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PROLOGUE

ROSES RED—JERIS JOHNSON

CALISTA 13

S lipping into a pretty white dress that matches the headband holding back my blonde curls, I twirl excitedly, looking at myself in the mirror.

I slip my feet into a pair of tan wedges, and just as I go to grab my backpack, the doorbell rings, echoing throughout the spacious mansion.

“Calista, it's for you!” mother yells from the first floor, a little irritation laced in her squeaky voice.

“Coming!” I yell back, a smile on my face, knowing it's the boys—my best friends—here to walk me to school like they do every morning.

I rush down stairs with my backpack slung over my shoulder, meeting my mother in the foyer. She rolls her eyes when she sees me, but I pretend I don't notice, and instead, I flash a smile at her, which only pisses her off.

“Why are you wearing that ?” she asks with a look of disgust on her face as my father rounds the corner, ready to head to the office.

“I like it; it's a new dress. You don't like it?” I ask, trying to hide the disappointment in my tone as I twirl again, at least getting a smile out of my father.

“You look beautiful, Princess.” He kisses my cheek and heads out the door, leaving me alone with my terrifying mother.

“You look like a damn whore,” she sneers, grabbing my arm hard enough to leave imprints of her fake nails in my skin as she shoves me toward the door.

I ignore the hurtful words and put my hand on the doorknob, forcing a smile to tug at the corners of my lips.

“Oh, Calista, remember, since it's your thirteenth birthday, we'll be having a little party for you. Make sure you're not late coming home.” Her grin is evil, and her tone is sweet. I can't seem to make sense of it.

“Yes, mother,” I tell her, ignoring the funny feeling swarming inside my gut as I finally open the front door.

Three smiling faces are there to greet me as I step into the sun’s warm rays, taking comfort in the safety of the free world. I close the large wooden door behind me, not bothering to give my mother another glance.

My friends—Dominic, Ash, and Killian—welcome me excitedly, and we quickly start the walk to school like we do every morning.

As we walk away from the house, which feels more like a prison, a sense of relief washes over me, grateful to be away from my mother and her toxicity… even though I know it's only for a short time.

“You look really beautiful, Cali,” Ash says shyly, flaunting a boyish grin that makes me blush.

His gray eyes twinkle as he looks over my dress, running his fingers through his shiny, chocolate hair, all tousled on top of his head.

“Thank you. It's a new dress I just bought with my birthday money you guys gave me,” I say proudly, admiring the way the soft fabric clings to my body, showing off my curves that are just beginning to form.

As we walk, they mention how excited they are for the party tonight, but I keep my opinion to myself. I brush it off with a smile, but deep down, I'm dreading the idea of being the center of attention at another event thrown by my mother.

“So do you know why your mother invited our fathers tonight?” Dom asks, a look of worry in his piercing green eyes—eyes that make his dark hair pop even more than usual.

“No, I didn't even know about the party until I was walking out the door. But I don't like it.” I shrug, knowing there's nothing I can do about it.

Whatever my mother says goes—always. There's no going against her.

“Maybe it's because they're all wealthy and powerful. They can pull any strings they fucking want, and knowing your mother, she wants to make a good impression since your father is running for city council,” Killian chimes in, smoking a cigarette, tucking a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear while his brown eyes fill with a look of pure annoyance at the mere motion of my mother.

She's not a well-liked person by any means.

“I wouldn't put it past her. She always has to make everything about herself. But as long as you guys are there, I'll be fine.” I smile, hoping deep down that today is going to be a good day.

* * *

The day at school goes by in a blur, and as the final bell rings, I start the walk home alone while the boys head off to football practice.

I can't shake off the unnerving feeling about the party as I approach my front door, especially after seeing multiple luxury cars lining the long, winding driveway.

When I step inside, the lights flicker, and 'surprise’ gets yelled in unison. But the look on my mother's face is particularly unsettling; it's as if she knows something that I don't—something bad—and I can't get rid of the dreadful feelings rushing through me.

Looking around, I don't see any of my friends from school, my cousins, or anyone my age, for that matter. Instead, older, powerful men in expensive suits are gathered in a large group, eyeing me with predatory gazes and crooked grins as they take in my appearance—including Dom's, Killian's, and Ash's father's.

The crystal chandeliers hanging above us cast daunting shadows of gloom over the room, making me feel even more uncomfortable.

I look to my parents in confusion, but they’re no help. My mother’s grin is sickening, and as I look away, I try to keep my composure under the watchful eyes of the powerful men, even though I want to run up to my room and lock myself inside.

It’s clear that this isn’t an ordinary thirteenth birthday party, but instead, more like a display for my father’s political stance and my mother’s spot on the social ladder—I think.

