My husband to be and his father seemed to prefer me to wear long gowns. They said I looked like the queen I would someday be when Andre took over as the royal leader of Dark Hearts. I wore a different gown every day, much to the pleasure of Anna, who took pride in dressing her future queen.
When I looked in the mirror most days I didn’t even resemble the carefree girl that had attended Graham High School, where my biggest difficulty was putting in my contact lenses. Now I had to keep from hurling when I had to bear all the kisses and attention from Andre on a daily basis. At least he hadn’t tried to feel me up again after that night on the couch. I guess his father was old fashioned in that he expected me to be a virgin on our wedding night. Said he wanted his grandchildren born of a proper union, since they’d be royalty.
The entire Dark Hearts organization would soon know of our engagement. Those that couldn’t attend would be watching it via satellite, either live or afterwards. I wondered what Raven, Miles, and Alexander would think when they found out. I hoped they would know that I’d never willingly have become engaged to Dark’s son without a very good reason.
I prayed that Julian and Vincent would never find out. It would just add to their misery knowing there was nothing they could do to help me. I still hadn’t heard a word about my father’s whereabouts, and the clock was ticking for me…
Thanks for reading the second installment of the Dark Hearts saga, Dark Secrets. Please read on for a sneak peek at the next book in the series; Dark Revelations.
Dark Revelations Prelude
I couldn’t believe it was already the night of the masquerade ball, the night that would seal my fate as Andre’s future wife. I’d been primped and pampered all day by Anna, who was much more excited than I was. I’d had a pedicure, a manicure, a facial and even had my body waxed. Why I’d needed that done, who knew. My dress was revealing at the top, which was no surprise, but it was a long gown so why the need for body waxing, I didn’t know, unless Andre just wanted to exert his authority over me yet again. Damn, it hurt, too. Hot wax should not go places like that for any reason.
My gown tonight was a sexy white creation with a white lace mask to compliment my fiancé’s attire, which was entirely black with a white half mask. His costume, I was told, was to be reminiscent of something from the Phantom of the Opera, as was mine.
I was standing in my rather lavish undergarments and white stockings waiting for Anna to help me with the gown. It was a white off the shoulder creation with short puffed sleeves and a deep v-neckline. It was a full-skirted silk gown with a gossamer overlay, an almost exact replica of the one Christine wore in the opera scene of the movie. My ankle cast had been removed, so every detail of her attire had been provided, down to the soft sole shoes.
I was finally permitted to look into the mirror after what seemed like hours of Anna fusing over every detail of my appearance. I was shocked at my appearance down to the curling hairpiece that had been attached to my own hair. Had my hair been darker, I’d have looked almost like the character I represented.
I wondered why Andre had chosen Phantom costumes, perhaps it was to represent light and darkness. I was entirely in white with a white lace mask and large feather accent at the top of the mask. The mask concealed the area around my eyes and nose, besides most of my forehead.
When Andre arrived to escort me to the ball, I was certain that he was darkness. Complete with his fleshy white Phantom mask, black cape, black tuxedo, and high-collared, old-fashioned shirt complete with black cravat, he was the absolute representation of dark mystery itself.
I understood that the engagement announcement was being broadcast around the world, with our location being kept a secret. How could anyone keep a place like the location of the fortress under wraps? Then again, Dark had been able to achieve many things that would be considered impossible.
The only invited guests at the masquerade were Dark Hearts operatives and Dark’s personal friends. I found it strange that a man like him could even lay claim to any friends, but the place was crowded as we made our way inside. There were all kinds of lavish costumes and fancy masquerade masks in all colors imaginable.
Eyes turned our way as we walked through the crowd with his black-gloved hand on my long white glove. Good and evil came to mind, as I thought about my guys and wondered how they were doing. I missed them so much. It was just as the letter had said, a physical pain around my heart. I prayed they were ok. I hadn’t been able to see Julian or Vincent this week, because of the increased security in and around the fortress for the ball.
I didn’t have much longer to think as Andre pulled me onto the dance floor for a waltz. I even learned to waltz with a crash course from a rather grumpy dance instructor. I guess he got tired of me stepping on his toes, but he had taught me the grace and moves I needed to please Andre and Dark as they both lavished compliments on me throughout the evening.
The evening seemed to last forever. As fabulous as the food looked, it tasted like cardboard to me, as I had to tolerate Andre forever finding reasons to touch my bare shoulder or put his arms around me for a quick kiss in a corner. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take, when someone came into the room and Dark left with him.
I could tell something big was coming down, because Andre left just a few minutes later. He handed me another glass of Champaign and told me that he’d be back shortly. He instructed me to mingle. Right, as if I was going to socialize with a bunch of Dark Hearts.
I excused myself from the small group of men that had almost immediately surrounded me. They were like vultures, the minute Andre left, they swooped in on me. I knew they were some of Dark’s personal guards by the earpieces they wore and the very obvious gun lumps in the lay of their jackets.
