2025-04-10 23:28:29
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~ 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
~ 162 ~
After almost an hour of sex, the room smelled of sweat and something older, faded perfume clinging to the thin curtains. The small bed creaked softly as Dafne lay flat on her back, her body warm but her face carved into stone. Her eyes stared at the cracked ceiling above them, expressionless, as though she hadn’t just spent almost an hour tangled with Rabiu.Beside her, Rabiu lay sprawled, chest heaving, beads of sweat glistening in the dim bulb’s light. His grin was wide, foolish, his teeth flashing in satisfaction as he gazed up at the same ceiling she did. He laughed breathlessly, the sound rumbling in his throat.“Damn…” he whispered, licking his lips. “That was… that was something else. Sweetest thing I’ve had all week. Your pussy, Dafne…” he chuckled again, turning his head toward her, “it’s like it was made to keep me alive.”Her lips didn’t move. Not a smile. Not a smirk. Just silence.He went on, still basking in his own thrill. “You hear me? Tight… wet… perfect. You wore me
~ 161 ~
The men exchanged quick glances, murmuring under their breath. Finally, one stepped forward. “Five thousand,” he said, his tone sharp.Zach’s lips tugged into something between a smirk and a sneer. Slowly, he slipped his hand into his jacket pocket. The men tensed, but instead of a weapon, he pulled out neat bundles of cash. Without ceremony, he tossed them onto the ground at their feet. The bundles landed with a heavy slap.“That’s twenty grand,” he said flatly. “Pick it up and get lost.”The men froze, staring at the money as though it had fallen from the heavens. One crouched, flipping through the notes quickly before his face lit with certainty.“It’s real,” he muttered.The others shoved Maya aside without hesitation, their rough hands releasing her arm. She stumbled back, clutching her wrist, her wide eyes darting between them and Zach.“Much appreciated, boss,” one of the men said with a crooked grin. They snatched the bundles, retreating toward their rusted truck.Zach’s voice
~ 160 ~
Maya tightened her grip on the steering wheel, eyes darting between the mirror and the road ahead. The reflection of the figure getting up made her keep on driving with disregard.“What a fool,” she muttered with a scoff, forcing her lips into a curve that looked more like defiance than humor.The evening air pressed against the car windows, carrying the faint hum of neon lights as she drew closer to the bar. Yet something gnawed at her. A faint pair of headlights in her rearview mirror. They had been there for the last five turns, persistent, unwavering.Her brows knitted together. “Don’t tell me…”She leaned forward slightly, squinting. The bulky silhouette of a truck loomed behind her, too deliberate to be a coincidence. Her heart thudded against her ribs when the truck’s lights flashed briefly, as though mocking her suspicion. Then she saw him. The passenger’s profile, half-lit by the streetlamps they passed, his face she recognized. The same man she had knocked off moments ago, s
~ 159 ~
Darius stared at the vial, his hands curling into fists. “And if I don’t believe you?”“You have no other option,” she whispered with a shrug. “I’m the only one you can count on right now.”His lips twisted. “Your way is unlawful.”Maya burst into laughter, sharp and cutting. “Unlawful? Don’t make me laugh, Darius. Haven’t you done worse than this already?”He glared at her, still weighing her words. “And after that? What happens?”Her smile returned, sly and cold. “Then I’ll make sure you disappear. I’ll help you leave the country for good. The police won’t find you… because my men will fake your death.”Darius stood silent, eyes locked on hers. The flickering light hummed above them, casting their shadows long across the stone floor.His eyes darted between Maya’s face and the small vial in her hand. His chest rose and fell in sharp, reluctant breaths. He had fought too many battles, played too many games of deceit to not recognize the glimmer of suspicion that had clawed its way in
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