Blood And Desire: Bound To The Mafia King

Sienna Rojas Point of View I was numb. My body did not connect to my soul as I swung around the pole. The stench of cheap whiskey and sweat clung to the air as the bass from the club vibrated through the walls, sending shivers down my spine. The red lights cast shadows across the stage, highlighting every curve as I moved to the rhythm. My heels clicked softly against the pole as I twirled, my body reacting to the music as if on autopilot. This was my life now, an endless routine of forced smiles, grinding hips, and desperate horny men. Tonight was no different. The stares were familiar, the whispers expected. I knew their eyes, their desire. I could feel it like a physical weight pressing down on me, but it barely registered anymore. Nothing really did. Not after the news I’d received this afternoon. Six months to live. Maybe less. Stage two cancer. The words echoed in my mind as I spun once more, gripping the pole to keep from falling as my legs threatened to give out beneath me. How ironic that my body was betraying me just as surely as my life had. Stripping had never been the plan, but when my world collapsed, I’d been left with no other choice. The bills piled up, and dancing at the Mirage became my only means of survival. The audience erupted in applause as I finished my set, their cheers falling on deaf ears. I forced a smile, collecting the crumpled bills scattered at my feet. I stuffed the money into my bra and walked off stage, my body aching with exhaustion. “Sienna, you okay?” Carmen’s voice cut through the noise, her concern evident even beneath her tough exterior. She stood by the dressing room door, her arms crossed, watching me like a hawk. “I’m fine,” I lied, brushing past her as I headed for my locker. My hands shook as I reached for my bag. “You don’t look fine,” she said, her voice softening. Carmen had been in this world longer than I had, and she could read me like a book. “What did the doctor say?” I hesitated, not wanting to go into it. Not here. Not now. “It’s nothing,” I mumbled, pulling my shirt over my head. “Bullshit,” she snapped, stepping in front of me and crossing her arms. “Don’t lie to me, Sienna. We’ve been through too much for that.” I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. “Stage two cancer,” I whispered. The words tasted like ash in my mouth. “They said I’ve got six months. Maybe less, the cancer cells are growing faster than they expected..” Carmen’s eyes widened, her tough exterior cracking for just a moment before she composed herself. “s**t, Sienna… What are you gonna do?” I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t have the money for treatment. And… Mom’s still sick. There’s no way I can handle both.” Carmen was silent for a moment, her gaze softening as she pulled me into a tight hug. “You don’t have to handle it alone,” she murmured. I clung to her, my chest tightening as the weight of my reality settled in. But I couldn’t let myself break. Not here. Not now. “Thanks, Carmen,” I said, pulling away and giving her a small smile. “But I’ve got to figure this out on my own. I can’t be a burden to you.” She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Just don’t do anything stupid, okay?” “I’ll try,” I muttered, grabbing my things and heading out the back door. “I need to get home, talk to you tomorrow," I muttered, already halfway out the back exit. That was a lie. The truth was, I needed to see him. Ethan. I didn’t even know what I was hoping for anymore. Maybe comfort. Maybe hope. But after tonight’s shift, my body and mind were frayed to the bone, and I needed to hear his voice, to feel his arms around me, anything to make this day bearable. Anything to make the weight of my diagnosis feel less crushing. Stage two cancer. Six months. Six months left to live unless I could come up with a miracle, and there were no miracles waiting for me at the Mirage. I tightened my coat around me as I walked down the damp streets, the cool night air biting at my skin. Ethan hadn’t picked up my calls earlier, but that wasn’t unusual. He was always late with texts, caught up in whatever work excuse he could offer, but he’d be there for me. He always said he would be. After everything, I needed him tonight. I’d tell him about the doctor’s visit, about the cancer. He'd understand. He had to. By the time I reached his apartment, the light above the front door flickered weakly, casting shadows over the familiar steps. I exhaled, my nerves twisting tighter as I stepped up to the door. Before I could knock, I noticed it wasn’t fully closed. Just barely cracked open. A knot of anxiety settled in my gut. “Ethan?” I called softly, pushing the door wider. No response. I stepped inside cautiously, my boots tapping softly against the hardwood floor. The living room was dark, empty save for the glow of the television, but something felt off. The air felt wrong. My pulse quickened