I thought a couple of them were going to follow me. I explained I was going to the powder room. Fortunately, I was able to blush, for good measure, to cover the lie I was telling them. Still they planned to accompany me. Dark or Andre must have told them to guard me. Where the heck would I go anyway with more Dark Hearts around than ants at a picnic.
I made sure to go the powder room that I knew had two exits. Inside I struck up a conversation with a young woman that was having problems with her mask. I promised to help her when she came out of the stall. She left the bright red mask on the fancy vanity and went in the stall to do her business. Excessive chatter filled the room as she droned on about her situation.
She seemed nice enough, but she was here with a member of Dark Hearts, so I didn’t feel bad borrowing her mask. I said yes every so often, all the while I was removing my mask, the hairpiece and the long white gloves. I tucked them under the skirted table in case I needed them later.
I had to lose those guards, so I walked out the other door before the owner of the red mask, I now wore, came back out into the room. I wasn’t surprised, one of the guards was standing at the door, waiting for me no doubt. I walked right by him wearing the red mask, with my shorter curly hair and no band of flowers in my hair. He paid no attention to me. I’d been smart enough not to linger long. I knew in a few minutes they’d storm into the ladies’ room looking for me.
In the meantime, I had to find out what was going on. The guards were talking in their headpiece mics regularly and flitting in and out of the party. As soon as I got closer to Dark’s personal offices, I ditched the mask. I would be less conspicuous without the revolting thing. Besides, it wouldn’t seem odd for his future daughter-in-law to be near his offices. I just hoped he’d already told his personal guard about the engagement. Of course, they’d have to be blind not to notice my ring and the rest of the household had been told almost immediately.
Dark Revelations Chapter One
Therefore, there I was wandering the hallway near his office when a hand grabbed my shoulder none-too-gently. I turned around to find myself looking into the hazel eyes of William Dark, who didn’t look entirely pleased to see me.
“Well, did the party bore you without your fiancé? Why don’
t you step inside.” He said it more as a statement than a question, as if I had any choice since his hand was still gripping my bare shoulder.
The minute we stepped inside his office and he closed the door, he pushed me across the room to Andre, sands the mask and tux jacket that lie on the sofa. He caught me in his arms when I would have fallen.
“It would seem you have some obedience training that you’ll need to administer to your future wife.”
Andre squeezed me around the waist and pulled me tight against him, then whispered, “I look forward to it both in our bedroom and outside of it.”
“What were you doing outside roaming around the corridors with part of your costume missing?”
“I got hot, so I decided to remove my mask and hairpiece for a while. I left them in the powder room downstairs. I came up here to find Andre and got lost. I needed to talk to him. Several guests were asking for him.” They didn’t believe me, so I tried another tactic, “I missed him.”
Andre was angry I could tell, but at first, his voice was smooth as silk, “You missed me already. I’ve scarcely been gone an hour. What did you want to talk to me about my sweet fiancé? Are you so enamored of me that you can’t wait until our wedding night?”
“If I didn’t want my grandchildren conceived the right way, I’d say take the lying little bitch right now, son.”
Andre was in my face now as he crushed me ever closer to him, almost stealing my breath, “You will never lie to my father or myself again. Do you understand?”
He raised his hand to backhand me around the mouth, but a loud voice sounded in the room stopping his action and causing him to loosen his hold enough that I slipped his grasp. I ran toward the voice I recognized as my dad’s, unfortunately, that was the only thing I recognized about him.
He looked rough, like he’d been through hell. He was gaunt and his clothes were rags, but his big brown eyes still shone with love for me. We embraced for a few precious moments before the guards pulled us apart.
I was taken back to Andre, who possessively put his hands around my waist and pulled my backside against his hard body. I still faced my father, but he was intimately holding me.
“How dare you touch my daughter. If you want my formula you’ll release her immediately, Andre.”
“You are in no position to make demands. Steffon you may have taken Pricilla from me, but you will not take what belongs to my son. You see, your daughter has agreed to be his wife. They are to be married soon and you’ll be in no position to stop them or to give her away. Actually, I believe I’ll give her away, since you will be indisposed.”
His comments made my father more than a little upset. He tugged against his captors to no avail. Dark nodded and his men just pulled his arms until I thought he’d faint from sheer pain, as his muscles were pulled taunt.
“Stop, please stop. Don’t hurt him.” I cried.
I managed to escape from Andre when my heel went down hard on his foot. He grunted and released his hold just enough for me to slip away. I knew I’d pay for that maneuver later, but I didn’t care. I had to talk to Dad. Unfortunately, before I could reach him, arms as strong as steel banded around me and drug me back to where a scowling Andre stood.
“I believe you owe my son an apology, my dear.”
I looked at Andre and wished I hadn’t, there was going to be hell to pay for this incident. I mumbled an apology. It was the best I could muster when all I wanted to do was kick both him and his father.
“I didn’t hear you and I don’t believe your father did either. Did you hear her Steffan?”
