SAN FRANCISCO; JUNE 2023 ARIANNA FRASER'S POV I clutched the duvet tightly, trying to rein in my fear as I listened to his footsteps down the hallway. He was coming to my room, no doubt. Ever since my mom was shot dead a few months ago, my step father had been behaving weirdly. The once loving father figure turned into an element of nightmare to me. It started with incredibly tight hugs, just after mom's burial. I initially thought it was just an action triggered by grief, I was all he had, so we had to be strong for each other. He had been raising me with my mother ever since I was ten, I was nineteen now. I would have been in college if not for mom's demise. She's a successful lawyer. She bought this house and pays most part of the bills. However, after her death, my step father didn't say anything about sending me to school. I didn't know if mom left a will. I don't know if there's money left in her bank account or how much. And I can't really walk up to my step fathe
I hid in an abandoned construction site a few streets away.The building was stopped two weeks ago when the owner of the company suddenly died.I huddled in a corner feeling afraid and remorseful.I had placed a call to the police when I came out of my mother's room.I was hoping that the rescue team would send him to the hospital.However, when I sneaked out this afternoon to gather news about him, I heard people saying they found him dead.The police had cordoned off our house.No matter what, he didn't deserve to die.He was a good father till my mom died.I ate the raw sausage I had grabbed, tasting my tears on them.The police are tirelessly searching for me.Wanted posters were already distributed around the neighborhood.I was trapped in here, it's only a matter of time before the search reaches this building.I felt someone watching me.I can swear it's my step father's ghost.I looked around fearfully.Is he coming here to get me for killing him?I carried my backpack and rus
I went back to my work post depressed."Are you alright?" Sam, one of the bartenders in my section, asked, filled with concern.I gave him a tight smile and nodded.The music and the grinding, the romance and dirty dances going on around me did nothing to distract me.How do I raise that kind of money?Even if I sell myself as one of those stupid strippers being teased and fingered by these men, I doubt I will raise that amount.Yeah, they also receive big tips from the men they danced with, sometimes thousands of dollars.But no, I'm not interested.The temperature in the room suddenly dropped, an aura of fear and danger enveloping the room.It made the already air conditioned environment become even colder.I looked up at the source.It was my boss, Rex Santorini and his two assistants, or maybe guards.He was the owner of starlight and other major hotels and resorts in different corners of Las Vegas, and in fact, the whole of America.He was the richest billionaire in Las Vegas.Hi
My heart was beating wildly at what I was about to do.I have tried everything possible to raise money to no avail.So I decided to do the most foolish thing any idiot can think of.I looked around, it was still late afternoon.Lots of people have not arrived yet.Nightlife has not started.We just finished stacking the cash gotten from last night's drug transactions.Cold sweat ran down my body at my plan.The door to the store room was still open.They didn't lock it because no one would dare steal from Rex.But I was about to do just that.Steal from the devil himself.But I don't have any options, that's the only easy cash I can get right now.Except it's nothing but easy.The moment I'm caught, like everyone who ever stole from Rex, I will be tortured and killed.God please help me.I'm doing this to save grandma.I'm not using the money for wasteful spendings.My eyes darted around as I hid in the corner, bringing out my hoodie.I quickly wore it and wiped away the uneasy sweat
ARIANNA'S POVI paced in the dressing room, worrying about how I will be getting money from now on.The hospital is calling me again.Grandma was not looking good yesterday when I saw her.She is all I have, I don't want to lose my only relative.I sighed, rubbing my head in frustration.I had been successfully stealing some money from the safe room, to the glory of God.However, things fell apart three days ago when Rex visited.He looked pissed off.I carefully avoided him.He locked up the door and whenever the cash was unloaded, it was immediately secured.How else am I going to get money?There's no guarantee that they have not installed a new spy camera since they have noticed that two hundred thousand dollars disappeared before the final transit.But I have been careful enough though.Taking just a few thousands of dollars each time, I didn't know they would still catch on. There was a lot of money, I was hoping they wouldn't miss a few.The only option I have now seems to be g
I woke up to see myself tied to a chair, the room was dimly lit.I kept my eyes tightly shut, somehow hoping that it would all go away if I played dead.The burning flames in the nearby old oil drum made me feel uncomfortable.I know very well what they're used for.Torture!Burning the skin of the offenders alive after pouring corrosive chemicals on them.Sweat poured down my body as I wondered what tempted me to enter such a situation.God why did you let them catch me?I thought we were in this together.God come and save me.I swear, I will not steal again.I'm doomed.How can I die at my age?They even brought me to the questioning room, instead of the cell where they dump minors whom they don't wish to hurt.It only makes their intentions clear, they intend to torture me.Rex, you're a bastard."Why is she still like that?" I heard his ominous voice reverberate in the room."She's still passed out, boss. She's probably frightened out of her mind. Are you really going to kill her
REX'S POVWatching her get tortured was like a dagger straight to my heart.I seem to feel the pain of the whips, even more than she herself.Her helpless and heartbreaking tears made me want to rush to her and take her in my arms.I felt like petting her and telling her to forget about the petty stuff she stole, it's nothing to me anyway.She's more important than the drugs.However, I know I can't do that.I can't afford to be weak or show preference to her.It will lead to a lot of mess.Her innocent face didn't seem like that of someone capable of stealing drugs.However, she did it anyway.I felt relieved when she finally gave me a valid reason to spare her.I quickly stopped my man from flogging her and walked towards her.The expression of terror on her face as she waited for the next whip both upset and amused me.She opened her eyes and gasped in fear as she stared at me, her efforts to avoid my face only made me despair, because all that I can think of is taking her chapped
REX SANTORINI'S POVI stared at the details of the investigation."Why is it so scanty? You only brought details about her grandma? How about her other families?" I asked impatiently, flipping through the files."You only asked me to confirm if her grandma is really sick. So yes, she's very sick and needs at least one million dollars for the second and third treatment, in addition to months of health care" Jared quickly defended."Besides, Arianna didn't grow up in Las Vegas. She ran here a few months ago. She got employed in Starlight, almost immediately. If you want me to dig deeper into her background, you will have your answers in an hour" he assured.I nodded.One hour was too long.It only takes just a few minutes to investigate someone using our numerous resources.Except if the person's information is encrypted, like that of special agents.Even special agents can't hide from our sight if we decide to dig them out."Just forget it. It doesn't matter. I have already made my dec