I feel like a fucking puppet hanging on display by thin strings that can be controlled easily—a pawn in my mother’s game of social climbing and her incessant need for power.

I need to get out of here.

My heart thunders, and as I take a step back so I can breathe, my mother grabs my arm and whispers threateningly in my ear. “You’re not going anywhere, Calista. Don’t you even think about embarrassing me.”

My heart sinks in my chest as I realize that I’m trapped in this nightmare, being forced to attend a party I want nothing to do with—my own party.

“Gentlemen,” mother begins, digging her fake nails into the skin on my upper arm again. “Thomas is going to show you to the party room, and I’ll be down with Calista shortly.” She smiles at them, flipping her silky black hair over her shoulder, maintaining her perfect posture the entire time.

I don’t know how she does it. Just watching her is exhausting.

Curling her fingers around my bicep, she drags me up the stairs to my room, almost making me take a spill from the force. Once inside my room, she pushes me onto my bed and pulls a dress off the hanger that was on the hook on the back door—a dress I’d never pick for myself.

“Put this on,” she says angrily, as if I’ve pissed her off somehow, making my jaw drop slightly in shock.

Knowing not to question her, I slip out of my innocent white dress and into a sultry black dress, one that hardly covers my ass.

“Why do I have to wear this? And why are those men here?” I pout, not caring how I’m coming across.

“Because I said so, and because they’re all here for your special day. You’re thirteen now, Calista. You’re a very special girl.” She grins, and it gives me another weary chill, making my teeth chatter as a shiver rocks my body.

She violently rips my headband out of my hair, pulling hair right out of my scalp, and begins to fix me up how she wants me—like a doll she’s playing dress-up with.

By the time she’s done, I don’t even recognize myself, and that’s not a good thing. Caked in layers of make-up and doused in heavy-scented perfume with tight blonde curls framing my face—she’s turned me into a whore who also still looks like a baby.

“You’re going to behave tonight, Cali, and if you don’t, there will be consequences. Do you understand?” She spins me so we’re facing each other, her evil eyes boring into mine.

“Yes, ma’am,” I whisper, scared to death of my own mother and whatever tricks she might have up her sleeve.

When we’re ready, she takes me to the basement, where the party is being held, methodically decorated in blood red and velvety black with flickering candlelight to guide our path through the halls. I shiver, knowing something isn’t right, but I still can’t figure out what exactly is happening.

I just know whatever it is isn’t good.

Entering the large room she calls the ‘party room’, I see a single stage in the center of a circle of black leather chairs, each one occupied by the men from upstairs, sitting with their legs crossed, a drink in their hands, and their beady, predatory eyes following my every move as I’m escorted to the stage.

Forcefully, I’m pushed up onto the stage, fidgeting with the hem of the short dress, while the men drink me in with their dark, hungry eyes as if I’m a refreshing glass of water that’ll quench their thirst.

“Gentlemen,” my father says into a microphone. “This is my beautiful daughter, Calista, and today is her thirteenth birthday.” He smiles at me as they applaud, quickly handing the microphone to my mother.

The bright lights above me blind my vision, making me sweat from the nerves sweeping through my body.

“Tonight is a special night,” my mother says, standing beside me with a fake smile that matches her fake tits, fake lashes, and fake personality. “We’re going to be having a fun bidding war, offering our daughter’s company to one lucky man.”

My jaw drops to the stage floor, and fear cripples me. My legs begin to shake, almost giving out from underneath me, forcing me to summon all of the strength I have to keep myself upright.

“Let’s start the bidding at $10,000. Remember, she’s as pure as they come.” She winks, letting out an evil-sounding laugh. “And she’s also yours to have for the night.”

She motions for me to twirl around, her finger held in the air, taunting me something terrible. But I comply with her silent demands, slowly spinning on my heels to give the hungry men a show.

The bidding begins, and their interest is piqued immediately. I almost puke as I see the little numbered paddles in their hands raise high in the air, and prices for my virginity go as high as $100,000.

It’s not long before my hearing becomes distorted, and I begin swaying nervously back and forth, feeling as though I’m about to collapse. The blood in my body rushes through me at a rapid speed, and I feel a surge of panic as I hear the terrifying reality of what my parents have planned for me tonight.

There must be some way out of here—someway for me to escape the horror that awaits me.

I look around, desperately searching for a way out, but there isn’t one. The devilish eyes of the men in the room are fixated on me—only me—their greedy, intimidating stares making it quite clear that there isn’t an escape.

I’m trapped in this disturbing reality, as I was upstairs. This is my fate, but I still can’t accept it.

My heart pounds, and my mind races with fear and desperation.

But I have no idea what to do.

The next thing I know, as I continue swaying back and forth, is that I collapse, falling to my knees on the stage, everything around me instantly fading to black.