Chapter 1
Running. That’s it. Running. Down the alleyways through northern Chicago. It was raining. The sound of splashing through puddles as I ran with mom, pulling me along with her, fear in her grey eyes.
“Come on honey, keep up.” She said out of breath as she kept looking over her shoulder, as there was yelling in the distance behind us.
“Mommy what about daddy?” I asked, trying to keep up the best I could.
“Daddy doesn’t want us anymore, sweetheart. So, we need to leave.” She said as she stopped in her tracks and picked me up, her lip swollen as blood ran down her chin.
“Does daddy not love us, mommy?” I asked, looking her in the eyes, as tears streamed down her face, mixing with the rain that poured down over us.
“No.” She croaked, “Daddy doesn’t, but that’s okay because you have mommy to love you double.” She said, holding me close to her. The yelling now getting closer.
“Mommy I’m scared.” I said, nuzzling her neck as she started to run. My body shaking from fear and the freezing rain.
“Shh, go to sleep, baby. We’ll be safe soon….” She whispered as she turned down a side alley.
I nodded and closed my eyes, the motion of mommy running calmed me. The outside world slowly became silent as darkness entrapped me into its depths.
“Hey sweetheart.” Jessamine chimed on the other end of the phone.
“Hey mom, what’s up?” I asked as I sat at my desk, looking at the computer in front of me. The book I was writing on the screen.
“Oh, just heading to the car. What would you like to eat? I was going to pick up some food.” She spoke. The sound of cars blaring their horns in the background.
“Whatever you’re feeling, mom, I’m down for anything.” I said back as I leaned back in my chair.
“Alrighty then I’ll just surprise you.” She laughed.
Tires screeched in the background, and the sounds made my teeth grit together.
“My goodness, what is going on.” Her voice was concerned.
I sat up in my chair. “Everything okay, mom?” I asked concerned.
“Yeah, sweetheart there’s this black Suburban driving erratically down the road. Heading in my direction.”
“Well stay on the sidewalk, don’t need you getting hurt.” I sighed.
Chicago is definitely one hell of a city.
“Well, I’ll let you go, sweetheart, I’ll…” her voice trailed off.
“Found you.” A male voice’s came over the phone as three-gun shots followed. As there was a blood curdling scream as the sound of tires burning rubber on the road.
“Mom!” I yelled as I stood up from my chair.
“Mom answer me.”
“OH MY GOD, SHES DEAD.” A voice yelled.
No. No. No. No. No.
I bolted upright. Sweat poured down my temples, my heart racing.
“Fucking hell” I muttered under my breath as I looked over at the clock.
6:30pm
I sighed and laid back down. I dreamt about mom again. That’s the third time this week. The dream starts the same and ends the same…
When mom woke me up in the middle of the night to run away. Dad abused mom, and she was afraid he was going to do the same to me, or even worse he was going to sell me off for money or as a peace treaty. I was four when we ran. Mom had overheard dad get in argument with somebody and then apparently offered me up as a trade. Mom tried to intervene, but he beat her for eavesdropping. That was her last straw with him, so she and I ran away. Then the day mom died. Or I should say murdered.
Drive by shooting.
Mafia related.
That’s what we ran from.
The Mafia.
I shuddered at the thought. I despise the Mafia. I don’t care that I was born into it. I despise it. After the stories, mom told me of what she endured and had fought to keep away from me. I grew to hate it quickly.
Cold blooded killers.
Not a care in the world if they kill somebody. Believing they’re above the law.
Drugs, crime, sex trafficking. You name it. Disgusting pigs.
“Aria, damn it wake the hell up or we're going to be late.” A familiar voice said as she banged on the door.
“I’m awake. I don’t understand why you don’t just come in and wake me up.” I sighed.
The door opened, and Jolene walked in. Her fiery red hair curled and draped over her shoulders. She wore a baggy shirt and a pair of leggings.
“I don’t want to just walk in. You might have been naked or something.” She said as she went to my closet.
“Like that would bother you. I’ve seen you naked many times, Mrs. I walk around the house ass naked every night.”
“You have to let the body breathe, girl. It relieves stress.” She laughed as she grabbed a shirt out of my closet, throwing it at me.
I sighed and got out of bed. “Do we have to go in tonight? I made enough last night to cover rent for almost three months.”
Jolene and I work at “gentleman’s" club. We have the last two years. Jolene loves it. Me on the other hand, I hate flaunting my body around for disgusting men. However, I do it because at the time I needed money quick and fast.
“Yes, we do. Johnathan is coming by to watch me tonight.” She said all giddy.
I sighed. Johnathan is her Dom? Boyfriend? I don’t know if she met him at some club. According to her he’s into BDSM.
“You two have been getting serious, I’m surprised he still lets you strip.” I sighed as I walked over to my desk, where my bag was.
“He doesn’t mind it as long as nobody tries to overstep, and if they do, I have to let him know…” she started, but her phone buzzed.
She fished into her pocket, retrieving her phone. A few moments went by, and she texted back.
“Fuck work, he wants me to come see him.” she said as she smiled, tossing her phone onto the bed.
“Sweet back to bed for me.” I said yawning.
“Why don’t you come with me?” she asked as she sat on my bed.
“To where?”
“Club Crimson.” she said excitedly.
“That BDSM club that’s ran by the mafia?” I scoffed. “Yeah, no I’ll pass.” I said flopping back down onto my bed.
They say the club is ran by the Crimson Mafia, the biggest mafia in Illinois. Rumor has it, its ran by two brothers who killed their father, just to take it over.
Jolene sighed. “You’re just being paranoid; you know as well as I do that it was just a rumor. And they proved that rumor wrong.”
