****XANDER*****
"Detective Kim is on leave. This is your chance to get promoted to detective. Don’t blow it off." My boss said over the phone, as I stood outside the strip club waiting in line as I listened to him."I won’t mess it up, boss. You can count on me." I assured."Alright Xander, if you find the culprit, consider yourself promoted," he said and hung up. I sighed. We had been talking on the phone for hours on my way to the strip club. I was expected to catch a criminal in the strip club that had been abducting desperate girls for sex trafficking.I looked behind me. I had a feeling I was being trailed. Maybe it’s just a figment of my imagination. I removed my face mask and tossed it to the floor. I have enough money to woo strippers so I can get to the bottom of this. The line started moving after a long pause. There was a neon sign above the main door that said, "Dead End."The door was opened wide for everyone to go inside. I strolled into the empty foyer. Both the pay booth and the cloakroom desk were unattended. I walked through the curtain of the archway and went into the main bar.The room was large, with tables and chairs scattered haphazardly about the main floor. It was decorated in dark blue and white trimmings.I was standing close to the main stage. The right-hand side was the bar, with stools on either end for customers. I noticed the VIP area. There were a lot of sofas there, and a few screens that gave the people there more privacy. I tilted my head, trying to look into the VIP area, but I couldn’t see anything but girls walking into the room and the sound of booming music.There were only six poles with half-naked girls dancing on them, with perverted men standing around them, slapping their butt cheeks with money as they danced on the poles to the rhythm of the music as the disco ball shone on their bodies. One of the strippers was getting all the attention. She was petite. She was making her butts jiggle on the pole as the men poured drinks on her naked ass. She was wearing a red bikini.I was about to walk to the VIP area when I felt someone’s hand around my body. I turned around to see the person and realized it was a girl I had never met in my life before. With her glamorous look and makeup, I could tell that she was a stripper."Hello, big boy, how may I help you?" She said, in a seductive tone, with her hands never leaving my body, she was quite pretty for a stripper. I couldn’t look at her without seeing her huge breasts that were cupped up by the tight bra she was wearing. Her eyes wandered down my body."I am just here to have fun, will you be willing to play with me?" I asked with a grin."You are not wearing a khaki, so I can’t give you a lap dance, but I can romance you if you want, but that will be twenty dollars," she said with a smile. All they know is money. She is just looking for a way to make a lot of money from me."How do I get into the VIP zone?" I asked."It’s easy, big boy," she said, standing in front of me with her hand on my neck and looking into my eyes."You just have to pay a fee of one thousand dollars to get in there." She replied."What sort of treatment do people get there?" I asked."Hehehe, big boy, are you sure you want to know?" She said, stroking my pocket with her hand. I knew she was trying to see if I had money."Tell me," I muttered. She moved closer to me and put her mouth in my ear."You get to do anything to us, you can even take off your jeans." She whispered, and my eyes widened. I need to get into that place. The man I am looking for might be in there. I tried to put my hand around her waist. She held my hand and moved away from me with a frown."Don’t touch me, you didn’t even tip me." She said, biting her lower lip. She tried to walk away, but I grasped her hand and pulled her back to me."Chill baby, here you go," I said and handed her 20 bucks. She smiled and kissed me on the cheek."Wait...I will be right back." She said and walked away. I knew she was trying to get away from me because she thought I was broke. I inhaled and exhaled, and took out my debit card, heading toward the VIP area. My debit card fell off my hand. I squatted and picked it up. I noticed a slim, beautiful girl with large green eyes, bobbed black hair with a touch of red, and a cute upturned nose that made her look innocent. She looked stunning, although she was wearing a black miniskirt and a white shirt.Our eyes met. She swayed her slender hips. That sent a wave of desire through me. She flipped her long black hair to the side, and I noticed she was with a guy. He was carrying her bag. She looked like a boss lady. Her aura was fire. Gosh! I need a girlfriend; my life is so boring. I came here to investigate, and I am checking out a bad girl, fuck! I tried my best to look away as they both walked to the bar area.I bumped into the staff standing outside the VIP zone."What are you doing here?" he asked in a rude tone."Chill man, I just want to join the VIP team," I said, and I flashed him my debit card."Why didn’t you say so?" he remarked and brought out a card machine. I handed my debit card to him and pressed my pin. My eyes wandered to the hot chick I just saw. She was sipping a drink with her guy in the bar area.Dear beloved readers,As I sit down to write this author's note, tears of gratitude and joy fill my eyes. I cannot express how much happiness it brings me to know that you have embarked on this incredible journey with me, deep into the world of the mafia queen and her enthralling story. Your support and dedication have meant the world to me, and I am forever grateful for each and every one of you.With a bittersweet feeling in my heart, I must inform you that the journey of Book One has come to a close. The captivating tale of the mafia queen has reached its end, but fear not, my dear readers, for this is only the beginning. Book Two is right around the corner, waiting to sweep you off your feet once again.I have poured my heart and soul into crafting this novel for you, and I am overjoyed to hear that it has touched your hearts and minds. Your enthusiasm and encouragement have inspired me every step of the way, and for that, I am eternally grateful.Now, I have a little secret to sh
