𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 | 𝟏𝟖+

𝟏𝟕 | 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫

𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐙

What am I doing?

That's what all my thoughts are at this very moment when I'm making my way off the stage and back into the dressing room.

I have never danced for anybody, no matter how much they were willing to pay yet I accept the offer from the Russian man whom I loathe. It's not me, and quite frankly I'm in belief that I've been possessed.

It wasn't difficult to accept, in all honesty. It's like he's casting a spell on me, making me do whatever he wishes for me to do. And it's aggravating, I hate every aspect of it. By now, if a man was so set on me, I would've beaten them plump and let them die in a random ditch.

But Nikolai? It feels weird. Like he brings me a sense of adrenaline that no one has before. I hate him, but maybe the pleasure is what I need in my life currently.

I let out a sigh as I enter the dressing room, immediately walking over to the vanity so I can freshen up. I feel like I'm sweating buckets just from the idea of dancing for someone. I don't even know how to, so this is a first for me.

And quite truthfully, I'm scared. My anxiety is practically through the roof as I rummage through the drawer, searching for my infamous red lipstick.

When I manage to successfully retrieve it, I apply it rushing, yet cautiously so I ensure it doesn't get smudged.

I almost feel myself shaking from the nerves raking through my body, but I immediately shake them off. I wasn't going to allow Nikolai out of all people to get me so nervous and shaken up.

He doesn't deserve that, and I sure as fuck won't allow him to feel an ounce of what he does to me.

Not that it's anything good.

I exhale loudly and stand, almost rethinking this whole situation. If I go, I have an opportunity to pry information from him. If I don't, then quite frankly I'm stuck at equilibrium.

I come to terms with what I'm actually doing, and leave the dressing room. Even though Nikolai is a pain in my backside, I still have to manage to put up with him because of many reasons.

One - he somehow has managed to get under my father's skin and successfully went to a dinner with him. So I'm at belief that my father has grown a liking to him.

Two - he's the reason Matteo died, and I need to know what his motive was.

Three - I need to know who Nikolai actually is. Countless times has anyone mentioned that there's only one Russian mafia situated in New York and we don't necessarily have an alliance with them. So if my father agreed to him visiting, he's definitely not one of them.

Truthfully, that's three reasons to many for me to actually be willing to dance for him. I almost throw up on the spot but I hold it back as I make my way towards the back rooms.

My heels click against the floors as I admire the chaotic scenery around me. Lights are flashing, the booths are dimmed as couple are seated, doing only god knows what and the fog is almost making the whole club invisible.

The man guarding the entrance for the rooms looks me up and down, sending a quick nod over as he realises who I am. He moves aside, letting me in and I'm greeted with dark red rooms.