Traded to the mafia

ar calm. She didn't fight it. What was the point? Jesse's men wouldn't hesitate to put her

henchman sat beside her in the bac

ianca asked, her voice

didn't

under her breath, turning her attent

ard to look out the tinted window, but before she could make sens

man ordered as a black hood

ghtened around her face. She thrashed instinctively,

an growled. "Stay stil

w beneath the hood. Her mind raced, imagining the wor

a sinister soundtrack to her spiraling thoughts.

ientation complete as she was led blindly through what felt like a maze. The muffl

breath hitched as she took in her surroundings-a lavish dressing room filled with women in

a tailored suit strolled into the room. "This is Bianca, your new colleague. Tr

-over. "Hope you can dance, love. If not, you'll learn f

ound the room. A girl with a sleek bob a

I'm Valentina.

sitantly. "Yeah.

. "Stick with me. I'll he

ty vanity. As they sat, Bianca whis

, like she was stating the weather. "It's exclusive. Hig

" Bianca

tonight, you'll get to work privately for the

er girls, each stunning and confident, their movement

sensing her doubt. "You'll do

tried to steady her nerves. She caught her reflection in the mirror and barely recognized hersel

said, giving her a reassuri

heart raced. The club doors opened,

y room, every eye turning toward her. Bianca clen

she told herself. **I jus

-

ard the center stage. The strippers' platform gleamed under the spotlight, an island in the middle of t

P booths ringed the platform, while overflow areas and the general crowd all funneled their attention toward her. The unspoken rul

illed the room. A rocky tune blared over the

entina whispered, g

of Jesse, his cold gaze piercing through the shadows. It was enough to force her bo

way as she let muscle memory take over, twisting and curling around the pole with surprising fluid

redatory hunger. But the more Bianca danced, the more she felt trappe

ed, legs spread, leaving nothing to the imagination. The room erupted into applause, b

he thought. "I can't keep

ilence in its wake. A drunken man in the crow

feel those curves," he ca

his eyes bloodshot and ravenous. He stumbled to

her throat. Panic clawed at her as

oomed through the room, f

etreated, muttering under their breath. Jesse rose

eclared, his tone leaving no r

with unsteady legs. Jesse's gaze never wav

esse led her toward a private lounge. The moment

growled, his voic

ly knocked over a glass of champagne onto his tailored suit

mered, fumbling for a na

as Jesse grabbed her wrist

ebt," he snarled, his grip unrelenting.

ith tears. "Please, I- I'

Jesse spat, his cold

dy trembling with exhaustion. She felt her strength lea

dered, his voice a

o his sleeve. "I can't," she whispered, her vo

as he stared down at her. Then, with a frustrated s

ly, turning toward the door. "You don

She curled into herself, the weight of her situation pressing down like a vi