Page 127 of Savior

He’s been hassling me for weeks to come and work for him. I’m eighteen now, of age, for a club like his. But my mother started as a dancer, and that landed her regular clients and a drug problem she refuses to curb for the likes of me.

Dad left me behind. He took his own life, forgetting he had someone left to live for.

Someone to raise.

Because even at eighteen, I feel like a newborn babe who still needs her parents.

“Come on, kid. You’ll be great. I’ll keep you straight. My girls are like my family.”

I turn and look deep into his eyes, wondering if that statement means he’s a bit too friendly with his girls. It’s a gamble. But if he genuinely means it, it could be my fresh start.

It could be my chance to get out of here.

“Think about it. You’ll be able to get your own place,” he adds. “Shit, I have a couple of empty apartments now you can use as a landing pad until you get the money up for your own spot.”

My stomach twirls at the idea, but it’s likely from having food inside it for the first time in two days.

“When would I start?” I ask.

“Whenever you want. Tonight?”

I stand, holding my food tight to my chest. “I’m tired,” I admit to him.

It’s his first test. Will he push me to bend to his will? Or does he genuinely think of his girls like family?

“How about this?” he starts, straightening his jacket. “I’ll go with you and help you get your things from your mom’s house. Then we will get you settled at the apartment. You can take acouple of days to get rested. You can come on Friday night for a fitting and dance test.”

My body unfurls, letting go of the stress I’ve carried since the day I lost my virginity in the alleyway. That day marked the end of my innocent sense of wonder. The childish magic faded, replaced by a stark reality that felt both liberating and heavy all at once.

“Deal.”

His smile is genuine and warm, and when he puts his arm around me and helps me to his car by the curb, I don’t fight it.

I sink into the chair and let its plush body hug me.

This moment will either change me or be the defining moment that breaks me.

But either way, I’m ready.

Gasping awake,I try to sit up. To which my handcuffs rattle, and the railing tugs me back down.

Fuck.

I haven’t thought of that day in so long. I wipe away tears with my other hand. Sometimes, I wonder if Giovanni knew what he did that day and if he realized how my life took a 180-degree turn because of him.

He knows. He has to.

Often, I’d look around the club and know that one or more of the other girls were like me.

Orphaned girls without a direction. He stepped in and changed our paths. I’ll be forever thankful to him for that, even if I never have the words to give him.

“Dreaming of me, are you?” a voice says, and a shudder starts at the base of my spine and winds its way through my body slowly.

Turning, I find Matteo at my bedside to the right of the bed.

Beside him are machines and tubes that all lead into my body.

“Dreaming of what a sweet revenge it would’ve been to have finished the job.” I lift my lip over my teeth in pure disgust.

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