Fear gripped me almost immediately, so he was still looking for me after all these years.
"Please let go," I pleaded instead through shaky breaths, but his grip only got tighter, and his other free hand held my chin in place as he peered into my eyes.
For a brief moment, my eyes flickered to the spot where he had struggled with the other man a while ago. The man was lying on the ground, still and possibly lifeless.
"You look just like your... "his husky voice began saying, drawing my attention back to him, but he stopped abruptly, and I saw a muscle in his jaw tick.
I wanted to ask him why he paused, but I stopped myself and tried to pry my wrist free instead, but to no avail. Fear and desperation started to set in, so I decided to put my self-defense skills into practice.
I twisted his hand over my head to free my wrist and hit his gut with my elbow to weaken him. To my relief, that did the trick, but I knew it wouldn't be for long.
Taking hold of the opportunity, I ran as fast as I could, jumped over the body, and tried to locate the main road. I could hear him call my name behind me, and he also seemed to be trying to chase me.
When I finally got to the main road, I looked around for a bus, taxi, or anything that could take me away from there. I then spotted a bus coming around. I tried flagging it down, but it kept going.
Then I spotted Riev coming out of the alley, and I ran after the bus, petrified. Fortunately for me, it stopped, and I hurried to get in.
As soon as I got in, I made my way to the back seat; thankfully, a seat wasn't occupied. I turned to look behind me and saw him leaning on a wall, watching the bus as it moved away. He was talking to someone over the phone, and I knew at that point that he was coming for me.
You may all be asking who that man is and why his sudden appearance made me full of anxiety. Well, it all started twelve years ago when I was thirteen, back home in Russia.
My parents had an out-of-state engagement, leaving me with our neighbor, the Kirovs. They were an elderly couple, and they loved having me around.
On this fated day, the lights went out, and we heard a knock on the door. When Mrs Kirov opened it, three men rushed in and raided the living room, looking for something. They seemed to have found whatever it was when their eyes settled on me. Then, I was drugged, abducted, and taken to a certain destination.
I woke up after God knows how long, tied to a chair, and met the face of a deranged, elderly-looking man sitting right in front of me. He went on to tell me how my family took everything away from him and how he vowed to wipe out every member of my family, but that somehow I had escaped.
That was one point in my life when I felt confusion was going to eat me alive. He definitely wasn't talking about the same family I knew. After saying everything he had on his mind, he held me at gunpoint. I knew I would have died that day hadn't it been for Riev, who stepped in.
He helped me escape, and before we separated, I asked him for his name, and he told me. When I got home, I told my parents all that had happened, and they told me I was adopted, that my parents passed away after I was born, but before they did, they entrusted me into their care.
We relocated to another state in the country, and I didn't hear from the man who kidnapped me or from Riev again. Nothing happened for a while after that incident, but I was greatly traumatized and had to go into therapy. That's when my phobia of being alone in the dark came in and spurred me to learn the art of self-defense.
One day, weeks later, my friend, who is now late, Tannie, invited me to a teen's party out of town to get me out of my depressed state. Riev showed up at the venue and murdered her right in front of me.
He then told me to leave the country within seventy-two hours and even threatened to kill me if I disobeyed him.
I couldn't comprehend what caused his sudden change of attitude towards me, but I did as he said and came to live with my aunt and her daughter here in America.
Coming back to the present, the bus finally came to a stop, and I alighted from the bus, extremely cautious of my environment.
It stopped just about three streets from the club, so I decided to head to work straight away despite the impending air of danger looming over me. I couldn't risk missing a day at work; it resulted in an extension of my contract with Madame Belle.
The club is situated in a large building in the city's capital. It is of high class, and only people of stature get in. Dylan's dad owns one of the biggest enterprises in the city, so I don't have to ask how he got in.
When I arrived, the ladies were already getting themselves ready, so I joined in silently.
I don't have a good relationship with them; they were all too hostile, and I'm not a patient person.
A while passed, and then we could hear the men roaring for us to come out and perform; it was obvious they were drunk.
