2025-04-08 22:56:14
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~ 168 ~
In one smooth motion, Zach sidestepped, grabbed his opponent’s arm, and slammed him onto the floor. The breath left the man in a painful grunt as Zach planted his boot on his chest.Before Zach could say anything, the wail of distant sirens split the night.“Police!” The man shouted, disappearing into his car and zooming off in fear.Panic spread instantly. The remaining conscious men scrambled to their feet, exchanging quick, terrified glances. Without another word, they bolted, disappearing into different alleys like frightened rats.Zach stood alone, breathing heavily but composed. He glanced down at the blood on his knuckles, clicking his tongue in annoyance.“Messy,” he muttered under his breath.He bent down, picked up the fallen baton, and twirled it once before tossing it aside with deliberate disdain. Pulling out a folded handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped the crimson smears from his hand slowly, methodically, as though erasing a nuisance rather than cleaning an injury.W
~ 167 ~
The motorcycle tires screeched against the asphalt before halting just a few feet in front of the sleek black car. Dust curled around its wheels, settling over the tense scene like a veil.Dafne’s chest rose and fell as her back pressed against the hard chests of the men. Her breath hitched when the rider removed his helmet and placed it on the seat. The dim streetlight illuminated his face, and her heart stopped.It was Zach.Her stomach churned violently. No… not him. Not now.Zach swung his leg off the bike with casual grace, his boots crunching against the gravel. He gave a brief huff and dusted off his jacket, like he hadn’t just walked into a potential bloodbath. His gaze swept across the four men surrounding Dafne, lingering briefly on her trembling form.For one agonizing second, his eyes locked with hers.She froze, her throat tightening. “Did he… recognize me?” She thought.But Zach only broke the moment, sighing as though irritated rather than shocked.“Seriously,” he murmu
~166~
The streetlights buzzed faintly in the dim night as Dafne pushed the glass door open and slipped inside the tiny open store. Her stomach growled louder than her footsteps, and for a moment, she shut her eyes and inhaled the faint smell of fried dough wafting from behind the counter.Her throat was dry. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast.She grabbed two cans of instant noodles from the shelf, hugging them close like precious treasure. At the counter, she dropped a few crumpled bills and murmured, “Keep the change,” before darting outside.A shaky wooden table sat in the shadows just beside the store. Dafne sat there, shoulders hunched, legs folded close, keeping her face hidden beneath the loose strands of her dark hair. She quickly popped the lid of the can, chewing hungrily, tearing into the noodles like someone who had fought her own pride just to eat. She tilted her head low, almost burying her face, as if the world couldn’t see her if she couldn’t see them.The street bustled faint
~ 165 ~
Dafne turned sharply, eyes blazing. “Then give them someone else. I said I’m done.”His gaze flicked to the mask lying on the table. He picked it up between two fingers. “And this? Why do you dance with your face hidden? Who are you hiding from, Dafne?”Her patience snapped. “Enough, Marko! Just give me my payment and keep your questions.” Her voice echoed against the walls, raw with anger.For a beat, he only stared, then slipped a hand into his jacket. An envelope with a bundle of notes appeared, and he dropped it onto the vanity with a dull slap.“There,” he said evenly, his expression unreadable.Dafne’s fingers trembled slightly as she snatched the thick envelope from the vanity table. Her chest rose and fell in sharp bursts, the bass of the music still thudding faintly from the club outside. She tore open the flap and quickly flicked through the neatly stacked bills, her brows pulling together as she glanced at Markos.“How much is this?” she asked, her voice tight, as if she al
~ 164 ~
Dafne slipped into the dressing room, the heavy door shutting behind her with a muted thud that echoed in her chest. The faint scent of perfume, powder, and stale alcohol clung to the air, wrapping itself around her like a second skin. Rows of costumes hung on a rack by the mirror, shimmering under the fluorescent light, feathers, sequins, and lace in garish colors meant to dazzle under stage lights.Her hand trembled as she reached out and brushed a red sequin bra paired with a thin skirt of glittering tassels. The fabric scratched against her fingertips, alien and cold. She pulled it from the hanger, holding it against herself, and let out a breath that came out shakier than she intended. Sitting on the padded stool in front of the mirror, she let the costume slide into her lap.Her eyes followed the curve of her reflection. Her shoulders sagged, her back curved inward as if gravity itself pressed heavier tonight. She pressed the costume tighter against her knees, her jaw tightening
~ 163 ~
Less than an hour later, Dafne stood before a glowing neon sign: VELVET INFERNO. The upscale strip bar buzzed with life.Her breath slowed. She had performed here before, too many times to count. The familiar ache of humiliation pressed against her ribs as she scanned the crowd outside – young couples smooching shamelessly in corners, some half-hidden in parked cars, bodies tangled, moaning.Though it was just 6:30 p.m., the sky was a deep, heavy black, as though night had swallowed the city early.She drew in a sharp breath and pushed through the doors. Music thundered, bass rattling her chest. A stripper spun lazily around a pole on stage, glittering under spotlights as VIP clients leered from plush seats at the front, bills already tucked into waistbands.Dafne shut her eyes, inhaling the cocktail of perfume, sweat, and expensive liquor. Her heels clicked as she walked past the stage, straight down a dim hallway, until she stopped before a closed office door.Her knuckles tapped on
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