Page 23 of Phantom Mine

True to her word, Capri shows meFirenze. We move through the different entertainment areas, from semi-private and private VIP rooms, to the two main suites like the one I auditioned in, which host larger audiences, capping attendance at thirty customers at a time. Capri informs me that many VIPs bring their associates here for business meetings, including members of theFamiglia. My ears perk up at that, but I smother any further reaction.

It’s as we’re walking back to the changing rooms and she’s starting to explain the various services on the ‘menu’ that someone comes up behind me and violently slams me into the wall.

Chapter Eight

Valentina

My head bounces off the surface and stars erupt behind my eyes. I’m about to shove him off, whoever he is, when his hand closes around my throat and he pins me in place.

“Who thefuckare you?” The unknown man sneers into my face. Spittle from his lips lands on my cheeks.

His strength overpowers me. I’m unable to loosen his hold on me, no matter how hard I claw at his wrist. The more I struggle, the more angrily he squeezes.

A shout pierces the air.

“Stop! W-what are you doing?” Capri cries. For the second time in thirty minutes, she comes to my rescue when she launches herself at him.

The man backhands her with his free hand and sends her flying to the floor. My eyes bulge as she hits the ground and doesn’t move. He knocked her unconscious with one slap.

“You’ll pay for that later, bitch.” He turns back towards me, his face twisted in a hateful rictus. “You. Explain why the fuck Matteo Leone is interested in you.”

That’s twice in under an hour that Matteo’s attention has made me an unwanted enemy. I think I’m only beginning to scratch the surface of uncovering just how bad a fuck up crossing paths with him will turn out to be.

“He’s not,” I bluster, grabbing the man’s wrist with both hands to release the pressure and allow some air in.

“Then why the fuck did he audition you himself?”

“I…don’t know,” I gasp. I feel myself turning purple from lack of air. “He said he was bored.”

The man pulls me from the wall and slams me back into it. Pain momentarily blackens my vision. I’m seconds away from passing out.

“Please…” Desperation makes me beg and I hate him that much more for it. “He wouldn’t… have hired me… as astripper… if he was… interested in me,” I argue.

My muscles relax and my body goes limp.

It’s only then that he releases me. I fall to the ground in a pile of boneless limbs. My murdered throat fights to survive, alternating between sucking in greedy breaths and giving in to bouts of uncontrollable coughing.

“I’ll be watching you,” he threatens. “Stay the fuck out of my way.”

“Or you’ll kill me?” I choke out, trying to cancel out the previous desperation I showed him with an admittedly reckless lack of fear.

The hair on the back of my neck raises when the man crouches next to me.

“There are worse things than death. Worse places I can send you.” He grins sadistically, and my blood runs cold. “You wouldn’t be the first.”

Then he’s gone, leaving me dazed, hurt, and beyond fucking confused. I crawl over to Capri and grab her shoulders. She doesn’t immediately wake so I shake her and gently smack her unharmed cheek.

“Capri, wake up. Please wake up.” Her eyes blink open slowly and dazedly, but she’s conscious and seems at least somewhat alert. “Oh, thank god.” I sigh in relief. “Are you okay?”

“I think so…” She sits up and cups her face gingerly. “What happened?”

My throat is screaming, every word out of my mouth painful when I answer. “Some psycho just assaulted us.”

I sit and prop my back up against the wall. Capri does the same on the opposite side of the hallway. She nods slowly, indicating she remembers what happened.

After a moment, her brows pull together. “What do you mean ‘some psycho’? Didn’t you recognize Guido?”

Ah. The infamous Guido.

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