SOLD TO THE MAFIA KING

CHAPTER 1 “Argh!”I groaned for the umpteenth time as the pain from my bruised heels stung, but I didn't stop; I kept on walking quickly. I'm frustrated, spent and I just want to feel the chill of alcohol run down my throat because my insides are burning. I inwardly sigh when I see Boleyn's Strip Club. I enter, and I’m greeted with the smell of alcohol and very sensual music that makes me want to vomit. “Hit me with two shots of my regular,” I say tiredly after sitting on the barstool next to the bar table. The sommelier, Hardin's smile fell as he took in my look. “Jesus Christ Ariana! What the f**k happened to your face?” Great! Like today couldn't get any worse. I completely forgot I wore makeup and I walked almost a mile under the scorching sun after crying like a baby that just got delivered. My eyes sting once again with the thought of Leo breaking up with me.”The burning sun.” I replied tiredly. His eyebrows raise as he begins to mix up my favorite flavors. “What about your car?” I watch as the men go crazy when Arial does her magic on the pole. “I needed a walk.” I shift my gaze back to Hardin as he drops the spirit on the bar table. I notice his worried expression, “thanks.” He sighed. “Heard about your dad, so sorry.” My heart sinks into my stomach. For just a minute I wanted to forget about how messed up today has been. I give him a tight lip smile, “It's his fault he got bankrupt.” I drink the first shot and my face squeezes in disgust, “I know you feel bad about it. Nevertheless, it's f*****g depressing turning from rich to poor.” My shoulder slumps at his words. I know, I hated the fact all this had to be happening now. My twin brother Adriano and I are still in college. Matteo is a huge burden; Gabriele has no job yet, and Francesco just started his business as a chef. Don't get me wrong, I love my brothers but they can be damnable most of the time. “Where's Amaya?” Hardin asked nervously looking around. “How can she be late today of all days?” My eyebrows pressed together, “She had head pains yesterday and said she might not turn up.” Hardin's eyes widen, and he begins to pace around, uttering curses. “Why the f**k didn't she tell the boss?” I finish the last bottle before standing worriedly. Their boss, Steven, is a nice man, but he gets worked up when important men show up there. “Are any of them here?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. Hardin walked to where I stood and held my shoulder, gesturing towards a booth occupied by powerful-looking men in fitted suits that looked expensive. “Boss has been fuming since they stepped in. I've never seen him so stern before. He says one of them is a member of the Aces” I fidget at his words. Hardin pushes my face away from the men. “Don't f*****g stare, Boss's words.” My heart raced. I wasn't sure if it was just the alcohol that made it exaggerated. The Aces are a very notorious Mafia group. They've been terrorizing the city and killing people like the pandemic. Even the cops are inferior to them. “Amaya is meant to serve at their table but she isn't here,” Hardin whispered worriedly. My heart raced at the thought of what would happen to Amaya. I can't let anything happen to her. “I'll take her place, just tell me what to do.” Hardin looks at me in concern before looking at the clock on the wall. “s**t!” He grabs my hand and takes me to the dressing room. “Just, ask them what they did like to have; the menus on the table. No comment, just a nod.” He said quickly while scrambling through the chifferobe for clothes. “What if they ask questions?” “I trust you are smart enough to answer wisely,” he said and handed me some folded clothes. I swallow a lump in my throat. I can barely see properly, I hope I don't mess things up. “What about my face,” I ask nervously. He smiles and places a hand on my shoulder causing me to slightly flinch. “Everything looks good on you,” he says, and I scoff, remembering his initial reaction when he saw me. He pats my back and turns to leave. “Make me proud, babe, and the mask is on the table.” I release a long breath when he leaves look at my reflection in the mirror and flinch. I look like death. “Just enjoy the rest of today and forget today ever happened,” I try to calm myself down. I put on the clothes and I nearly screamed. I'm not used to wearing revealing clothes mostly because Leo didn't appreciate it. I release a breath. Just live for once Ariana. I've always felt like dancing on that pole and just forgetting how messed up my life is. I really don't want to cry. I put on the mask. Ignoring the fact that those men are gonna see half of my boobs and a glimpse of my ass, I go walk to the bar table. Hardin whistles when he sees me, “Told you everything suits you. Who knew you were so f*****g sexy.” I rolled my eyes uncomfortably but I felt like I rolled my brain instead. “You