Two

TALIA

I was silent throughout the car ride. The dress I wore was very short and the breeze from the open window made me shiver. Despite the cups of the dress, I could feel my nipples harden, and goosebumps run up and down my legs.

In all this, I was terrified. Terrified of dying, of being taken to who knows where, of turning to my side and seeing Lorenzo Gallieni.

He had been silent all this time, and I was glad for it. At the very least, he wasn’t going to kill me…

… was he?

I thought of the life I had before this. My boyfriend John, who I had met one night after my long work hours. If he were here he would make me feel safe, he would protect me and take me away from here, right? He was the only man who saw me for me, instead of an object to be used and leered at.

Tears welled up in my eyes again and I tried to wipe them superstitiously so Lorenzo wouldn’t see, but it was too late.

“That’s enough.”

His growl made me flinch, and I felt a hand at my arm, forcing me to turn and look at him.

His cologne filled my nostrils and I was left speechless once again as he regarded me with a stern warning look.

“No more tears, doll. I hate the sight of women crying. It infuriates me.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken me then,” I tried to be brave once more. My trembling voice didn’t help one bit. “Maybe you should let me go.”

“Or maybe,” I gasped when his hand tightened over my arm. “You should keep your fucking mouth shut. You won’t need to speak where you’re going.”

“Where am I going?” I asked him, but he didn’t answer. “Please at least tell me. It’s not like I’m going to escape or something.”

“I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut doll instead of running it so fucking much. Wouldn’t want to scar that pretty face of yours.”

That offhand comment made me deflate.

“Talia.”

“What the fuck’s a Talia?” He sounded unamused and frustrated at me.

“My name,” I softly replied. “It’s Talia.”

He went silent and I looked away. Another strong breeze made its way through the window and I shivered.

I felt shifting beside me and a deep chuckle.

“Thought you were used to such nights with your line of work, but it seems I was wrong.” His low timbre was silky smooth and I flushed. I hated how attractive he sounded, smelt, and looked… I should’ve been more upset by all this.

“I’m not a common hooker,” I responded without thinking. “I’m an escort.”

“Hmm. And what’s the difference? They take you out to dinner first?” His voice taunted me, reminding me of how I was looked down on all my life. First for being poor, then for being an escort. I could never win.

“I don’t sleep with my clients…” I trailed off.

“Liar,” he scoffed.

“It’s true,” I insisted.

“And I’m the fucking king of England.”

“With that attitude you could be.”

Before I knew it, I was pinned against the leather car seat and his body bore down on me. I tried to scream but seeing the gaze in his eyes told me it would be a very bad idea. His right hand caressed my thigh, and I felt tingles running up and down my spine. It was hard to look away from his eyes, as intense as they were.

Damn it.

A whimper left my throat unwittingly as his hand dipped between my thighs and hiked the skirt of the already shirt minidress even higher.

“Please,” I begged, unsure of what exactly I was begging for. Something was in the air, I could feel it between us. I knew I couldn’t give in to it. But he was making it so damn difficult.

“Please, please, please,” he chuckled, and amusement flashed in his eyes. “You are quite the show, aren’t you Talia?”

Hearing my name spoken through his lips sent me spiraling internally. I gulped; I shouldn’t feel this way towards my abductor. I had to focus on living so he wouldn’t kill me.

But suddenly, the car stopped.

“We’re here,” he announced and then, just like that, the moment was over.

Within seconds I was forced out of the car in a flurry, and a thick black cloth was placed over my eyes before I properly took in my location.

“Walk.”

It was another man’s voice, thick and warning, and I felt something push me forward. What other choice did I have but to do as they wanted.

I could hear noises around me, but nothing definite. I remembered the steps I descended down, the feeling of a strong hand guiding me, of Lorenzo’s cologne filling my nostrils.

Then, I heard loud pumping music that belonged in a club surrounding me, and the bass vibrated up and down my legs.

Some more movement later and I was forced to stop, silent and waiting.

“Don.”

“Giovanni,” Lorenzo spoke then, and his voice was strong above the din.

The black cloth was removed from my head then in a flash, and I winced as my vision slowly started to focus.

“This is your new dancer, Talia.”

I turned my head to glance at Lorenzo who wasn’t looking at me. The other man looked me up and down, and he turned to Lorenzo, speaking something in Italian.

Lorenzo replied in Italian as well and I took the time to gaze around the room I was in. It reminded me of a club, with the strobe lights, music and patrons seated having their drinks of choice.

What stood out to me were the dancers, weaving their bodies artfully to the music on various platforms around the club. Some danced with poles, some topless, but all in various forms of undress.

A tug at my hand forced me to look back at the men who were done discussing. Lorenzo presented his hand, on which I saw a crested ring. Giovanni knelt down and kissed the ring and my jaw went slack with the shock reminder that I was now involved with the Gallieni Mafia, whether I liked it or not.

“Chelsea,” Giovanni raised his voice and a blonde woman wearing a blue sequin bikini top and tiny short shorts strolled up to him, bowing to Lorenzo, her breasts nearly spilling out of the cups.

“Yes manager?” Chelsea’s voice was flirty, and upbeat like she was on the beach instead of a darkened bar.

“Take Talia to her room. She will be with us for a while. Oh, and get her some uniforms. Work starts immediately,” Gio ordered.

I tried to look at Lorenzo but his face was turned away from me and suddenly it dawned on me. I was trapped. I had nowhere else to go.

I couldn’t find it within me to struggle instead followed Chelsea with my head bowed down.

That was what began my new life: a life as Lorenzo’s captive in an underground club I couldn’t escape.

…