Ariana Moreno
"Mother! Please open your eyes," I said, panicking hard as tears fell freely from my eyes. I couldn't bear to lose her. Not again.
"Help!!" I shouted.
She had collapsed right in front of the studio where she worked.
I held her tightly in my arms, my hands shaking as I ran through my phone, dialing random numbers.
"Can you please come to the studio? My mother just collapsed!" I yelled, desperation evident in my voice.
I didn't stop shouting until her colleagues finally came out and helped rush us to the hospital.
I wouldn't stop crying, caressing her skin until we finally arrived. They carried her inside while the doctors and nurses immediately took over.
"You can wait at the reception," a nurse said, gently pushing me aside.
I staggered back and sat hopelessly on one of the seats, my legs weak beneath me. Tears filled my eyes. I understood fully why my mother collapsed earlier. She had been diagnosed with late-stage pneumonia, and without proper treatment, she would struggle to breathe and could lose her life.
It would cost fifteen million dollars to admit her for proper treatment in the hospital.
"Rina!"
I was suddenly pulled back by a familiar voice. John... my childhood best friend.
"Where is she?" he asked, moving closer.
"She collapsed all of a sudden this time," I said before bursting into tears again.
He pulled me into his arms.
"It's okay... don't cry," he comforted, patting my back gently.
We stayed like that for a few minutes before the doctor came out.
"Can I see Miss Ariana for a minute?" he asked.
I stood up immediately and followed him.
"You know very well that she's in a critical condition, yet she keeps overworking herself," he said frustratedly, removing his glasses.
"She wouldn't allow me do all the work," I explained. "I've tried convincing her several times."
"She collapsed due to fatigue," the doctor continued. "Her lungs are getting weaker. She needs proper treatment as soon as possible."
He handed me a file.
I dismissed myself from the hospital and walked back home dejectedly, even ignoring John who kept calling behind me.
Nothing was making sense.
Fifteen million dollars in one month?
We barely survived day by day.
I never even saw my father before he died in an accident-the very day I was born. No father. No supporter. It had always been just me and my mother... and sometimes John.
I sat on the bare floor at home, staring soullessly at the file that contained my mother's medical bills and condition.
How could I get fifteen million dollars within a month?
I couldn't even remember any of my mother's relatives or close friends. John was an orphan too, working as a cleaning agent. I had no friends apart from him.
There was no way I could get that kind of money within a month legally.
If I had to rob, so be it... but how?
I switched on my phone. I needed ideas.
That was when I saw an advert for a particular strip club.
I clicked on it and scrolled further. They paid their dancers thousands of dollars-far more than other strip clubs.
This was an opportunity.
I had known from the beginning that there was no legal way to get that amount of money, and I was willing to do whatever it took. I wasn't losing my mother.
I ran to my room and stood in front of the mirror. I had inherited a nice body shape from her and a face people always noticed. I smiled bitterly.
If this was my last option, then so be it.
I went back to my phone, scrolling through more details about the strip club. The dancers wore almost no clothing, exposing little to nothing, their faces hidden behind masks.
I would need clothes like that and a face mask.
I checked my purse, bringing out the little cash inside. It definitely wouldn't be enough.
I called John.
"I've been trying your number," he said immediately. "You left your mother at the hospital?"
"John, I need your help," I said quickly. "I know I sound stupid right now, but can you lend me some money?"
"Is something going on?" he asked worriedly.
"Please don't ask," I said softly. "I'll explain everything later. Just trust me."
"Okay," he replied. "I'll transfer some to your account."
With the money sorted out, I walked into a clothing store and showed the attendant the piece I wanted.
"Are you perhaps married?" she asked sarcastically.
"This is the type I want!" I snapped, finally losing my patience after enduring their mocking gazes.
I paid for the clothes and necessities and walked out of the store.
The strip club only opened on weekends at night, which made today the perfect day.
Tonight, it would all begin...
Elijah Fiorensco
It had been a long year, chasing the Europeans. They never stopped hiding, and we never stopped chasing. Trust me, wherever the fuck they were, we would fish them out.
Looking back, I realized how much I had changed in just one year. Mafia lord, drug dealer, killer, illegal weapons trader-too many sinful acts to count.
"We should go to the club tonight. A spy has some information," Maxwell said as he entered. He was an older brother from another mother.
"Yeah... I need to cool my head too," I replied slowly, changing out of my black shirt.
The club was more lively than ever tonight-brighter, louder, and more crowded. I had been running it since I was sixteen. There was always something amusing about watching people release their sinful sides.
But this club wasn't as interesting as the underground one.
That place was darker. Secretive. A part of the club casual people didn't know about-not even the government. It was filled mostly with mafia lords, politicians, and men who controlled cities with a snap of their fingers.
I entered through the stairs, landing in the top room. From there, I could watch the underground club clearly and even catch glimpses of the strip club on the other side.
I sipped my bourbon, watching a threesome beneath me. Two men took turns fucking her while the third banged her from behind. I smirked slightly at her struggle to cum.
My eyes moved around, scanning the room, watching for spies or anything unusual.
That was when I saw her.
She looked strange... and scared. Definitely new here.
Apart from the fact that she was beautiful, her body was dangerously attractive. She wore little to nothing. Her upper breasts were very visible, her ass round and perfectly shaped. Every curve of her body was accentuated flawlessly.
I felt a sudden stiffness in my crotch, which was unusual for me.
Men were already throwing her lustful gazes, and it irritated me more than it should have. My eyes followed her every step until she finally stopped at the stripper's stage.