as I spotted something, a trail of clothing, leading down the hallway toward the bedroom. A jacket… a woman’s shirt… I stopped dead in my tracks. No. It couldn’t be. My hands trembled as I approached the bedroom door, already half-open. Soft, muffled voices reached my ears, laughter, followed by the unmistakable sound of movement on the bed. My heart clenched in my chest as I pushed the door fully open. There, tangled in the sheets, was Ethan. And he wasn’t alone. Another woman, naked and draped across him, her body pressed against his, ass puckered up as she kissed and nibbled on his neck. I recognized her. She was one of the strippers from the Mirage, Sophie. Her laugh was still lingering in the air as she glanced over her shoulder, meeting my eyes with a smile that quickly vanished. Ethan froze, his hand still on her bare skin as his eyes met mine. “Sienna…” he started, his voice flat, his eyes widening but not with guilt. No, not even remorse. For a moment, all I could do was stand there, my heart pounding so loudly in my chest that I thought I might be sick. The shock of it hit me so hard, it felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath my feet. Ethan wasn’t even surprised, not really. He was annoyed. I could see it in his face. My voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “What the hell are you doing?” “What does it look like?” he said coldly, shrugging as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re cheating on me?” My words wavered. Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair as if he were the victim in all of this. “Sienna, you need to calm down. This isn’t what you think.” “What I think?!” I almost choked on the words. My body trembled, my heart splitting wide open as I fought the tears already welling in my eyes. “I came here to tell you that I’m—” I stopped, my throat tight with emotion. I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t tell him, not after seeing this. “Tell me what?” Ethan stood, completely unbothered as Sophie draped herself over his shoulder like a victory prize. His lips curled into something cruel. “Look, Sienna, this isn’t working. You’re a mess. You’re always tired, always stressing about your mom, your job… I need someone who doesn’t come with all that baggage. And let’s face it, you’re not exactly the fun girl I started dating anymore. You are skinny, still sexy but bland. And it disgusts me.” His words knocked the breath out of me. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was drowning, my lungs burning as the air refused to fill them. “I can’t believe you,” I whispered, barely able to stand as every word cut deeper than the last. “After everything we’ve been through…” Ethan rolled his eyes, clearly bored. “Look, I’m not gonna be tied down to a stripper with a dying mother and... whatever else you’ve got going on. I’ve got plans, Sienna. You were just a pit stop.” His words struck like a blade. I stepped back, my vision blurring with tears. I couldn’t even look at him anymore. My heart shattered, the pain radiating through every inch of my body as I forced my legs to move, to walk away before I collapsed right there in front of them. Behind me, Sophie’s voice trailed after me, dripping with mockery. “Don’t be so dramatic, sweetie. He was bored. Move on.” I ran. --- The streets blurred around me as I walked, barely aware of the direction I was going. I needed to get away. Away from the club. Away from Ethan. Away from all of it. I screamed. Grabbing my hair, my breath coming out in gasps. The city felt colder than ever, the night air sharp against my cheeks as the tears finally spilled free. I wiped them away, trying to push down the sobs that threatened to break through. How could he? I had given Ethan everything I had left. My body. My money. My hope. And in return, he’d thrown me aside like I was nothing. My mind raced, and I stumbled toward home, my legs weak and my heart aching. By the time I reached our apartment building, my face was numb from the cold and the tears. I fumbled for my keys, praying my mom was still asleep. I didn’t want her to see me like this. I didn’t want her to know what kind of mess I’d become. But when I reached the door, something was wrong. The lock was broken. My heart dropped as I pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside with dread pooling in my stomach. The apartment was a mess, drawers overturned, furniture knocked askew. Panic set in as I realized someone had been here, someone had broken in. "Mom?" I called out, my voice shaking. I rushed into the living room, finding it empty. I ran toward her bedroom, my heart pounding in my ears. I pushed the door open, breathless, and froze at the sight before me. Two men, dressed in black, loomed over my mother’s frail form as she lay unconscious on the bed. One of them turned to me, his eyes dark. “Your father owes us,” he growled, stepping closer. “And we’re here to collect."