A game of survival

Lola's POV

“A whore?” is that what the daughter of a fallen mafia millionaire is called? A girl who went from luxury to stripping under neon lights just to survive?

I arched a brow, hips swaying as I walked toward the club’s entrance. The lights flashed wild colors. Blinding, beautiful and daring me to step in.

My phone buzzed. Ava. I smiled as I answered.

“Hey.”

“Girl, where are you? Frank’s driving me over. Are you really going to do this?” Her voice came through the phone, half-worried, half-disbelieving.

“I’m already inside. Meet me there.” I hung up before she could talk me out of it. My mind was set.

The doors swung open and heads turned. Slowly, I shrugged off my long jacket, revealing the black lace beneath. Bra clinging, g-string cutting sharp lines against my skin and a tiny veil covering half of my face.

Eyes followed me, hungrily like predators eyeing a prey.

I tossed the jacket at a dude sitting in the corner. He caught it, clearly startled, as I bit my lip and gave him a seductive look. Cute… but not my type. I already had someone.

The cheers rose as I walked to the pole. The music thumped heavy in my chest. With one smooth move, I gripped the steel, spun, and let my body roll. Hips swaying, ass shaking, every move deliberate as I twirled sexily on the pole.

This wasn’t shame. It was survival.

Just then, someone grabbed my arm. “Girl, please, just get down. Are you crazy?” Ava’s eyes were tearful as she looked at me.

Instead of responding, I just smiled and kept on dancing, like my life belonged to this club. I knew when she stomped her foot on the floor before walking away but didn't stop her.

Soon, cash flew toward me. Single notes, bundles, different brands of liquor poured on me, every drop trailing from my spine down.

I became the center of attention as men of different ages surrounded me, money raining on me.

By the time I came down from the pole, the floor was covered with cash. I walked toward the guy I had given my jacket to earlier and snatched it back from him. I bent over, picked up every bill, stuffed them into the pockets, blew the crowd a kiss, and walked outside.

From inside, I could still hear voices calling for me to come again the next day. A gentle smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. After everything that had happened, I was finally satisfied. The money I had earned would go a long way. Or maybe I should come back tomorrow, as they wanted? Earn more, save more.

I was sure the crowd would only get bigger tomorrow. Which meant more income.

While lost in thought, I felt someone behind me. It was Frank, Ava’s new crush.

“Hi, Lola, mind if I give you a ride home?” he asked, politely, with a small smile.

But I wouldn’t be going home tonight. I had lied to Dad, told him I was staying over at Ava’s place.

Ava lived alone, so my lie was believable.

“Never mind, I’ll just go with….” I was cut off when my best friend bumped her shoulder into mine hard, shoving past me to climb into Frank’s car and slammed the car door without a word.

I just sighed and gave Frank a small nod before sliding into the backseat.

The drive was silent, heavy and awkward. Ava didn’t look at me once, and I knew why. She hated the idea of me stripping, no matter how desperate things had become after Dad went bankrupt. But I couldn’t expect her to feed or clothe me. What I hated most was being a burden.

Finally, I gathered the courage and broke the silence after we got down. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

As if she had been waiting for me to speak first, Ava snapped, clenching her teeth. “Sorry? Oh, you can talk now? I thought you went mute back at the club when I kept asking if you were out of your mind. And now you just say ‘sorry’?”

Her words cut deep. Tears blurred my vision. Maybe it was seeing me about to cry, or maybe her anger had burned itself out, but she suddenly turned away, stormed into her apartment, and slammed the door.

I thought she had locked me out. But when I bent the door handle, it opened. And there she was, standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed.

“Liam,” I muttered. My voice cracked. “He got diagnosed with stage two cancer. I need to make sure he gets his medication. And Dad… ever since the bankruptcy, he’s been drowning in debt and his own thoughts. I can’t let him worry himself sick too.”

Ava’s expression softened, guilt evident in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me all this before? We could have figured something out. You should have said something.” Her voice was firm, but gentle. She pulled me into a hug, and I clung to her warmth. Maybe for now, that was all I needed.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. My mind spun with thoughts of Dad and Liam, and the weight of everything that had been bothering me.

By morning, Ava was still asleep. I took a quick shower, dressed, and slipped out to buy groceries. When I got home, Dad was sitting on the couch, so I smiled and placed a thick stack of cash in his hands.

He stared at it, shocked. “Where did you…”

“Uhmm… a bet. I won a gamble,” I interrupted quickly, forcing a smile to hide the lie. “If you don’t want to take it from me, I’ll just put it in your study.” Before he could respond, I darted upstairs, heart racing in my chest. If I stayed for long, he would detect the lie in my eyes and I didn’t want that.

How could I let him know I went to strip at a club?. He would get so mad at me for that.

Later, I cooked breakfast, set the table, and left before giving room for talks or questions. But as I left, I could still feel his lingering gaze on me.

Since most of our properties were gone, including the cars, i boarded a taxi straight to Liam’s apartment.

The front door was closed, but not locked. I pushed it open and the living room was empty, clothes scattered across the floor. Liam’s pants, and the shirt I’d given him last Valentine. My chest tightened. Could something have happened here?.

Then I heard it. A muffled groan. I couldn’t be mistaken, it was his voice. Could something have happened to him?

The thought of it made me freeze as I remembered his health condition, then I rushed toward his bedroom. The door was slightly ajar so I pushed it open.

And what I saw inside made me shiver.