Dove And The Reapers

Zara POV

The air hit me like a warning.. thick with alcohol, sweat, and something darker simmering beneath the bass. The moment I pushed through the black doors of "The Hollow", I knew this wasn’t just some club.

It was a kingdom.

One where rules didn’t apply…only power did.

I’d Googled it before coming. Should’ve stopped at the first headline: "No one leaves The Hollow unchanged."

But I needed money.

And now, here I am.

One day in this country. Jet-lagged. Nameless. Already drowning in the kind of danger most only pray for in fiction...and wake up screaming from in real life.

White blouse tucked too tight, black pants clinging to legs still buzzing from yesterday’s flight—I hadn’t even had time to unpack, let alone prep for this. No second thoughts. Just straight into fire wearing clothes that screamed outsider… and maybe worse...

Not that it mattered what I wore tonight.

Because

I wasn’t here as a guest.

No dancing.

No drinking.

And definitely no flirting with danger like the girls grinding against shadows near the stage ,hair tossed back, laughter echoing through dark walls.

I was working.

And that truth came crashing down when sal the sweaty chain-smoking manager who looked like he’d lost every fight he ever started.-tossed a bundle of fabric at me behind the back counter.

“Put it on,” he grunted. “Uniform.”

I unfolded it slowly, stomach sinking.

A skirt.

Not just short.

Tight. Like designed to make men forget their names—and women remember why they left home in heels.

Paired with a white blouse two sizes too small across the chest and sleeves that barely hugged my shoulders without slipping off entirely.

“I can’t wear this,” I said flatly,meeting his gaze without flinching."

Sal lit another cigarette,smoke curled around his smirk. “You can if you want paid.”

“This isn’t what we talked about,” I snapped low, clutching the fabric like it offended me which it did.

Of course this feels more like exploitation than employment.

He took another drag. “Welcome to The Hollow, sweetheart.Everyone pays their dues.” He exhaled slowly, eyes glinting darkly." And trust me… yours is just getting started."

I glared...but took it anyway.

Back in a grimy changing stall that smelled like spilled gin and old perfume, I wriggled into the damn thing.

It clung like sin itself.

Every movement felt loud now as if my body had become part of tonight’s entertainment whether I liked it or not.

But fine.

If this is what silence bought me…

Then so be it

Just so long as I manage to fit in.

A sigh escaped my lips as I stepped out and moved toward the club counter

Eyes skimmed over signs taped beside taps: British cocktail list updated? Check.” VIP specials prepped? Check.”

Yeah I can do this....

I shook off the last irritation I'd for this place..

"Hey sweetheart..." A male voice cut through noise*

His body leaning too close that'd managed to avoid his hands lingering just above my elbow

"Newbie?" His grin widened breath thick with whiskey heat "Haven't seen any doll this hot hanging around lately..."

My jaw clenched but managed a smile anyway.

Too tight... Too sweet.

"Ordering anything sir...? We have new British cocktails... or your topping choice?"

His tongue slid over his lower lip.

"I'm ordering something new tonight.

A grin forms on his lips."How 'bout you?.."

My spine stiffened,fingers wrapped on the edge of the apron ,holding the little patient I'd left . "Am sorry sir but am not on the list for tonight special.. you want a drink... order one .."

He licked his tongue." Playing hard to get uh? "

"Just who do you think you're to reject me!" His voice suddenly turn serious

My gaze sharpened.".. I think they 's a little misunderstanding here... Mr ... If you're looking for a slut they are over the VIP section... I only serve drinks.... If you don't mind please take a turn towards that direction..." My voice was calm laced with pure sarcasm

I saw his veins popping out of his neck. Anger flash from beneath those brown eyes

And I didn't care less

"Did... you... Just... " He rasp staring back at me like I'd just insulted the little pride he'd left

"Yes I did... " I slammed the words right into his face

His knuckles tightened . "You really don't know who you're dealing with"

My lips parted slightly... Just as soon as a lady dressed in a red short gown approached the table,her hands sliding around his neck,hair drenched in blue spray .

"Nicholas...." She called sweetly, eyes fixed on me .

She flashed a tight smile. "A glass of champagne and Espresso..."

"Coming right up..." I gave a short smile

I ducked behind the bar, hands trembling only slightly as I reached for the champagne bottle. One breath. Then another.

This job was temporary.

I was temporary.

Just for now....enough to wire the money, and keep Leo safe.

That’s all that mattered.

I popped the cork with practiced ease, no fizz, no mess...and poured a perfect glass. Added the espresso : bitter on top of sweet. I placed it gently on my tray beside Nicholas’s drink.

But as I turned back…

Her eyes were still on me, watching closely like she saw something behind my face… something buried deep.

“You look like someone I know,” she said again softer this time, almost hesitant as if testing a memory in fog.

My pulse spiked. “No,” I said too fast, stepping back half an inch without meaning to. “We haven’t met.”

She tilted her head slightly,Her eyes narrowed just a little. “Los Angeles?”

“No.” I quickly cut in.“Never been.”

“Hmm…” A quiet hum lingered between us before she finally smiled ,a real one this time? Maybe not fake after all? Hard to tell in this place where everything wore masks.“You’re not from around here at all… are you?”

“No,” I whispered and meant it more than she knew."

Then the speakers crackled and interrupted .

"VIP lounge special orders ready," buzzing through the noise.

