Page 3 of Keeping My Captive

“Want to go out?” I offer. “My friend is DJing at a club tonight, and I’m dying to see her do her thing.”

A nervous smile forms on her lips. “Okay, sure,” she tells me with a nod, surprising the hell out of me.

I realize she’s in her PJs, so I ask, “Got anything to wear?”

She looks down at her outfit and blushes. “No?” she says, but it sounds more like a question than an answer.

“Don’t worry. I have plenty in my closet,” I explain. Then, with a wink, I tell her, “Come with me.”

CHAPTER2

Aria

ONCE WE FIND something for Selina to wear, we sneak outside to a car waiting for us. I had texted the driver, Marco, an hour ago and told him to be ready. He’s constantly grumbling about my late-night escapades, but he never tells me no. And, more importantly, he never tells my father about where I’m going or what I do outside of the house. Maybe it’s because nothing has ever happened on my little outings…or maybe it’s because I always slip him a few hundred dollars to keep his mouth shut and his wallet happy.

When we climb into the back of the sedan, Selina glances around nervously. “We don’t need more guards?” she asks.

I smile and wave nonchalantly. “We’ll be fine,” I assure her. “There are going to be tons of people there. Nothing is going to happen.” I understand her apprehension, but it’s not like we’re going totally alone. We’ll have Marco nearby in case anything happens, and the club has plenty of security and bouncers.

Selina flashes me a hesitant grin and fixes the hem of her skirt before nervously crossing and uncrossing her legs. The dress I let her borrow fits her figure perfectly. Selina is tall, blonde and insanely pretty. She was a knockout when she was barely a teenager, so no wonder my brother fell madly in love with her all those years ago. She’s twenty-three now, two years older than me, and it’s hard to believe the kind of life she recently escaped from. I personally don’t know if I could have survived. But she’s strong. She’s always been so damn strong.

Marco drives us into the city, the lights and atmosphere filling me with an overwhelming sense of happiness and peace that I couldn’t ever describe with words. I love the city. I love how it never sleeps and how there is always something happening. So many people live and thrive here in NYC, and I wish I could be one of them even for just a day.

When Marco pulls up to a large industrial-looking building, he turns around in the seat and tells us, “I’ll be parked a few blocks away. Just text me when you’re ready to leave.”

This isn’t his first rodeo. I’ve done this numerous times before unbeknownst to my parents, who would probably have my head and his if they knew I was sneaking out to clubs at night.

“Thank you, Marco,” I tell him. Then, I climb out of the back of the car, turning and waiting for Selina. She looks anxious and almost like she wants to turn around and go back home, but then she seems to steel her nerves and eventually gets out. Mind made up, I take her hand and pull her past the line of people and right to the front door.

The huge, burly bouncer at the door tips his bald head at me and narrows his eyes. “Name?” he asks, looking bored and unconvinced that it will actually be on the list. I’m sure he’s had numerous people attempt to get in tonight, but I know for a fact that I’m not going to be wasting his time.

“Aria Vitale,” I say with a smile.

I can see the change in his demeanor almost instantly. My family name sends fear into a lot of people when they hear it. My father is very well known throughout the city for his line of work and ties to the mafia. Even though my family helps innocent people who get caught up in human trafficking rings, my dad still delves in the dark underbelly of the city to make his money. He controls most of New York and New Jersey and owns a lot of territories.

The bouncer checks his list, gives me a nod and then steps aside for us to go through the front door.

Inside, it’s loud and bright with numerous neon-colored lights moving in various patterns across the huge dance floor. The club is packed with people drinking, laughing, dancing and talking loudly.

I lead Selina straight to the bar, ordering us a couple of shots and drinks to loosen her up. God, the girl looks like she’s at a funeral and not at a club right now. I really want us to have a good time tonight, and I’m going to make it my mission to make sure that happens. Selina deserves this, a night out, a fun evening to relax and forget about all the bad things.

I end up snagging us two seats at the bar while we wait for our mixed drinks to be made, and we take turns downing a few shots of tequila. After the third shot, I can start to tell Selina is beginning to relax, and that makes me so happy.

A few guys come and go, trying to hit on us, but I shut them down quick. If they want to live to see tomorrow, they’re better off just running the other way and not pushing their luck.

The bartender sets down our drinks a few minutes later just as one of my favorite songs begins to play over the speakers. I jump up, grab Selina’s hand and shout over the music, “Let’s dance!”

She follows me onto the dance floor. The crowd parts as I barrel my way through it. Even though I’m only five-two, I like to think my confidence makes up for the fact that I’m vertically challenged.

I text my friend, who is DJing, and let her know we’ll be up to the booth soon after we get a few drinks and dances in. And then, I tuck my phone away and start to dance, one of my favorite things to do.

Selina is awkward at first, barely swaying to the music. “Come on. You can do better than that!” I tease her.

She downs half of her drink, needing the liquid courage before she begins keeping up with me, putting her arm up in the air and looking like a superstar on the dance floor.

“Hell yeah!” I call out to her with a big grin.

She moves so freely, without a care in the world, and it’s a wonderful thing to see. She’s finally letting her guard down and enjoying herself, something she probably hasn’t done in years. It makes me so happy that I asked her to come out with me tonight. She needed this. We both did.

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