeared that he was dressed for the party, the required tuxedo suiting his stunning physique, he could also be nothing more than one of the musicians or even security.
Except he had a glass of champagne in his hand, an air of utter domination riddling his subtle moves.
His appearance only pushed my instincts into hyper-drive. No one just happened on this little slice of heaven.
When he moved closer, taking his time while his gaze remained locked on my face, I refused to move away. He stopped within a few feet, taking a deep breath.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said casually, the tone of his voice wrapped in softness and velvet. While there was no accent, every word seemed practiced. I wouldn’t put it past my parents and their desire to keep me home by attempting to lure me with a gorgeous model as a date.
Or perhaps my future fiancé.
“You didn’t. Nothing frightens me.” The slight tremor in my voice pissed me off. I couldn’t rule out he could be here for nefarious intentions, including harming my father. I certainly knew Donovan O’Brien had his share of enemies. It seemed everyone in the Hamptons did.
He chuckled under his breath then took deliberate steps closer, allowing me to see more of his face. I’d never been attracted to perfect, polished men, the kind in slick Armani suits and five-hundred-dollar shoes. I preferred a rugged hunk with callused fingers from working with his hands. The mysterious stranger was both roughhewn as well as sophisticated, the combination unexpected and sexy as hell.
There was an instant draw, a beautiful moment where nothing else seemed to matter. The sensations racing through me were obviously ones he felt as well by the way his chest rose and fell.
Electricity crackling.
Hearts racing.
Blood pressure rising.
I pressed two fingers across my mouth, imagining a single perfect kiss. The mesmerizing moment was far too enticing and totally unacceptable. Blinking furiously, I shifted my gaze, breaking the vibrant connection.
“Mmm...” he muttered, the single husky sound wrapping around me, forcing me once again to glance into his eyes.
While he looked vaguely familiar, I’d made it a point to stay away from anything involving my parents’ lives, including whatever politics went on within the community. My years spent in college in Florida had certainly helped with being able to distance myself away from the pomp and circumstance my mother seemed to adore.
He was likely some pompous firstborn son of a prominent family, his first car a Ferrari or an antique Corvette. I knew the type, had been forced to attend enough parties as a teenager to learn their traits and mannerisms.
And this one fit all the classic signs, although I was forced to admit that he was alluring, his shimmering eyes captivating.
“That’s good to know, although there are certain animals in this world who search for the weakest prey in order to feed.” His dark eyes found mine and the way he brought the champagne glass to his full lips, licking the rim before taking a sip should have brought me to my knees.
But it didn’t.
While I assumed his words were meant to enchant a weaker woman into believing he was some kind of hero, his statement merely amused me.
“I assure you that I can take care of myself. Monsters always have a particular weakness. Once you find it, slaying them becomes easy.” I could tell he hadn’t anticipated my retort, his eyes flashing a combination of interest and frustration that I hadn’t fallen for his line of bullshit.
“Touché and agreed. Just take my advice. Monsters do have a way of getting under your skin. Once that happens, they will never let you go.”
His words were enigmatic, tumbling through my mind. The mysterious stranger’s aura reeked of danger and intrigue, both powerful aphrodisiacs. “Duly noted.”
He shifted close enough I was able to catch a glimpse of his cufflinks, the large sapphires embedded in sterling silver unexpected. He noticed the change in my gaze and smiled. “A gift from my mother. I assure you they are taken from the box once a year for events such as this.”
“You mean pompous, pointless parties where the beautifu
l people all hope to be caught on camera early in the evening? The very ones where far too much liquor and wine are served, so that their psyches can tolerate such bullshit? Then again, God forbid a single reporter catch even a hint of scandal.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them.
My frank words seemed to stun him, a wry smile crossing his face, his eyes flashing. And they were gorgeous eyes, so dark that they seemed like pools of black onyx, yet the almost iridescent glow surrounding his pupils gave a splash of vivid color. He burst into laughter, nodding at the same time.
My guard fell, if only for a few seconds, laughing with him. “I’m sorry. My mother is always telling me my mouth gets me into trouble.”
“While I can tell your mother is likely correct, your statement was well said. Now, I will have to ask you. Why is such a beautiful woman standing all alone inside a rather crude aging facility? As a guest, you should be enjoying the fancy champagne and overpaid musicians, as long as you aren’t caught in a compromising position of course.”
“Of course.” Either the man didn’t know my identity, or he was playing some kind of a game, both of which intrigued the hell out of me. I found myself drawn to his voice as well as his obvious contempt and inched closer. “I could ask you the same question. This greenhouse isn’t well known, especially for people who’ve never been in the secret circle of the O’Brien family.”
“Secret circle,” he repeated. “Does that make you one of the fabulous few?”
I rolled my eyes. “One of the unlucky few.”
Sighing, he shifted his gaze toward the door.
“That didn’t answer my question,” I challenged. “In fact, you’re purposely avoiding my question.”
He lifted a single eyebrow, his gaze turning to something entirely carnal. “One demanding woman. I do enjoy a scintillating spar, although there can only be one winner.”
“Let me guess. You always win,” I said with defiance.
He lifted his hand, fingering the ruby on my necklace then daring to brush the tip of his finger across my jaw. “To answer your question, maybe, like you, I prefer smaller gatherings with friends instead of show and tell. I enjoy getting to know my guests... personally.”
