CHAPTER FOUR

“I’m so tired,” Juliette groaned as she walked into the dressing room, looking like pure sin wrapped in expensive perfume. She was a stunning half-Asian beauty with smooth, golden-tan skin, high cheekbones, and those striking almond-shaped eyes that could shift from innocent to deadly in a heartbeat. 

Her chestnut hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, framing a face that belonged on magazine covers instead of this dingy strip club. Life had been cruel to her, though. Behind that gorgeous face was a girl fighting demons I knew too well.

We’d bonded hard over the months. She was the only real friend I had here, always had my back, always knew when I needed a laugh or a shoulder.

“I’m beat too,” I said, zipping up my bag. “I’m heading home right now. Dad isn’t doing great, so I’m not pulling an all-nighter.”

“Ohh, I’m sorry, babe.” Juliette came closer and rubbed my back gently. “Don’t worry, he’s tough as nails. He’ll pull through.”

“Yeah,” I forced a small smile.

“So…” Her voice took on that mischievous lilt she always got when she had juicy gossip.

“What?” I asked, impatient.

“Guess who I saw leaving a few minutes ago,” she teased, grinning.

“Who?”

“Girl, you’re no fun! Fine, Lucien. Lucien Romano.”

My heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to escape. “Lucien?”

“Yeah, the one and only.” She watched my reaction closely. “It’s been over a week since that night. You good?”

I swallowed hard. That one crazy, mind-blowing night still lived rent-free in my head. I’d never had sex like that before… and probably never would again. Part of me was relieved he hadn’t come looking for me — especially after I stole his watch. 

But another part? That part felt cheap. Tossed aside. Like I was just another girl he used and forgot.

“I don’t know,” I admitted quietly. “It was just sex… but damn, it was good sex. I guess I thought maybe…” I shook my head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. We’re nothing.”

Juliette smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about that fat dick again, you bad girl. Can’t wait to be filled up and ruined again, huh?”

I laughed despite myself, even as heat pooled low in my belly at the memory. “No, I’m not.” Liar. My panties were already getting damp just from hearing his name. “Though it wouldn’t hurt to ride that dick one more time… but it’s a one-time thing. Won’t be repeating itself.”

“Better that way,” Juliette said, bumping my shoulder. “We ride the good ones, take the money, and keep it moving. These men will chew you up and spit you out if you catch feelings. Especially a man like Lucien Romano. Stay smart, babe.”

We hugged goodbye, and I headed out into the chilly night air. I wrapped my coat tighter around me, humming one of my favorite songs under my breath. For the first time in a while, I felt a little lighter. Maybe tonight I could get Dad to talk, maybe even laugh a bit.

The dark road leading to the bus station was quiet, streetlights flickering weakly. Then I heard it.

A blood-curdling scream.

I stopped dead in my tracks. It came again, a woman’s voice, raw with terror. My stomach twisted. Keep walking, Scarlet. Not your business. But I knew I couldn’t. My conscience would eat me alive.

I followed the sound off the main path, moving quietly toward a clearing in the bushes. I crouched low, heart pounding, and peered through the leaves.

Two men were beating a woman on the ground. She was curled up, trying to protect her head while they kicked her viciously. Both men had guns, they looked like… gangsters — Black suits, tattoos, cruel sneers.

Rage boiled up inside me so fast it scared me.

I stepped into the clearing.

The men spun around, guns instantly aimed at me.

“The fuck? Another bitch?” one of them laughed.

I raised my hands slowly. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. Let her go and I won’t hurt you.”

They stared at me, then burst out laughing.

“You won’t hurt us?” the taller one mocked. “You got balls, princess. But you’re just a stupid little bitch walking into the wrong place.”

I kept my voice steady. “Put the guns away. Let’s settle this without weapons. Or are you scared two big strong men can’t handle one girl?”

Their pride took the bait. They wanted to have fun with me. They holstered their guns, cracking their knuckles.

“Big mistake,” I whispered.

Growing up, Dad had trained me hard. Self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, even shooting. I’d hated it back then, the bruises, the exhaustion, the pain. But right now? I felt alive.

The first man lunged. I sidestepped and drove my elbow into his throat. He gagged. The second swung at me, I ducked, swept his leg, and slammed my knee into his face as he fell. Bone crunched.

They were strong and brutal, though. The taller one caught me with a heavy punch to my ribs. Pain exploded through my side, but I used the momentum, grabbing his arm and flipping him over my shoulder. I stomped on his wrist hard. He screamed.

The other man tackled me from behind. We hit the ground rolling. He punched me in the face, my lip split, blood filling my mouth. But I headbutted him, then drove my fingers into his eyes. He howled.

I felt feral. Powerful. Every strike, every counter sent adrenaline surging through me. I shouldn’t feel this good, a small voice whispered in the back of my mind. I’m not a killer. But God… I felt electric.

I managed to get on top of one, raining down punches until he stopped moving. The second man pulled a knife. I disarmed him with a move Dad taught me years ago, twisted his arm until it snapped, then drove the knife into his chest.

He stared at me in shock before going still.

The woman had crawled to one of the dropped guns. She fired once, finishing off the first man who was trying to get up.

Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by our heavy breathing.

She looked at me, bloodied and shaking. “Thank you… but you shouldn’t have bothered. You just put yourself in serious danger.”

I wiped blood from my split lip, chest still heaving. My ribs throbbed, and I could already feel bruises forming. “Couldn’t just walk away.”

We helped each other up. In the distance, I noticed a small security camera mounted on a nearby pole, probably from an old warehouse. It had been watching the en

tire thing.

I swallowed hard.

Whatever happened next… someone had just seen me kill a man.