The following day dawned, casting an eerie light upon the grim gathering. Old man Carl stood resolutely on the shore of the sea, his face devoid of any trace of a smile. His stern expression and commanding voice cut through the air as he explained the rules of the game to Ashley and her group, who faced the submarines assigned to each of them.An intense tension settled upon the shore, amplified by Xander's frequent glances in Ashley's direction. She stood a mere inches away from him, next to Jake, while Carl loomed behind them all."Each of you knows exactly why you're here, you bunch of assholes," Carl began, his voice carrying across the water. He gestured toward the six sleek submarines bobbing in the water behind him. "Today, someone will meet their end, and this game will determine who. You will race in these submarines. The first five to cross the finish line shall be spared. The person who crosses last will pay with their life."With a sinister smile, he pulled out a handgun f
Mason stood outside his car in the dimly lit alley, stubbornly refusing to get inside while Melody persistently tapped on the window behind him. He retrieved a matchbox and a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it up and taking a long drag."Sorry to keep you waiting. You know that queen is a handful," Carl said, spreading his hands as he approached Mason from the other side of the alley."What was all that? Why did you make me look like a fool, you old hag?" Mason growled, exhaling a plume of smoke. Carl stood before him, a smirk playing on his lips."Perhaps you still consider her your queen?" Mason questioned."Hell no. She's nobody's queen. Just a naive little girl claiming to rule Miami when she's nothing without her dead father," Carl remarked. Mason extinguished his cigarette on Carl's shirt, leaving a stain behind. "If I find out the punishment you plan for her is a joke, I'll come for both of you. Mark my words, old hag." Mason's words carried the weight of a promise. He grab
Ashley anxiously bit her lip, her mind racing as she desperately searched for a solution. "I don't have access to my money at the moment," she admitted, her voice filled with determination. "But I promise I'll find a way to get it to you. Please, help me put Mason in his place."Carl shrugged, his indifferent expression unchanged. "Fine, I'll do it for you," he conceded before turning on his heel and heading towards the door.Just as Carl left, Xander emerged from the bathroom, a towel in hand, patting his damp hair dry. A furrow formed on his brow as he observed the scene before him, sensing that something was amiss. Concern etched his features as he approached Ashley. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes fixed on her with genuine worry.Turning to face him, Ashley's eyes brimmed with determination. "I have to eliminate Mason once and for all," she declared firmly.Xander's brow furrowed deeper as he raised an important point. "Are you sure that's the real reason you're going? Or is
The sound of Mason’s ringing phone pierced through the silence of the room, waking him up from his sleep. He let out a groan as he reached for the phone on his nightstand, his hand brushing his hair back."Carl, do you have any idea what time it is?" Mason scolded as he answered the call.But his scolding was cut short as he heard Ashley’s voice on the other end of the line. His heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name, but he quickly composed himself."What do you want, Ashley?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady."You have been asleep all day," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I’m coming to take my mother, and you better be ready to hand her over. Meet me at the location I will send you, or you will regret it."Mason felt a surge of anger course through his veins. How dare she threaten him like that?"No, Ashley," Mason replied firmly. "I’m not playing your games. This game is mine to play. You come to me if you want your mother back, I will send you the loc
Mason dragged Mary to the pool area, her screams echoing through the empty halls. The afternoon sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the cold water of the pool. He threw her into the shallow end of the pool, and she splashed around frantically, trying to keep her head above water."Please, Mason, please," Mary pleaded as he repeatedly shoved her head under the water, "Get this on camera." Mason ordered his henchmen, "I want Ashley to see what happens to those who cross me." Mary struggled to breathe as her head remained underwater for too long, but just as Mason was about to let her drown, he pulled her head out to prevent her from dying.Melody had followed them to the pool area, horrified by what she saw. "Please, Mason, stop this," Melody pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "You're hurting her. You're hurting everyone. Please, I'm begging you." But Mason just sneered at her, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You don't understand, Melody," he said. "Ashley needs to see that I