One Night Only

LILLIE

And the truth is that the last thing I want is for them to know where I live.

I keep insisting and I invent something to get him to send me back to the club. He thinks about it for a moment and then accepts.

Minutes later, we arrive at the place. I don’t wait for the guy to open the door or say anything, I just get out of the car as fast as I can, and without looking back, I enter the club. My companions look at me strangely and it’s because they see me again after I had already left. It’s rare in me that they see me when I had already left.

I look for Mika with my eyes, but I can’t find her anywhere.

I hope she hasn’t left.

I didn’t want to run the risk of going outside alone again and those guys would be there waiting. Maybe if they see me with someone it will be different.

I go to the bar and ask the guys for my friend. They reply that a few moments ago she had gone to Julie’s office. I thank them for their information and head upstairs to go in search of Mika.

I knock on the door when I arrive, and then it opens. It is one of the guards of the place. He looks at me with an astonished face. I don’t know why. I ask him for Mika and he answers that she is busy inside with the boss. I hear my friend scream.

What’s going on?

I push the door without caring about the guard, he tries to stop me, but I’m already inside. Mika is standing in front of the desk, and Julie sees me and freezes in place. I don’t know what I expected. It’s the same reaction as the guard.

My friend, noticing the boss’s behavior, turns around to see, as I was standing behind her. When she sees me, her eyes widen and, without thinking, she throws herself at me to hug me.

“Lilli!” she shouts before reaching me, and hugs me euphorically, sweeping me with her gaze, as if making sure that nothing will be missing. “Are you okay, they didn’t do anything to you?

When he interrogates me, he checks what he means and that lets me know that he was aware of my dangerous situation. But how did he know?

“Did you already know? “I ask fearfully.

I was afraid to know that my friend was involved in my instant kidnapping and that I was almost abused by that guy.

She shakes her head vigorously.

“No, I found out a moment ago and came to claim Julie. No one knew how to tell me where you were, but when I heard that you had been offered to the most dangerous mobster. I came to check if she had anything to do with it.

She said, referring to the boss, and I looked at her without understanding. She had given her word not to sell me to anyone, that my deal was just to dance, but apparently she had not fulfilled her part.

“You promised! “I shouted, pointing my finger at her, as I moved closer to the desk. “That was the deal.

She stands up and sighs.

“I know, but I couldn’t say no to the Devil, “she said, worried” He is almost the owner of this city and of all the places he steps on, with a snap of his fingers he can close the club and take away everything that belongs to me. “He snorts “Besides, I have deals with him and his colleagues, and on that side I also had no choice. He promised me he wouldn’t hurt you, that’s why I finally agreed, since I had refused, please believe me. “plea.

I can understand her as she had always been good to me, to everyone, and she herself had those policies that she did not prostitute her girls. I was beginning to doubt that about her, but what if she was right?

“You still had to keep refusing. “I replied, disappointed.

“And I did, as I told you I refused, but he said he wasn’t going to do anything to you, that he just wanted your company, I told him that you didn’t do that kind of work either, that you only danced for the club.

“He told me that he had paid. “I claim to remember what he said.

“Yes, but I didn’t accept it. I still leave the money, but there is the briefcase with all the money. I will return it to his friend, who is more sensitive than he is.

“I don’t think I can continue working here. I’m afraid he’ll come back for me. He told me so.

“You can’t do this to me, I need you. I will do my best to protect you, but please don’t go.

“I don’t know, I can’t take the risk again, that fucker almost raped me! “I say furious.

My friend grabs my arm in concern.

“I didn’t think he was going to hurt you. “Julie replies.

“How can you say that! “my friend yells at her. “We know that guy is a demon, he’s a heartless, ruthless guy. You exposed her to that bastard!

I reassured her by taking her hand, that’s what I liked most about her, she always defended me and took care of me, like a sister.

My friend holds my hand tighter and pulls me out of there. We leave that place in silence and without paying attention to those who call us. She drags me to her car, I know she is worried about me and I have to reassure her. Once in the car, she takes a breath of air and speaks.

“Sorry, “she says crestfallen.” I should have taken care of you, “she slams the steering wheel in annoyance. “I’m a bad friend.

I deny and ask to see me.

“No, it’s not your fault. “I answer.” You didn’t know what was going to happen. “I rub her arm to make her relax. “Look at me, I’m here safe and sound.

She looks at me with wet eyes, I give her a smile. And she answers me with one almost the same but half forced. I know she cares about me and I know she wouldn’t forgive herself if something bad happened to me, but neither she, nor me are to blame in this.

After talking things over and reassuring each other, we start the trip to our homes. I hope my mother and sister are already asleep, otherwise I’ll have to make something up for being late.