da's

ing memories I didn't want to remember. My fingers ta

I had buried-the club. The place I had once called s

sk for permission. It jus

against my ribs, not in fear, but in a sick rhythm of remembrance-

llingly crawling back. Not for myself but for the wo

ike glass scraping my lungs. I wasn't just heading to a club-I was wal

it would recognize me.

g my body forward. I looked through th

b and was able to make some money but how the hell will

oss

essed in my scrub. I tried my best to avoid the lustful gaze of men in the club b

ne. I darted towards his door. His guards stopped me for some tim

items as well as a knife. He always had that with him. A smirk played on my l

smile spread across his lips. "See who we have h

the sofa opposite him. "Can I get m

anning me like a commodity. "What happen

replied through clenched t

d, his eyes glinting with satisfac

y Donald would have agreed quickly. He

tever the reason may be, I h

d, came into the room and Donald ordered

ow dancers-male and female-staring, their judgment heavy in the a

stripper. How ha

n contact with the purse that contained five hundred dollar

t idea to co

essing up, hoping to get it

abandoned by mine. If someone ever asked what

e life-was stolen from me. Instead, I became 'Brin

onl

Do you think you're at the fucking hospital you work at?" His growl made my pulse quicken. "I don

I threw on the tight black skirt, my skin prickling with self-cons

, thick eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a nose that was delicate, full red li

behind lies secrets that

hit me like a freight train. My heart skipped-What if one of them had been one of my pati

had seventy-two hours to save my dy

l." Desmond patted

ouded with mixed emotions. I surveyed the faces in the room,

black, wearing a mask that hid his features. My eyes scanned his

h

eminds me of a bas

kable sign of his wealth and power. If I could catch his at

thed the stage in shadows and temptation, I stepped into the spotli

deliberate, lifting it from my shoulders befo

le my arms swayed like silk ribbons. The warm air licked my ba

eliberately, letting the ends of my hair fan outward. My hands traced the curve

an's perfect spo

I was creating. My fingers slid up the gleaming silver pole. I wrapped one leg around it, the other

. A man in the front row leaned forward, his drink forgotten in his hand, hi

w and deliberate, my gaze burning into his soul like a silent d

myself to

ts. My chest rose and fell in time with the music

laiming s

spun, presenting my back to the crow

sps. The audience cheered, their applause ringing in my

hen I noticed the masked man stood and strode toward the podium. His guards wheel

ce smooth, yet chilling. "I'll

waves, though every second felt like a punishment. I danced for what felt like

amsel." The Italian accent barely veiled his d

like you were holding back. This isn't

? You can't do that!" I exploded

d my heart raced as he ascended the podium. Before I could react, his hand snaked around my wa

... He s

cheek, the slap, very satisfying. "Watch it,

enge. "Why don't you treat me to the rules?" His

s," I warned, the venom in my wor

ld smirking at the door, r

ent like that? Where are y

sked man go against the rule and

t the rule,

nd it." He replied, before

will be your saviour. Take it or leave it." T

n I yanked his hands off my body bef

n his face as he paid the other strippers. "That's double your payment." He laughed. The other

" I asked, scanning

." He retorted and before I could respond, he pulled out a card with a bl

was trying so hard to run from. It's... it's... Not now,

ng his arms behind his head. "

the left and caught the knife I saw earlier, I returned my ey

y, I got behind him and pl

rantee your mother will survive. Choo

g on in my life. "Pay me right away or die." I trai

strike a deal i

estioned, my voic

and in return, you will follow the maske

they work together? Hell

it. I can't kill anyone. I can't kill anymore

t the room but not after dropping a warning for h

e the money, at least, that would work as a deposit. But... The cupboa

he beginning