AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 29
Piper
Irushed out of theroom, my face flaming and heart pounding. I ignored Darren’s curious eyes and kept my head down as I fast walked through the kitchen.
Running upstairs, I darted into my room, shutting and locking the door behind me. I paced back and forth before my bed, my arms wrapped around myself. The sound of their laughter still echoed in my ears. I shook my head to clear it, but it didn’t work. Moving over to my bed, I found my phone and pulled up my playlist. I plugged my headphones in and blared music in my ears until I couldn’t hear them anymore.
I didn’t care if I never heard again or if my eardrums burst as long as I never had to hear Valentine’s creepy laughter ever again. After a few moments, my head and ears hurt enough that I turned the music off. Chucking my phone onto my bed, I started pacing again, this time a bit more forcefully. My fear had fettered out, and anger replaced it, making me snarl and curse.
If this was Antoine trusting me, then I didn’t want any part of it. I’d rather be kept in the dark and safely hidden behind my locked door than in that room with those monsters. How could he, how could they, just sit there and let them talk about me that way?
“A delicacy, my ass,” I muttered to myself, getting even madder by the minute. I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror and snagged the hat off my head, crumpling it up in my hand before throwing it down. “Fuck you, Valentine. Fuck Antoine. Fuck Rayne.” I stomped my feet with each name, getting more aggressive as I went. “Fuck the twins and specifically fuck Wynn. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!”
Of all of them, I’d thought Wynn would have come to my aid. He was supposed to be a gentleman, and on top of that, we were blood bonded now for however long that lasted. Wynn should have been the first person to stand up for me, to knock Valentine’s overly white fangs out.
I shuddered, my hand clinging to my shoulders.
There was not enough money in the world to ever get me to work in that monster’s house. Even if I didn’t already know about his kink, five minutes with him told me I’d be dead by the end of the day.
I dragged my hands through my hair, not caring if I messed up my curls and then flopped down on the ground. Glaring at the door, I slumped over, my hands falling to either side of me. I felt like a broken wind-up doll, waiting for someone to come and crank me back up. I probably looked it as well.
Would I get fired if I didn’t go back down there? Would they even notice I’m gone? Darren sure noticed, but he had yet to make an appearance to drag me back to the party.
“Probably too busy kissing ass to care,” I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest and beating my feet against the ground for good measure. If I was going to throw a fit, I might as well get it all out now.
After a good five minutes, I took a deep breath, held it, before letting it out all in one go. Standing, I fluffed my dress and searched for my hat. Grimacing at the wrinkled contraption, I tried to smooth it out as best as I could before putting it back on my head.
I turned to the mirror and sighed. A bit disheveled but it’d have to do.
Heading for the door, I muttered to myself, “One more word, I swear. One more question about my virginal status and I’m going to smack someone. Preferably Valentine.”
Throwing the door open, I walked out the door and right into a hard chest. Quickly shutting the door behind me, I moved away from them, muttering an apology. I half bowed for good measure.
“No apology needed.”
At the sound of the voice, my eyes moved up the brass buttons of the pin striped vest and over the sharp chin with a dusting of scruff before locking with light brown eyes crinkled in amusement. Realizing who he was, I jerked my eyes down to his nose.
“Why, hello, Piper. Fancy meeting you here.” Valentine’s smooth voice, no doubt meant to be seductive and perhaps calming, only made my apprehension rise.
I took a step back from him, reaching for the door handle of my room. Then, realizing I was giving him an option to get me cornered, I released the doorknob and cleared my throat. “Hello, Master Valentine. Can I help you with something?”
“Your name is Piper, correct?” One hand was tucked into his pocket while the other one reached out and touched the ends of my hair.
I forced myself not to move. If I didn’t antagonize him, then he would get bored and move on. Giving him my best demure look, I placed one hand over the other and nodded. “Yes. That is correct. Can I be of some assistance?”
Valentine frowned at my tone, and I snickered on the inside. Thought you could catch me off guard, did you? I showed you. Go fall on a stake, you sick fuck.
“Why so shy? You were so forthcoming downstairs.” Valentine took a step toward me, a smirk on his lips. He was in on my game. “Don’t tell me it was for show? Maybe you wanted one of the Durands to come to the rescue? Is that it?”
I smiled even brighter, my fingers curling into my hands until the nails bit into my skin. “Of course not, Master Valentine. I apologize for my earlier behavior. I am still new to your world.”
His smirk slipped a bit, but then he moved even closer until he was just a hair’s breadth away. “Please, call me Valentine. All this master nonsense is so old-fashioned. I’m a modern vampire myself.” His other hand touched my shoulder, and I fought the need to tense up.
“As you wish.” I beamed and then took a step away from him. “If you’ll excuse me, I must return to the party before I am missed.”
I didn’t get more than two steps down the hall before Valentine’s hand latched onto my elbow and jerked me around. Slamming me into his front, his arm locked around my middle like a vice, giving me no chance to escape.
“Come now, don’t leave so soon. We are just getting to know each other.” His words came out as a purr, but there was a sharpness to his voice. I kept my eyes on his throat, refusing to be taken over by his vampire charms.
