Present Time
Dakota's POV
"I don't want a single mistake. Move the tables to the sides, yeah, over there. Do not make a mistake."
"Do I have to tell them every fucking thing? Fuck."
The sound of laughter behind me draws my attention to my best friend and assistant, Harley. She's twenty-eight, half American, half Italian-like me. She walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder.
"Sweetheart, you need to calm down. You don't have to do this. I'm sure they know what to do."
"No, they don't," I fume. "They keep placing the tables in the wrong direction. This is a modern mask-themed party, for crying out loud. I know we don't do this every year, but we do it once every three years. You'd think they'd have gotten the hang of it by now, but no, they need to be controlled and told what to do. I am tired," I add bitterly.
She laughs again. "Come on, let's go to the bar room. You need a good drink. I'll prepare one for you."
She takes me by the arm and leads me away from the ballroom to the bar. Slipping behind the counter, she starts mixing drinks like she always does. Honestly, I'm starting to think she enjoys it. Maybe she should consider a career here. She's ridiculously good at this.
After mixing, she hands me the drink. I take it and gulp it down in one go. I frown at the initial bitterness, but it quickly melts into something sweet.
"Wow... when did you learn how to do this?" I gasp, really impressed.
She giggles, tucks her hair behind her ear, and bats her lashes playfully, clearly proud of herself.
"I hope you're coming to the masked party tonight?" I ask.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for anything, especially since your brother will be there," she says, blushing.
I roll my eyes. "My brother is engaged."
"Yeah, sure. But you and I both know he doesn't love her. It's an arranged marriage. I can still win his heart," she says with a hopeful wink.
I shake my head, unimpressed. Harley has always been obsessive. Once she likes something or someone she doesn't let go. But I really hope she lets him go. As much as it pains me, Gino is taken.
He's engaged to be married.
***
The last item I put on is my mask. It's shaped like a butterfly, one side glittering, the other completely black. It's one of the most beautiful pieces I'm wearing tonight, and I intend to keep it on throughout the party.
It is a masked party, after all.
Stepping into the ballroom, my eyes scan the crowd. There are more guests than last time. The room is packed. That's good for my family. Especially my father.
I like to think of him as the head of the town. He doesn't hold any official political or social position, but he's respected and powerful in ways people don't openly discuss. Politicians come to him in secret for help; financial backing, influence, favors. He funds campaigns and private ventures.
Even with the masks, I recognize a few of them tonight.
They're gathered in a corner, speaking quietly with my father; business, politics, the usual. They never miss these events we host every three years. Why? I still don't know. But I suspect it has something to do with whatever power my father holds behind the scenes.
My brother stands with his fiancée and her family at a corner. I recognize them easily because I was with them earlier.
And Harley?
She's nowhere to be found.
Knowing her, she's probably already followed some man she met tonight back to a private corner... or worse.
I scoff inwardly.
And my boyfriend?
I don't want to think of him.
I don't want him here.
I really don't-
Oops.
He's here.
And he's seen me.
He's walking toward me.
What do I do? Pretend I didn't see him? Run?
I can't let him get to me. All he ever wants is sex. Sex. Sex.
I'm tired of him.
I'm tired of being used as a sex doll.
I still can't believe he's the man my father chose for me to marry.
I have to get away.
Breaking eye contact, I turn and head toward the exit, ignoring his calls as I move quickly through the crowd. But just as I near the door, I collide with someone tall, and spill his champagne.
"Sorry," I whisper, my voice small as I struggle to keep my posture.
He's wearing a full black mask that covers his entire face, except for his deep blue eyes.
But he doesn't respond.
Instead, he sets his glass down on a nearby tray and disappears into the crowd.
Weird.
I purse my lips, unsettled, and am about to leave when I notice a neatly folded handkerchief on the floor.
I pick it up quickly, scanning the room for him. But he's gone.
The handkerchief looks expensive. Similar to the kind my brother uses.
I'll keep it. He might come back for it. Who knows?
I fold it carefully and slip it into the small pocket in my dress.
It smells... good.
Really good.
Sandalwood. Vanilla. Clean. Fresh.
I only brushed past him for a second, but I noticed these scents from him.
I'll keep it. If he comes back, I'll return it.
A sudden touch on my shoulder makes me flinch.
I turn-
Luco.
My boyfriend.
He is standing there with that same irritating smirk.
"Were you running from me?" He asks.
"Running? No... why would I?" I reply, forcing innocence into my voice.
"Hmm. Looked like it," he says. "Anyway, I've got a burning need you need to take care of. Let's go upstairs."
Before I can protest, he grabs my hand and pulls me out of the ballroom.
I know exactly what that "burning need" is.
His erection.
Gosh, I hate him.
He always blames me for it, he says my body drives him crazy. My curves. My chest.
As if that excuses everything.
He doesn't let go of me until we reach one of the guest rooms on the second floor. He shuts the door behind us, already unbuckling his trousers.
Typical of Luco.
He's already hard.
I don't think I've ever seen him otherwise.
Without asking, he pushes me down onto my knees and forces his pink stick into my mouth.
"Shit... suck it," he groans.
I take a breath and do what he wants. I swallow him, sucking and making him harder than he already is.
It doesn't take long before he pulls away and orders me onto the bed.
I obey, standing and turning my back to him.
I don't dare refuse. Not with the kind of report he could give my father.
He comes behind me, lifting my dress and settling himself between my legs.
I still and brace myself for the next step but instead I hear a loud sound.
The door bursts open and...
A body slams into me. I turn and see Luco. And there's a bullet in his forehead. Blood is oozing out of the hole.
My breath catches.
And then I see the man behind him.
He's the masked man from earlier.
Same height.
Same presence.
Same scent.
But with a different eye color.
He's holding a gun.
Pointed directly at me.
A whimper escapes my lips.
Am I next?
I open my mouth to beg for my life, but before I can do that, a sound echoes in the room.
Bang.
