Page 11 of Claimed
And I saved as much money as possible from the allowance and got a job while at Juilliard and saved those checks too.
I didn’t want toneedMaximo once I graduated.
Now, I’d only been six months out of Julliard.
I returned to Obsidian Bay—my hometown.
It was nestled along a rugged coastline. The city’s name came from the dark, volcanic rock that formed its cliffs, which loomed over the stormy turquoise waters of the bay. The skyline was a blend of gothic architecture and modern high-rises.
All throughout, narrow, cobblestone streets wound its ancient neighborhoods that had seen centuries of dark secrets, unsolved murders, and treacherous scandals.
Ruled by the powerful Italian mafia, Obsidian Bay operated under a strict, unspoken code. And the mafia’s influence was felt in every corner of the city—from the luxurious mansions and castles that lined the cliffs to the busy docks where deals were made in the darkness.
For most of my childhood, my stepfather had held an iron grip on Obsidian Bay’s criminal underworld.
I knew I shouldn’t have come back here. So stupid.
The problem was that beneath the dark veneer of organized crime, Obsidian Bay was also a cultural mecca, renowned for its dedication to the arts, particularly ballet. In fact, the city was home to the prestigious Obsidian Ballet Company, a world-renowned institution that drew in the most talented dancers from around the globe.
Here, I could get my face in front of the top directors in the world.
Fuck.
Even crazier, I thought Maximo didn’t even know I was here. I hadn’t spoken to him since telling him about my graduation. I’d been living in a small studio apartment in a rough part of town, but it didn’t eat too much out of my savings. I’d even gotten a job as a barista in the theater district.
I stayed to myself, and every damned week, I went on audition after audition.
Melanique was the only director to call back and give me my first role—the Vampire Queen. When she did, I treated myself to a high-end dinner that night.
As far as I knew, everything was going perfectly.
And now, here I was, backstage at her production, fearing this encounter with my stepfather who'd shown up unannounced and, undeniably, unwanted.
Just do it. Get it over with. It will be okay.
With a deep breath, I finally turned the doorknob and pushed open the door to my dressing room.
I was greeted by the sight of him—larger than life in his expensive suit and diamond studded cufflinks, standing by my vanity mirror. His eyes met mine in the mirror's reflection.
There it was—that same cold gaze that hadn't changed since I was a child.
Although, time had siphoned away some of his vigor, none of the latent danger he exuded left. My stepfather's hair had turned silver since I'd last seen him, and the suit that once would have strained against his muscular frame now hung more loosely.
When Maximo spoke, the voice that greeted me wasn't one of adoration from a theatergoer; it was laced with an accent of old money, death, and great power. “Bella.”
My middle name was Isabella. He always shortened it and never called me by my first name, Erica. This got others around him to do the same.
I stepped inside, but didn’t close the door. “Hello, Father.”
He turned around, revealing that he held a bouquet of roses which seemed so out of place in his large, callused hands. “Brava, my dear! The whole time, I thought you wereactuallya vampire.”
His smile was warm, unnervingly so, considering the coldness I'd come to associate with him over the years.
A dark chuckle left him. “I almost didn’t come backstage to say hi.”
I wish you hadn’t, and I damn sure wish I was that powerful Vampire Queen right now.
A vision of me hissing and showing my claws entered my head.