I stiffened.
"Stripper?"
No fucking way was I watching her perform for those motherfuckers.
I dropped my glass of bourbon and hurried downstairs, grabbing my phone.
"Kelly, close the strip club for the day!" I yelled before hanging up.
"And bring the new lady on the stage to the underground club. Now."
I returned to the top room and watched as she struggled against Kelly.
"Interesting," I smirked, sipping my bourbon again.
It didn't take long before they brought her to me.
"Let me go, you bitches!" she struggled, fighting against their grip.
"Leave her," I said coldly, motioning for their dismissal.
They stepped away immediately.
"Hi, sexy little thing..." I crouched slightly to her height.
She didn't respond. She was lost, drooling as she stared at me, admiring every feature of my face.
I smirked, enjoying the effect I had on her.
"When you're done, let me know," I said, staring deeply into her eyes.
"I... I did nothing," she stammered.
"Instead of dancing with the pole, how about I dip the pole in your hole?" I said darkly, caressing her smooth face.
"You... you should let me go," she said, turning her face away.
"Elijah," I said calmly. "That's my name. And I'll let you go only if you dance for me."
"You're really tempting me in this little outfit of yours, little thing," I muttered slowly, my fingers brushing her exposed breasts.
Her body flinched immediately.
"You have no idea how many things I want to do to you," I whispered, applying pressure and gently squeezing.
She moaned softly. "Oh... please, let me go..." She tried to move away.
"Then dance for me," I said, stepping closer. "Or I continue... and you'll obviously love it."
She kept stepping back until her body hit the wall.
"Okay... fine. I'll dance," she said finally.
"Good girl," I laughed.
"Come closer, baby," I commanded, gently tugging her toward me.
"Take off your clothes," I said softly.
"What?!" she gasped in shock.
Ariana Moreno
"What?!"
I was far beyond shocked. Strip naked? I had never even worn something like this before in all my twenty-one years. Now... completely naked?
From the moment my eyes landed on him, I knew he was dangerous. The kind of man I should run away from immediately. But how?
Stupidly, I found myself strangely attracted to him. His face was sharp and well defined, every feature fitting together in perfect balance. His chest was wide and strong, tattoos staining his porcelain skin.
I knew right then that I was doomed-because who the fuck feels attraction toward someone they're supposed to be afraid of?
I was still standing there in shock, trying to figure out what to do or say, when my gaze drifted downward.
That was when I realized something terrifying.
I had been standing in a top room the entire time.
And what the fuck was happening underground?
Was that... live sex?
Women walked around completely naked. A threesome. A foursome. Girls fucking themselves openly. Men watching, touching, taking turns.
This was hell.
I had never seen anything like this before-not even in movies.
He walked closer to me again, and I couldn't move anymore. My back hit the wall.
"Little thing is distracted by the underground club," he murmured dangerously close to my ear. "Would you like to join them too? Or maybe try those acts yourself?"
"No..." I muttered immediately.
"You're not taking off your clothes and dancing?" he reminded, his fingers already reaching for the tiny piece of fabric holding my breasts.
One thing I had noticed about him-he was impatient.
"I'll do it... myself," I said quickly, grabbing his hand.
But it was too late.
My breasts bounced free, fully exposed.
I gasped and covered myself immediately.
"You should stop this!" I yelled.
"You do not raise your voice at me!" he yelled back, pinning my hands against the wall.
My breasts were completely naked to his gaze now, with no way to hide them.
"You can't hide anything from me, little thing," he said slowly. "I own it now."
He lowered his head and kissed my nipples softly.
As much as I hated to admit it, I enjoyed every touch. A spark shot through my body, my skin reacting to him against my will.
He fondled my breasts, his hands roaming freely, setting my body on fire.
This was wrong.
It had to stop.
But how?
He suddenly lifted me into his arms in a bridal style and laid me flat on the table.
"It needs to stop when your body reacts like this?" he asked, taking one of my breasts into his mouth.
I moaned despite myself.
"Oh... Elijah," I whispered, my fingers sliding into his hair.
He continued touching me everywhere until his hand reached my panties. He teased me slowly, deliberately, before finally touching me.
My body flinched and I grabbed his wrist.
"Oh..." I moaned again.
"This is the first time someone is doing this to you?" he asked, amusement lacing his voice.
I nodded.
"Wait..." He paused and pulled back slightly. "You're a virgin?"
He moved away from me completely.
Strangely, disappointment settled in my chest.
He stood there watching me for a moment before helping me off the table. He picked up a jacket from the chair and slipped it over my body. It was long enough to reach my knees.
"Listen, little thing," he said calmly. "I'm not a good man. Fuck that-I'm not even close to being one."
He met my eyes.
"So I'm letting you go now. My guards will escort you home safely. And listen to me carefully-do not come here again."
His tone hardened.
"Bad people fill this place. People who would do things to you you've never experienced before. Including me. And if our paths cross again... I won't resist."
He bent down and kissed me gently.
I couldn't say a word. I just stared at him, my eyes wide and innocent.
To be honest... it wasn't just him.
I wanted it too.
He summoned his guards.
"She must not get hurt," he ordered coldly.
They bowed.
I waved at him slightly, and he smirked.
I followed the bodyguards out of the room.
I should have been relieved. I should have been happy he let me go.
So why did I feel empty?
Why did I feel... lost?
I entered the car they had prepared and glanced back at the club one last time.
So much had happened in one night.
And now...
The plan had changed.