My father was forced to answer by more pressure being put on his outstretched arms. He didn’t speak until he was lifted from the floor by the pressure placed on his arms. He looked apologetically at me, as he mumbled, “no.”
“No what, Steffan?”
He grunted as they pulled him even tighter in their brutal hold, “No, I didn’t hear her.”
“Hear her what, Steffan?”
“No, I didn’t hear her apology.”
“Well, now that that’s been established. Since we all seem to be having a problem hearing you, perhaps you should get on your knees before your betrothed. Then we’ll at least be able to see your apology. Please make sure to lift your gown up so you don’t kneel on it.”
“My daughter kneels to no one.”
Dark walked to my father who was being held down by his two goons and got in his face, “She will apologize to my son or suffer the consequences or perhaps you’d rather accept her punishment.”
“I will, gladly.”
“No father, it’s fine. I do this of my own free will. Dark…”
“Please call me father, my dear Emma, since we’ll soon be family. After all, you’ll soon be like a daughter to me, especially after you’ve given me a few grandsons.”
He was baiting my father who was not taking the bait this time. Dad looked tired and resigned to his fate. I started to raise my dress in the front, so I could kneel as instructed. Much to the disappointment of Andre’s lustful stare at my skirt being raised, I didn’t get a chance to perform like a puppet for Dark this time. Someone being escorted into the room interrupted my performance. I dropped my skirt back down as the prisoner was escorted further into the room.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Behind the guard, walked my mother with another guard following close behind her. She looked as if she’d been much better treated than my poor father. Besides the dark circles under her eyes and her pale cheeks, she looked fresh and lovely in a soft peach floor-length gown. The dress was more than likely something Dark had chosen for her. My mother had always been a jeans and sweatshirt kind of woman, except when she had to dress up. Obviously, Dark preferred her in a long gown, just as he did me.
The whole atmosphere in the room changed as Dark poured on the charm for my mother. I wanted to gag at how charismatic he was trying to be. There was no doubt that he was still interested in my mother who had eyes only for my bedraggled, battered father. I could see the heartbreak in her eyes as she looked at him. I could also see the regret. I wondered what she was planning to do to try and save him.
Her eyes almost immediately focused on Dark as she left my father standing between the guards. At his next words, I wondered how long my parents had been here and no one had thought to tell me. He walked over to her and brought her hand to his lips as he had done mine so many times. He kissed her hand and then released it, holding it longer than was customary for a gentleman to do. However, I knew he was no gentleman. I could see my father struggling as he spat out his words, “don’t touch her, Dark. She’s a married woman. She’s no longer anything to you.”
My father got a hard slap to his face from the guard that caused blood to trickle from his mouth. Then Dark did the only he could do in front of my mother, he ordered the guards to remove Father from the room. “Take him back to his room. This conversation doesn’t involve him.”
He was hauled towards the door, kicking and struggling as much as he was able, while his wife and daughter remained with his enemy. “if you want the formula, you’d better not touch either of them.” Those were his last words as another thud indicated that he’d gotten hit again. This time he slumped in the arms of his captors.
Mother looked helplessly at me as I saw tears gleaming in her eyes. I hadn’t missed her sharp intake of breath either when he’d been hit. Then she spoke to the monster that held a big part of my heart in his hands.
“William, Steffan is of no consequence. He left me years ago as you know. I would, however, like to discuss my daughter.”
Dark, which I’d always refer to him as, took her hand again and held it between his as he spoke, “My sweet Priscilla, you are a terrible liar. Did you think I didn’t hear your deep breath when that silly fool was slapped. You still love him and we both know it.”
“You’re wrong. He is of no import to me. We haven’t lived together as man and wife for years.”
“If only that were
true, but I’m not a fool. There’s no way you haven’t been together these past few months. If you’d been on your own you’d have been brought to me long before last week.”
“I wish to speak to you about my daughter in private.”
“She is quite the lovely creature, isn’t she? She looks so much like you. Yes, we will speak of her future with Dark Hearts.” Then he stopped and addressed Andre who now held me by the hand most gently in front of my mother. “You should be getting back to the party. I think it’s about time to make your announcement, children.” When Andre began helping me to put my accessories back into place, so we could return to the party, Dark spoke again to my mother, “I believe you’ve met my son, Andre. His mother was French you know. I met her about a year before we had our little interlude.”
“Do you really wish to speak about this in front of the children?”
“I have nothing to be ashamed of, Priscilla. We made love. You know that I was mad for you as you were for me, before you met that lowlife Steffan.”
“I wouldn’t call it making love and you know it.”
“You shouldn’t be ashamed of the fact that we were together. It was a beautiful thing, my dearest.”
Seeing my shocked look, my mother gently removed her hand from Dark’s and walked towards me. She looked back at him when she spoke, “I’m glad one of us remembers it. I was drugged.”
“So you had a few drinks at the office Christmas party, lots of people did. You didn’t object.”
“I was drugged. I wasn’t even conscious. You know that I wouldn’t have slept with you. I was still a virgin.”
Dark Secrets Page 26