okay?” Hardin asked, frowning. I chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling hot inside. “Never been better.” I turned towards the table where the men in suits sat. “Wish me luck.” I pretend like I didn't hear Hardin saying, “Your ass is enough luck,” My confidence suddenly dissipates as I'm standing in front of the men. Two of them looked like Indians and were speaking in Hindi to a fair-skinned man who translated it to Spanish to the man who sat with legs crossed and an arm around the sofa. The alcohol had already obscured my vision and senses, and all I could see was a blur. “What would you like to drink,” I ask seductively. Their eyes move to me, and I force a smile, silently praying I don't throw up from the hotness in my throat. The Indians stared at me up and down, making me feel naked, while the man sprawled on the sofa facing me stared at me. My insides begin to burn by the sternness of his gaze. Although I couldn't see him properly, he looked extremely handsome and vaguely familiar. “ Ham kahān hastākṣar karate hain? (Where do we sign?).”One of the Indian men with a goatee told the fairer man, who translated it to Spanish, causing the handsome man to smirk. Although I was Spanish, I didn't speak Spanish because no one around me spoke it. His eyes moved to mine again this time expressionless. “Three glasses of bootlegged whiskey mixed with absinthe and champagne for me please,” he requested firmly. I don't know if it was the music messing with me, but every word that came out of his mouth was incredibly seductive, even the say he sat on the sofa. All I could imagine was him rising and falling in pleasure. When I realized I was staring, I quickly walked away, twisting my heel in the process, “s**t!” I groan as I limp towards the bar. Hardin stared at me; his lips were curved into a smirk.” Was it only me that noticed the tension between you and that guy?” I bite my lips nervously. I've never felt this cheap before, not even with Leo. So, I don't understand why I'm feeling so much lust for a stranger. “What's the order?” Hardin smirks, picking up two mixing glasses. I tell him and he begins mixing the drinks. I'm no sorcerer but I think bootlegged whiskey and absinthe together could be poisonous. I look back at the stranger, and he's staring at me; I quickly look away. My heart begins to race. Can he sense it too? I suck my lips and scratch my neck “Ariana, try loosening up for a minute,” Hardin said, his eyes holding concern. “Forget about your asshole boyfriend for a second; we both know he's cheating on you, so why not do the same? You know, tit for f*****g tat.” My eyes begin to moisten again. Hardin's right, even though he has no idea Leo broke up with me. I've tried my best to be a good girlfriend and all he did was hit me and cheat on me. I don't know what it's like to feel good and I really want to know. Just tonight, I want to feel good, I want to forget everything. I take the tray of drinks ready to leave but Hardin says, “There's a room upstairs by the left in case you need it.” I smile in appreciation and return to the men's table. The Indians seemed apprehensive. They take the drinks before I drop them on the table and drink immediately before saying something to the translator. When the stranger nods, they quickly leave, heading to where the strippers are. I swallow a lump in my throat when I realize it's only me and the man left. “Aren't you going to give me my order?” The man said impatiently. I nod, nearly tripping over my own feet as I pick up the champagne bottle. I pour it into a glass and hand it to the man. I shudder when his hand brushes against mine as he collects it. I have no idea what to do, I've never seduced a man before. “Do you want more?” I ask sucking my lips. His eyes narrowed, “Are you willing to give me more?” His voice was groggy yet firm. “Ye…yes,” I stammered. His face lit in amusement. “With that leg of yours?” I don't know why, but my legs turned lickerish at his words, “Anyhow, you did like it,” I say innocently. His eyes darkened, and he dropped the empty glass, “I don't suppose you can walk to the bar with your head, or are we still talking about getting drinks here?” He said mockingly. My heart sank and I felt so stupid. I wish the ground would swallow me at this moment. He stood, and I felt like a shadow was cast over me. I could tell he was well-built from the way his muscles bulged in his shirt. Lust overwhelmed me, and at a point, I felt like begging him to let me touch him. “I'll take another drink but first, where's the first aid box,” he stares at me earnestly. “First aid what?” I stammer feeling like a dwarf in front of him. “Answer me,” he grumbles impatiently and I flinch. “Um, Upstairs by the left.” I stammer apprehensively. He looks at me for a while in confusion and the next thing I know, I'm being swept off my feet.