"Boo, Antonio, you're scaring me," Nikki pouted, forcing a sultry smile even as her pulse raced.
The cold steel of his gun traced the curve of her jaw, sending a shiver down her spine.
Antonio chuckled darkly, a sound that sent a chill through the hazy, smoke-filled VIP room.
He sat beside her, pulling her close. She cringed inwardly but maintained her façade of charm. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, her voice sugary sweet.
"You gotta pay up your debt, bambina," he said, his Italian accent curling around the words like a serpent.
His ringed finger toyed with her blonde hair, twisting it as though he owned her.
Across from them, Mario exhaled a thick cloud of tobacco smoke, his face illuminated by the pulsating red and blue lights of the club.
"I've paid my debts," Nikki said with a forced smile, her voice wavering slightly.
Antonio's hand moved to circle her neck from behind, the gesture both intimate and menacing.
"Not after you stole my gold, you haven't. You owe me at least two million dollars," he said, his other hand gripping her cheeks roughly, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Her heart pounded. "It'll take years to pay you back, but I will," she stammered. She cursed herself silently for ever taking that money.
Without it, she wouldn't have become who she was today, but she knew the consequences of her actions would catch up to her eventually.
She just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
"Give me time," she pleaded, her voice trembling now.
Antonio's lips curled into a sinister smirk. "No can do. You can either bring back the money, or you can come back and work for us."
Her stomach turned at the thought. She'd rather die than go back to being one of Antonio's girls. "I'll bring your money tomorrow," she said, desperation creeping into her tone.
Antonio laughed, a low, mocking sound. "We both know that's bullshit, and you'll try to run tomorrow. So let me tell you this gently, bambina, your mom is at the grocery store right now."
Her blood ran cold. She didn't need him to spell it out.
Her knees hit the floor before she even registered the movement. "Please, what do you want?" she begged, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
"That's a good darling," Mario said with a cruel laugh, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Antonio pulled a folded photograph from his pocket and flung it onto the table in front of her.
The glossy paper slid across the surface and landed face-up.
"See that man?" Antonio said, his voice dripping with menace.
Nikki glanced at the photo, her stomach tightening. She already knew what was coming next.
"You fuck him," Antonio said, leaning close to her ear, his breath hot and reeking of whiskey. "And you get me what I want."
Her throat tightened, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. She picked up the photo with trembling hands.
"Do it, or say goodbye to Mommy dearest," Antonio added, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.
Nikki's hands clenched into fists around the photo. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she knew she was trapped.
"I'll do it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Antonio smiled, patting her cheek mockingly. "Good girl. I knew you'd see reason."