3

"Do you want me to believe you are him?" I scoffed, quickly recovering from my shock. "There’s no way someone as innocent as Clara would be involved in such a violent world."

“People aren’t always what they seem, feisty Vixen. Your little friend hid a whole lot of dirty secrets.” Lorenzo stalked towards me. My legs moved back on their own accord until I was trapped between his body and the wall.

“Do you know why people call me the devil? It’s because I leave up to that name,” he grinned and tightened his hand around my neck, making my pulse race. “I've shed a lot of blood, and killing someone as insignificant as you… It means nothing."

“Then why haven’t you?” I dared to ask. I shouldn't test his patience, but the thrill of danger was so…

Tempting.

I was officially loco. For Pete sake, he was ten years older than me, my best friend’s uncle, and was choking me. Yet, heat burned between my legs.

“You fascinate me. It would be a shame to end someone as amusing as you too soon.” His lips almost brushed against mine, stealing my breathe.

“One month. Escape with Clara within one month, and it would seem like you never met me. In fact, I'll throw in a compensation f*e of five million each for wasting your time.”

'Five million!' My eyes widened. Oh, the things Clara and I could do with five million.

“And if I fail?”

“I’ll kill you," he shrugged, squeezing his hand around my neck a little bit tighter, and I gasped.

"But you won't hurt her, right?" I choked, trying to pry his titanium grip off me.

"She's my family; I don't hurt family." He grimaced as if I had insulted him and let go of me.

I inhaled a large gulp of air and pressed my hand to my neck, massaging the sore spots. Geez, he didn't need to press too hard to pass his point.

"So what do you say? You could back down, tell Clara goodbye and be on your merry way with your head on your neck, or you could foolishly risk your life and fail. You're a smart girl, aren't you?" Lorenzo taunted, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Yes, I am. Better prepare the money because Clara and I would be out of here in two weeks flat. I take cash, please." I boasted.

"I like you, little vixen. You're the best entertainment I've had in a while." He laughed, shaking his head as he walked to his table. "Many men will piss their pants when the devil threatens them with death, yet here you are like it's a normal Tuesday. What makes you so unafraid of death?"

"Why should I be? We all die after all, so I'm not really worried about dying a little bit earlier. All I want is to save Clara and make sure she has a good life. I'd rather die trying than not trying at all." I shrugged.

And why should I be afraid when he was lying? As if I would believe he was Diavolo. He did give off the vibe, though, but no.

"Your loyalty is commendable," he mused and poured himself another glass of whisky.

"Thank you, so can you take me to Clara right now? Immediately. At the moment. Instantly." I said, emphasising the specificity of my words, because if he tried what he did earlier, I was going to bite him.

"Not so fast; you damaged my property, remember? How are you going to pay for it?" Lorenzo said as he sat down and crossed his legs on his table.

"Oh, that. The thing is that I'm a little bit broke, so why don't you take it out of my five million?" I gave him a loopy smile, and he scoffed.

"Your confidence borderlines cockiness. How are you sure you would win?"

"How are you sure I won't? Your confidence borderlines cockiness too." I sassed and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I broke your window and your lamp and ripped your beddings, but I can't pay now. My part-time job doesn't pay well enough to cover my basic necessities, so what if I pay in instalments over a few months? How about that?"

"Sorry, but you'll have to pay within a month. After all, you'll be dead in a few weeks. A corpse can't pay debt." He sipped his whiskey and I clicked my tongue. He was so frustrating.

"I—"

"What if I gave you a new job? It pays better than whatever trash you have now, and you'll work only in the evening into the night." He offered, and I raised my brow.

"What kind of job? Is it some kind of sex work? I'm not interested." I replied, and he laughed.

It wasn't funny. What kind of evening job could a man like him offer without being related to sex?

"I could get you one of those, but no, it's not. It's more or less like a high-class gentlemen’s club. Men come over in the evening after a long day of work and unwind by having a few drinks and talking with pretty ladies." He sat up and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "You sit with them, pour drinks, and have conversations. It shouldn't be hard for someone with a witty mouth like yours."

"Just that? Nothing else? Are you sure?" I asked.

"Nothing else. Cross my heart." He replied and lit his cigarette. "You'll be working from six thirty to ten thirty, the pay is sixty two dollars per hour but obviously I'll pay you less till you finish paying for what you destroyed. Are you interested?"

"As far as I'm doing only that, then deal." I almost grinned. I couldn't give him the satisfaction that I was pleased with his job. He was already too cocky for his own good.

"Now for the love of everything good, can you take me to Clara!"