The Mafia Dons Sweet Temptation

TALIA

Ugh.

I cringed internally at the feeling of sand-like texture in my mouth. It wasn't a very pleasant experience and I tried to make my limbs move, my eyelids open, but it was much too difficult. My mind wavered between the realms of sleep and reality and I let out a sigh, turning my head to get more comfortable on the bed.

The sounds of a clock ticking drew me in and it echoed all around my head. Time was non-existent, but slowly questions arose in my mind.

Why did my nostrils hurt so much, like I'd just inhaled a bowl of peppers?

What was that scent?

How did I get back home? I couldn't remember for the life of me what had gone on the night before.

"Wake up doll. I don't like being kept waiting."

The sound of that unfamiliar deep male voice hit me. Then, my eyes flew open.

Wincing at the blooming headache, I slowly sat up on the bed, trying to get my limbs to cooperate. It was shaky but I managed it.

The sight that met me was a strange one.

Looking around me, I noticed the blue walls of the room. Black and gold curtains framed windows through which sunlight would stream in to my left, were it daytime. But it was night, and the vibes became even more eerie when I noticed the ticking sound didn't come from any clock I could see, but instead from a man's foot tapping on the ground.

"What the..." I trailed off, realizing I wasn't back in my apartment, or in my boyfriend John's penthouse. "Where am I?"

"You're in my home, doll. Eyes up. Look at me," he ordered, and I found I couldn't disobey.

When I met his eyes, I could see coldness in them. Unfortunately for me, he was deadly handsome, and set my heart beating fast.

That wasn't the only thing I noticed and I let out a gasp of recognition.

It was him. The one who came in with his men guns blazing at the agency.

The memories flashed through my head, memories I had thought- had HOPED were just a dream.

That night, I had arrived from my job escorting an old man who had become a regular of mine to the opera of all places. Still wearing an expensive evening gown which I had to rent, I went to my boss Ludovic's office to collect my nightly pay, preparing myself mentally for his shenanigans when he unfailingly tried to get me to sleep with him.

Being an escort wasn't what I wanted in life, but I had grown up poor. I had few opportunities in life, and when I couldn't get a call back from the numerous temp agencies I applied to at 17, I turned to this work to get ahead in life.

Before I could knock on Ludovic's door that night though, something happened.

The escort agency was suddenly under siege as screams and gunshots filled the air. Before I knew what was happening-