Page 26 of Anastasia

“Normally, you’d leave while the night was young. Even on your shifts, you would leave as soon as your time was up,” he pointed out. “Now, though, you stayed over last night and you still haven’t raced out of here.”

“You want honesty?” I questioned, waiting for the nod of suspicion he gave. “I haven’t left because I have nowhere else to go.”

“You don’t have anywhere else to go?” he repeated.

My eyes harshly snapped over to his so he could see my irritation. “I get it. It’s not your problem. I was going to ask to stay with a friend.”

His perfect brow arched as he sat himself down onto the bed. With his hand, he beckoned me to come closer. I did exactly what he wanted until I was standing right in front of him.

“What friend, Bambolina?” he asked.

“Afriend,” I repeated.

His eyes darted down to what was right in front of his seated view—my waist. He brought his hand up to the hem of my shirt, where he fisted it before slamming me down onto his lap as hard as possible. It took me by complete surprise and left me breathing heavily.

“That was quite disrespectful,” he whispered, his mouth just inches away from my ear.

A chill ran down my spine as I felt his hand wander down to my bottom. He grabbed as much as would fit in his palm before his other hand grasped onto my neck.

“My kindness only lasts so long. I believe I asked you a question, and when I ask questions, I expect answers—realanswers,” he demanded before harshly letting me go.

I delivered him my best glare and tried to get up from his lap, but he wouldn’t allow it.

“Janice,” I answered reluctantly.

He was lost in his thoughts before he finally allowed me to get up.

“The stripper?” he asked. I nodded my head in reply. “No. You’ll stay here in this room.”

“No. No, I can’t. At least not for free,” I muttered.

A small part of me wasn’t an idiot. I knew it was better to be at the huge mansion than in a shelter or out on the streets. I just hoped the decision wasn’t something that would come back to bite me later.

“Fine. Five hundred a month will be reduced from the money you earn at my club. Sound ‘not for free’ enough for you?” he asked, his eyebrow raising in question.

A small smile made its way onto my face as I nodded. “Thank you. I can’t belie—”

“Don’t thank me quite yet.” He smirked.

Then, he grabbed his gun and placed it back into his pants before walking out of the room.

The moment he was gone, sadness hit me like a wrecking ball. His company always managed to make me forget what it was like to be lonely. What was most weird was the fact that I barely knew him at all.

Maybe I was just messed up.

Valentino

What the hell was wrong with me?

Anastasia was all I could think about. From the day I saw her glowing blonde hair on the pole and her plump fuckable lips, I couldn’t get rid of the thought of her. She had a way of burning herself into my mind and being too damn stubborn to get out. Even when one of my men handed me a note, written by Dmitri, explaining how he was coming for his daughter, she still heavily occupied my mind. I should have worried more about how close Vincenzo had been getting with the girl, but I couldn’t. The whole plan was going to shit, but all I could think about was one blonde girl in particular.

As soon as Valerio notified me of Anastasia at the club on her day off, I knew things weren’t good. I didn’t completely know her, but I knew her well enough to understand she was not the kind of person to party.

There was a sadness that lurked in her eyes, and I knew it all too well. Never in my life would I openly invite a girl to live in my home. It was rare that I would even bring someone home at all.

It was impossible for me to care for anyone, and I knew that. After failing to care and protect my mother, the last thing I ever wanted to do was fail someone else.

I could only chuckle as I thought about Mama and what she would say about Anastasia. My mother was known for caring for those who couldn’t take care of themselves. She had this kindness in her heart that was too pure for the world. Anastasia would make her smile in admiration because she just had this attractive spirit.

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