The Mafia's Dark Desire

pte

of S

da's

rn in a

idn't want me-maybe because I was born with a heart that beat wrong. A disease that could kill me just as easily as it made me feel different. The

didn

ne fo

My step

r what conventions the rest of the world believed. That's how I ended up being swept away in her arms, saved and overtaken back to life. She was my mother in every way that mattered, and I cherishe

means to an end-as with nothing more, nothing less-the smoky haze in the air, the clinking of glasses, the lewd whispers- no

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Poor woman, I am not in a position to afford the best a

ge. My heels clic

keep my face in a neutral position, how to lose myself in the rhythm of the music. Full house this evening, the

ry beat pulse matching its erratic rhythm to my heart. Sometimes I wonder if it was this imperfection that h

prey. Their gazes seem hungry, predatory. I ignored them. Age had taught me long ago to keep myself away from the

ed, truly scrutinized. I only turned my head slightly, just enough to see

ough he didn't make a sound. His posture was straight, as if the world owed him something. Dark eyes

d to being seen like that-not by someone who didn't ca

red as I danced. It

movements sharper and more fluid. If I could keep my

on me-those suffocating eyes pulli

room. Sashaying quickly into my robe, I tried to shake off the unsettling feeling in my chest. I could hear the

en two steps when

ind

A voice that belonged to someone who knew wh

is mask was still on, hiding the features of his face. But his e

t it never re

d of tone, like he knew something that I didn't. "A nurse by d

sts curled tightly

I said, my voice

ark and rich. It sent an

s voice almost hushed now, like he was imparting a secr

ealings with men like him before, probably believing that by th

t quite place. "Well, I don't know who you are, but I have no interest in whatever it i

woman to read, Brinda. But that's what makes you interesting." A flare of anger kindled within me

e sound of my palm hitting his cheek rang out like gunfire in the subs

play games," I said with a voice that was low but firm. " I don't know what

corner of his lips as though he'd just received the best gift in the world. "Well, Brinda,"