Soon enough, I found myself strutting onto a dimly illuminated stage to entertain a group of disgusting men.
*************
Finally, it was all over; I've finally revealed something so sensitive to a bunch of horny men yet again. I know I've been doing this for a while now, but I can't seem to get used to it. Some of the men tried jumping on us but were held back by the bouncers. Some others were licking their lips like dogs.
Some of the men are respected members of the society, with wives and daughters. I don't know how they feel comfortable watching young girls old enough to be their daughters and granddaughters do this and not ask questions.
I tried subduing the tears in my eyes when Jane, our boss's personal assistant, informed me our boss needed to speak to me.
Somehow, I managed to carry myself to her office, only to meet a man in a red suit sitting just opposite her. She smiled when she saw me.
"Mr. Zladimir here requested you put on a private show for him in the executive lounge," she told me, her eyes looking so excited. Too excited.
I couldn't respond to what she said; I had signed up for this, so there's no backing out. The rule was that I accepted any card I was dealt.
The man in question kept on raking my frame with his eyes, subconsciously making me pull at my robe. He looked to be in his thirties and has a striking appearance. His name sounded Russian, very close to home.
Jane came into the office and led us into a large, exquisitely decorated room. The man kept on stealing glances at me throughout our walk there, and once we were alone, he finally spoke up.
"Strip, take it all off, then come and give me a blow job," he said, loosening his tie. His accent confirmed it: he is Russian.
I tugged at the neck of the robe I was wearing and began shifting my weight from one leg to another.
"Why're you still standing there? Didn't you hear what I said?" he questioned, his voice gravely low.
" I don't know how to, Sir," I replied, coming out clean. I'm aware of various sensual terms, but I've never engaged in any s****l act before.
I know it sounds impossible since I work in a strip club, but I have made a personal decision to entertain by stripping only. My boss had agreed to it and provided some girls to do the job whenever someone needed them, and till now, that arrangement hasn't been challenged.
His expression told me he was beyond annoyed; I had ticked him off.
"I'm not here to joke around; do as I say. I paid so much to have you for the night," he said, his voice still the earlier tone.
I fiddled with my hair, unsure how to tell this man that I'm far more naive than my appearance makes me out to be.
"I'm sorry, I don't know how to...but there's someone who does", I replied, keeping my tone confident, and tried to leave the room, but he held my wrists.
His face held an unbelieving look when I faced him, and he studied me intently.
"When did you begin work here?" he asked, a brow arched.
"I began rendering my service a few weeks ago, "I responded quickly and confidently.
"Alright, I think the question I need to ask is, have you rendered your service to a man in bed before?" he questioned, taking off his suit jacket.
" No, Sir, that's not part of what I offer; as I said, there's someone who does; let me go call her, "I replied and watched his face light up in disbelief.
"No, I don't want someone else; I want you; what's the point of watching if I don't get to touch?" he queried, walking even closer to me.
"That's not allowed," I replied, trying to keep my tone sharp.
A dangerous smirk unfurled on his face, making me, for the first time that evening, realize how handsome he was. I took several steps back until my back suddenly hit the wall; there was nowhere to run.
He placed his two muscular arms on either side of me.
"Why not? You're not the only woman with an audacious body; I'm sure a lot of men have touched you before...
"No...man has touched me, and it's not going to start with you." I cut in and tried to wriggle my way out but couldn't.
" A virgin, huh, in a strip club? I knew there was something different about you," he mused and held my chin, tilting my head until my eyes met his. He had sinister dark chocolate eyes.
"How much?" he asked, his eyes flicking between my lips and eyes.
"How much what?" I asked, confused.
"How much do I pay to have to pay for your virginity?" he asked, and I felt my eyes go wide.
"I'm not selling my body; I've sold enough of myself as it is," I spluttered, my heart beating tremendously. This man has some nerve.
"Too bad," he said, a mischievous edge to his voice, "I don't take no for an answer," and with that, he seized my lips with his.