Taken_ A Dark Mafia Romance - Piper Stone Page 0,2

killed. Fuck.”

There was no way to describe the man’s gorgeous face or stunning physique, eyes that could melt your very soul. Even the two-day stubble covering his chiseled face was sexy, his less than perfect exterior as if he was attempting to thwart the system itself, but I knew better. He’d followed in order to return me, a dedicated community member. Within days, I’d be married. Mrs. Matteo Capodanno.

A prisoner in a fancy estate where I’d lose all sense of myself.

I laughed even seeing the concern in his eyes. Who was he kidding? “Get away from me, Matteo. I’m not going to abide by the ridiculous terms. I don’t know what you thought you were doing in the greenhouse, but I almost fell for your bullshit. Almost.”

His face bristled from anger. “You know I can’t just leave you here. The greenhouse was... Are you hurt in any way?”

“What do you care?”

“Don’t challenge me, Winter.”

“And don’t fuck with me,” I retorted, snarling at him.

He took a deep breath, his expression becoming more authoritative.

“Just come with me and we will straighten this out,” Matteo encouraged, with clear domination in his voice.

Exhaling, I shot my gaze toward the way he was holding my arms, his fingers digging into my skin. “I will never willingly go with you. So sorry to disappoint.” I was surprised he was the only one here and that the sect hadn’t sent a battery of assholes to collect the bad little girl.

Matteo growled, making the single mistake of releasing his hold.

What a fool.

I threw a hard punch at his gut then backhanded him across the face, the force just enough to pitch his body backwards.

“What the hell?” he roared, immediately reaching for my arm, able to stop me. “Winter. Don’t do this. You need to come with me.”

“You don’t own me.”

His hand snaked around my wrist, dragging me against the heat of his body. “That’s where you’re wrong. You are mine. The Council has ruled and whether you like it or not, we are members of the Sacred Sect. There is nothing we can do. Nothing.”

“They aren’t God. This isn’t legal.”

A smirk crossed his face. “I assure you that they are more powerful than God.”

I never expected a moment of tenderness but when he cupped my face, his thumb rubbing back and forth across my lips, my heart raced for an entirely different reason. I was furious that my body betrayed me, wetness pooling between my legs. He was a true monster, a man capable of doing terrible things, just like the rest of them. Ugly memories swelled in my mind, fueling my anger even as the fear intensified.

Soon to be your husband.

The words drilled inside my head, playing over and over again like a broken record. I was attracted to him. I’d even hungered to taste him during the quiet moments spent with him in the greenhouse. Every part of me had longed to spend time with the asshole, enjoying his company.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his husky voice washing over me, tingling every cell and muscle. “I want you even more than before.”

“You are a bastard.”

As I struggled, his hold only became stronger, his laugh smoky velvet on a hot summer’s day. I was incensed, swiveling my body until I was able to knee him, only my aim was off, barely catching him in the thigh. He jerked my body once again, his face pensive.

“You are a damn handful. You need to calm down and listen to me,” he stated, his tone even more authoritative than before. “You can’t run from this any more than I can. This is our destiny, one carved out years before. Accept your place. We’ll... get through this.” While his voice faltered, the conviction in his eyes was as strong as his hold.

And I hated him even more.

“You can’t keep me.”

I wasn’t prepared for the vehemence of his actions as he pushed me over the back of the car, ripping up my dress and exposing the ridiculous lacey panties I’d chosen to wear.

“You need to be taught a lesson,” he muttered.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I refused to stop struggling, kicking out several times.

He twisted his hand around my neck, yanking until a slice of pain slammed into every cell and muscle. As he crushed his weight against mine, I could feel the hard throbbing of his cock. The realization was disgusting.

Sinful.

Delicious.

No. Oh, hell no.

Very slowly he lowered his head, whispering in my ear, his breath creating a