“That’s what they just want to tell you.” I said, covering my eyes, the light in my room bright.
I know she’s not going to let up on the topic. She knows very little of my past I never actually told her I come from the mafia; I’ve never told her why I hate it so much. Since you know my mom was killed by them two years ago.
“Please Aria, who knows you might like it.” She pleaded.
“Mhm I already know I won’t.” I said at once not blinking an eye.
“I didn’t think I would like it either, but here I am now. I’ve been multiple times. It's where I met Johnathan.” She said as his name rolled off her tough seductively.
“Hard pass.” I sighed.
“It can give you a new perspective for your book.” She said slowly.
Well, she cornered me. Fuck.
“You don’t have to partake in anything, I didn’t at first. I just observed.” She laughed as she saw that I was interested now.
“Also, who knows maybe you’ll like what you see and finally lose your v-card" she said walking back over to my closet.
“You love teasing me for being a virgin, don’t you?” I rolled my eyes as I smiled. Jolene is my best friend. As much as she irritates me sometimes, I still love her.
“Girl you’re twenty-four and have barley even kissed a guy. It's time.” She laughed, sliding my clothes down looking at every piece of clothing in my closet.
“Sorry I just don’t give myself up like that to any man.”
“So, you’re coming with me, right?” She said throwing a pair of faux black leather pants and a white mesh shirt with a white bralette over her shoulder, not even batting an eye over what I said.
I sighed “fine but it’s for research only. Nothing more or nothing less. Keep your phone on you cause if I want to leave it will be with or without you."
“Mhm that’s fine now put this on, also I’m stealing this for tonight" she said laying the clothes on the bed.
I looked up to see her with a pair of lingerie that still had the tags on it.
“I won’t wear it so go for it.” I said as I turned my back to her putting on the bralette that covered me decently and then threw the white mesh top on.
“Why can’t I have a figure like you?” She sighed.
“One I have tattoos” I said looking down at my arm that is covered. “Most men don’t like women with tattoos. Two, your figure is hotter than mine, the hell are you talking about? Three, you make more money than I do. So shut it.” I said sliding the pants on.
“Because I’m willing to do more things than you are that’s how. It isn’t because of my body.” She said laughing as she went through my closet again. “And men like tattoos, you should see the men drool over you Aria when you’re on stage.”
I shook my head; she wasn’t wrong, she’s willing to do more for a client than I am. I walked to the giant mirror on my wall. I had a sleeve. It was something I’ve always wanted. So, when I turned eighteen, mom went with me to get it done.
“Hey, I should have a dark red mesh shirt. Hand me that one.” I said pulling the white one off. It drained the color of my skin. I’m a natural platinum blonde. So, me and white don’t mix.
“Yeah, here it is.” She said walking over to me handing it to me. I slipped the shirt over my head.
Jolene nodded in approval. “I’m going to warn you there’s so smoking hot men at this club, also you’re going to see some very strange things so just be prepared alright? There is also a bar in the place.”
“Mhm my definition of hot men is different from yours Jolene.” I laughed as I walked into my bathroom.
“True, but I’m serious there are some really hot men there. Also, I’m stealing something of yours to wear. That okay?” she called out from my room.
“Don’t know why you’re asking. You do it all the time and I never stop you.” I said as I started to put on some makeup.
I felt nervous to say the least. The whole club that’s about BDSM. Granted I don’t know much about the topic. However maybe Jolene is right. It might help with the writer’s block that I have had recently. I’m writing a dark love story. Yet I barely know anything about the topic, since being twenty-four and a virgin. Ironic to say the least.
It’s not that I despise men. Just most men in this city. Most are Mafia affiliated or just straight up jackasses. So, I tend to just keep my distance.
“Just trying to be nice.” Jolene said as she came into the bathroom. She wore a tight off the shoulder shirt and a pair of white pants. We stared at each other in the mirror for a few moments before we both took off our shirts in unison. The two of us laughed, it’s as if we read each other’s minds.
Jolene and I slipped into the shirts and both of us nodded in approval.
“Yeah, this looks a lot better.” She laughed as she grabbed the makeup bag she keeps in my bathroom. She tends to get ready in my room a lot.
“This is one of the many reasons why were best friends.” I chimed in as I brushed out my hair.
She nodded in agreement as she started her makeup, she had already done her hair prior to coming to wake me up.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked, double guessing my decision now.
“Yes, you’re not backing out now. Aria, you need to experience things. And this is a must. I promise you.” She said setting down her make up. “You know damn well I wouldn’t put you in a bad situation. I also already let Johnathan know you were coming with me. He’s going to let people know alright.”
“So, is he just a person that goes there? Or does he work there?” I asked curiously. She doesn’t talk about it much.
“He works there, something called as an observer. Makes sure everyone is in line and following the rules. However, any of the workers can partake in any activities there may be if the Sub and Dom couple allow it.”
I looked at Jolene. Dom? Sub? Activities? What the hell is she talking about? Jolene saw the look on my face.
“You’ll see what I’m talking about.” She laughed. “And no Johnathan does not partake in any activities anymore, unless it’s with me.” she said seductively as she licked her lips.
“Can’t you give me any other information about this strange world I’m about to encounter?”
She shook her head. “Nope. You must see it with your own eyes.” She smirked.
I sighed and messed with my hair. I decided to keep it down. Throwing it over one shoulder.
“You ready?” Jolene asked as she fixed her shirt.
“No, but I have no choice at this point, do I?” I sighed.
“Nope” she laughed “now let’s go.”
I have a feeling that I am going to regret this.