And then came in Sal

He wiped sweat from his brow and gestured toward the VIP orders stacked neatly by the hatch. “You’re up. Everyone else is backed up or off-grid.”

" Duty calls..." I flash a short smile ,heaving a long sigh.

She smiled back.

Damn I wasn't sure how the hell she recognized me but I knew for sure to stay out of her way before I get bursted

I stepped out from behind the bar, tray in hand, champagne bottle cold against my palm. VIP order. Booth Seven.

Sal had shoved it at me with a grunt, no warning, no backup.

"Everyone else is tied up," he'd said. "You're on."

So here I was, threading through sweaty bodies under flashing lights and thumping bass, trying to stay invisible .

Just until Leo is safe.

I reminded myself.

I held on a breath finally sighting the label the label which reads

"VIP Lounge"

But just as I took another step

I crashed right into someone and before I realized it the bottle slipped.

Champagne spilled over him, soaking his black jacket from collar to waist.

The sound of glass shattering on the floor made a gulp slid down my throat

“No,” I whispered, as the golden drops hit the floor.

" I'm really sorry for crashing in like this.. My eyes met with his dark blue eyes,face looking as if sculpted by the gods or from a model magazine

I'd consider him handsome if not of the fact that he was staring at me like he'd ruin me the instant I tried to pull off his stained jacket

“I’ll clean it,” I said reaching without thinking “Let me take your jacket ,i’ll have it washed tonight”

He took a step back avoiding me like some plague , but that single step away hit harder than a shove.

His eyes locked onto mine not angry

Colder than that

Empty almost ,as if people weren’t even people around him.

“You should’ve been watching where you were going,” He spoke, his voice low and rough, smooth underneath.” Now look what happened"

.

My pulse pounded behind my temples."...I said I was sorry.”

“Yeah?” A slow smirk tugged at one side of his lips, no warmth, no humor. Just power, testing me. “And what good does that do? The damage is already done.”

“I can fix it.” My voice was steadier now, even though every nerve in me screamed: run. Run. Run.

“By touching what’s not yours?” He tilted his head, studying me like danger wrapped in something too pretty for this place. “You really think cleaning up the mess makes up for being careless?”

"I wasn’t careless!” The words slipped out sharper than I meant.

Stay Calm. Keep it together.

“It was an accident…”I blurted out instead

Silence stretched, heavy. Only distant laughter and the music was heard.

Then his eyes darkened

“You’re one of those girls,” he murmured, almost thoughtful, still unmoving except eyes scanning every inch of my face, neck, hands, looking for a hint of weakness.

“What… kind is that?”

“The kind who smile while spilling things.”

He paused.

" And expect forgiveness just because they bat their eyes.”

What.....

"That's not.... that's not fair!"

The words exploded from me. My jaw clenched. Fear didn’t stand a chance ,if I didn’t scream right now, something inside me would split open.

He leaned forward, close enough that his scent cut straight through the haze: bergamot, something sharp and expensive that didn’t belong anywhere near me.

His voice dropped to a low warning.

“Stay out of my way.. slut..”

For a second

The world didn’t freeze...it detonated.

Not with shock.

Not with shame.

But then the anger came .. real and blinding. It filled every empty space I’d been carrying, built from years of lies, running, and loving people who only ever turned that love into something that hurt.

He brushed past me, barely grazing my shoulder, but somehow the touch felt heavier than a shove. My heartbeat pounded in my head, sharp and loud, like my body was finally telling me to wake up.

I stayed there, watching the champagne drip onto the floor, the bright gold turning into a darker mess as it spread.

I scoffed

Hell no I wasn't here willingly.

He didn’t know me.

Not the late-night calls.

Not the hospital visits.

Not the prayers whispered over Leo when breathing felt like a battle.

None of that mattered to men like him

Men who wore power stitched into leather who saw women as either use or nuisance

But fine

Let him think whatever he wanted

Because sweet prince wrapped in arrogance dripping contempt?

You want fire?

Baby…

I came already burning...

I turned sharply scanning around and spotted a full bottle of champagne sitting on the counter, forgotten by some man arguing on his phone.

Perfect.

I grabbed it and walked straight toward Him . He’d paused mid-step, answering a call.

I stopped right in front of him.

“Excuse me!”

The room went quiet. He turned his head slowly, eyes narrowing.

“You wanted proof?” I asked, gripping the bottle tighter. “Because you called me a slut without knowing a thing about me.”

His jaw ticked. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, just watched me like a storm assessing which tree to uproot first.

Then, slow and deliberate, he ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.

"You’re holding a $400 bottle of Dom like it's a water gun at a summer camp," he said coolly. "Put it down before you embarrass yourself."

A laugh burst out of me, bitter and cold."Embarrass myself..?" I took one step closer

Then another.

The crowd went silent.

"You called me a slut for breathing too close to you… judged me in three seconds based on this outfit this bar forced onto girls just trying to survive…"

I lifted the bottle higher

"So if this is how little I’m worth..."

My thumb flicked off the seal with practiced precision.

"Then let’s see how much respect spills with it."

And I tipped it

The champagne hit him straight on, running down his hair and coat in one fast, messy stream

Silence swallowed every breath in that room.

He didn’t move.

Didn't blink.

Just stood there as champagne dripped from his lashes onto lips now pressed into an unreadable line.

I smiled wide... wild... unbroken.

"That's what your precious oxygen does to fire..." My voice cuts clean through the still air." It doesn't kill it.”