lay in bed, staring at the

parents' death resurfaced-flashes of their lifeless

h the thoughts away, but they only gr

couldn't take

d her handbag, and made her

she had to

sleeper, but tonight, Delilah hoped

he paused when she saw the faint l

und the corner and saw Mary

rself, quickly ducking into a ne

her breath as Mary shift

nt was in a deep slumber

d the front door, caref

ed outside, the cool night air hitting her

the dimly lit streets,

or a few hours. It was her escape from the trauma that

a part of the city where privacy was

her a familiar nod, and she r

with the scent of alcoho

filled with people dancing,

, she exchanged a brief greeting with the c

but didn't say much, as alw

room," Delilah said in

ole dancing outfit-a slinky, shimmering piece th

touch: a mask that

meone else entirely-som

nd a skilled hit woman. By night, she was t

stage, the lights dimmed just enoug

ved with grace, her body swayin

ed, as always, unable to take

n from the pain she carried, fr

ence entered-Marco Donato a

ly, lying to his family that he wo

e facing his responsibilities, and Ec

n Delilah, his interest

hat caught his attention, her

mirked and signaled to Gino, who

dance," Marco whispered, his

de his way over to

e delivered-Marco Donato was a VIP, and

g full well what Marco was capable

ished her performance and made her wa

n home before Mary noticed she wa

leave, the club man

ice a mix of urgency and he

sensing where this was going. "

a VIP. If we don't keep him happy,

her chest. "I'm not interested in doi

omeone important. You understand what that means, ri

r eyes, weighin

cause trouble, but she also didn't like the idea of be

of silence, she le

" Delilah finally agr

sigh of relief. "Than

ged into her lap dance outfit-a sleek, form-fi

the manager to the privat

her confidence

before, and she

her night where she could forget

shut behind her, sealin

lit, bathed in a so

leaming with anticipation. His gaze shifted from her maske

igned to turn heads-sleek and dari

man wanting more, while the corseted waist cinched

h-high stockings held by garter straps, leaving her

ked softly as she approached Marco, her mask hid

with interest as he

t this masked woman felt different-there was an air of