"Yeah… about five million dollars."
"What?" I snap, ready to lunge at her even if the chances of winning are slim.
"I can barely pay rent. I don't even eat well, and now… five million dollars? You've got to be kidding me."
"No, I'm not. Right now, your mother is in the hands of the people she borrowed money from."
"What?!"
"Yeah… and by the looks of it, they could do whatever they want with her."
I slide down the wall, tears spilling from my eyes.
"Like I'm doing you a favor right now."
Why would she borrow more money? What am I to her? A bank? A machine?
"Look, Stella… I don't have that kind of money," I say softly, trying not to break.
"Where do I even get that kind of money from?"
"Well, baby girl, I saw Matteo and Dante from Den of Desires entering your house yesterday…"
"…and I'm pretty sure they weren't here for a housewarming." She squats down to face me.
I lift my head to look at her. "You've been stalking me?"
"More like watching…"
"Don't change the topic, Nina," she says, standing up.
"You can use your body to get me the money. All you have to do is shake what your mama gave you."
"You're mistaken. They don't give a shit about me," I say, frustrated.
"That's your own cup of tea, baby girl. Get me the money before the month ends." She smiles before leaving the house.
Why can't I abandon my mother the way she abandoned me years ago?
Why do I still love her, even though she's never done anything for me?
Well, she gave birth to me. The least she could've done was love me the way I love her… Is that too much?
>>>
I knock on Matteo's office door, waiting for an answer.
"Come in."
I open the door and close it softly behind me.
"Nina," Matteo says, surprised to see me this early.
It's the first time he's called me by my name, and I just love the way it sounds coming from him… Not the time, Nina.
"Did you miss me that much?" he jokes, closing the files on his table to focus on me.
"Hi." My voice comes out light. I clear my throat. "I… I need something."
He leans back in his chair, folding his arms. "What do you need, dolce peccato?"
"I… I…" My throat tightens. Am I about to cry? Or is it the humiliation? The feeling of being this pathetic?
"I… I need more money."
His brow lifts as he leans forward. "What?"
"I need about five million dollars."
"No."
"Please, Matteo." Tears burn in my eyes.
He stands and walks toward me. His long strides eating the space between us.
"Tell me what you need the money for," he says, eyes locked on mine.
"I can't say." I can't tell him about my mother… or Stella.
"Then I'm not giving you a dime."
"Please, I need it. We can extend the contract. I'll work as long as you want," I beg.
"Are you gambling, Nina?" His voice turns sharp.
"No." I shake my head.
"Are you on drugs? Maybe addicted?"
"No," I whisper.
"Then where the fuck is all this money going to?"
I say nothing. Tears streaming down my eyes.
"Is someone threatening you?" he snaps.
I stay silent.
"Who?"
"It doesn't matter, Matteo. I'm already working to pay off the one million. I can work longer…"
"Shut up. Tell me who's threatening you," he demands, gripping my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
I keep shaking my head, crying harder. "I can't tell you."
"Fine. If you're not going to talk, then get out," he says, turning away.
>>>
I haul a cab home, drowning in tears and self-pity.
A few minutes after I return, the doorbell rings.
I open it to find Dante—dressed in casual clothes. No earpiece. No suit.
"Matteo called me," Dante mutters. "He said someone's threatening you."
My eyes widen. "He told you that?"
He nods. "I'm not allowed to let you out of my sight."
"Wait, what?! Matteo can't just assign you as my bodyguard!" I fold my arms. "I don't need protection."
"You think I'm here because Matteo told me to?"
I hesitate but step aside to let him in.
"Who's threatening you, princess?"
"There's nothing you can do about it," I sigh. "I already had this argument with Matteo. I'm not reliving it."
"If you tell me, I'll take care of it, I promise." Dante says, lifting his pinky finger.
I smile, slapping it away, gently.
"I can't, Dante. It's not that simple."
"You're being stubborn, Nina."
"It's nothing. Believe me."
"You're not being honest with me. Why the fuck should I believe you?"
"This is silly. Just go home."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You need to leave, Dante," I snap, standing up to get water. My throat dry from all the crying.
Suddenly, I'm pressed against the fridge.
"You don't use that tone on me, princess," Dante growls in my ear, then turns me to face him.
He leans in, lips crashing into mine in a harsh tangle of tongue and teeth, biting and sucking.
I try to keep up. A moan escapes as his hands grip my hips, lifting me onto the counter, stepping between my legs.
He deepens the kiss, and I hook my ankles around his thigh, pulling him closer.
The bulge of his erection presses between my legs, and I ache for more.
He suddenly pulls back.
"We care about you, Nina. We don't want you to get hurt."
"I know, I just…"
"Shhh. Anytime you're ready, princess."
"…Can we go to the bedroom now?" I whisper, forgetting all my problems—only focusing on Dante right in front of me.
Dante chuckles, lifting me in his arms moving us to the bedroom.
He kicks the door shut behind us.
He lays me on the bed and pulls back.
"You sure about this?"
"Yes… Fill me with your cock."