Chapter 6: Lap Dance

Sarah

I jump down from the table, pulling my wet panties back up that slipped from her waist. What just happened? To make matters worse, I made the first move. 

Right from the very day he was admitted to the hospital, the prominent scar he sustained only pronounced his mysterious beauty.

I can't count the number of times I've been tempted to taste his lips but, I couldn't defy work ethics.

Luck has made our path cross outside of the clinic and he's right here in her apartment, looking unbothered as he waits for me to dress up to answer the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?" he finally breaks the weird silence, as my eyes are fixed on the doorway wondering who it could be. I wasn't expecting anyone. Something in me wished it hadn't ended as I try to distract myself from the passion building up inside of me 

He walks toward the door before me.

"Could be the neighbors," I reply, still catching my breath.

“It's almost midnight, don't they sleep,” he replies as he tries to answer the door.

“I'll get that,” I rush to the door before him, pulling him back slightly.

"I've been calling. What happened to your line?" the lady standing at the front porch queries.

I bite my lip, as I force a smile. With Betty on my front porch, it's definitely bad news.

“Hi, Betty.”

“Did you fall off a building? What happened to your hair?” 

“I've been working late hours. I would be on my way back to the hospital soon,” I lie, hoping that she'll just go away.

The last thing I want is for Betty to find out about the stranger in my apartment.

Betty specifically warned me about strangers. It's the only way to keep a low profile and stay hidden from Luca.

"That's why you wouldn't let me in?" Betty asks, forcing her way through as she pulls the door wider.

Shit! A million lies start to fill my mind as she walks in ahead of me, eliminating all the choices till i find the most believable lie.

“I can explain,” I begin, shutting the door and turning around to find Betty pouring herself a glass of wine. Just Betty. 

“Explain what?”

I look around my apartment, in search of the stranger. First relief then worry. Where did he go?

Betty takes another sip from her cup then notice the kitchen floor,

“What's this mess. Was there an attack?”

“A minute please,” I say, unable to comprehend what happened. 

I enter my room hoping to find him there. To my amazement, It's empty. 

Where on earth did he go?

“Answer me. Was there an attack. I knew it. I tried to warn you but you wouldn't pick the damed call…”

Betty goes on until I join her back at the kitchen table,

"Nothing happened. Twas a minor slip. I was careless," I say, still gazing around the apartment in wonder.

For a moment, I'm glad that I didn't have to explain myself. I help myself to a cup of wine, to hide my surprise and the pent-up desire. A longing for a stranger.

“We have to act fast. Tonight at that. I've given you enough time, Maria…”

"Sarah, you mean. You might want to keep up with your rules. Follow your own advice and get used to my new identity," I reply.

She rolls her eye, and walks over to the sitting room, slumps down on one of the sofas, taking off her heels, and reclining comfortably.

I empty the cup in my hands, and clear up the mess when the doorbell rings again.

Maybe that's him. But how did he get out in the first place?

I rush to the door in anticipation but instead a man wearing a black suit stands before her. He looks nothing like Marco.

She stares at him, observing his thick dark hair down to his shiny pointed shoes.

“You have a package,” the gentleman says.

“You must have got the wrong address,” I say convincingly but the gentleman, who looks nothing like a delivery man drops the package at my door step without saying anything more and zooms off on a power bike.

"Who was that?" Betty calls from inside as I stand in shock, wondering where the package came from.

"Did you by chance order anything?" I asks, finally deciding to bring in the package.

"Why, no?"

“I've no idea where this came from.” I place the package on the kitchen counter, as I stare at it.

“Well, you wouldn't find out unless you check what's in it,” Betty remarks, now standing behind me as she begins to tear open the brown package.

“There you go,” she flips the cover of the box open.

I stagger back in shock as the package is unraveled.

"What the hell!" I gasp, rushing back to lock the door, a sudden cold engulfs me.

“It's them. They found you. We have to leave,” Betty urges but I'm still horrified at the sight of my childhood picture drenched in what seem like blood and a pistol beside it.

"Now!" Betty screams, this time dragging me forcefully out of the house, into her car as we zoom out of the street.

"You have to find another place. It's a good thing I came. Goodness, Maria! You need to be more careful. How on earth did they find you?"

I'm speechless, unable to recover from the fear. In no time every thought of Marco and his sudden disappearance leaves me with another nightmare.

"Can I at least go back to get my things? I'm tired of having to change apartments like clothes."

"You definitely are out of your mind. Now I see why they found you. Remember you've more to lose and I'm only here to help," Betty adds, as she pulls over in front of a bar.

“Great! I'll just sit in a bar and wait for whoever sent the box to find me drunk. Great plan, Betty. Great plan,” I say, biting my fingers, my hands trembling as we get out of the car.

"If you hadn't been stalling the plan, maybe we wouldn't be this fucked. Our man is right there. All you fucking need to do is to add a pellet or two into his drink and I'll take it up from there. Stop being a coward."

"You still haven't told me what it would do to him and why on earth is he so important in bringingmy freedom." I can't imagine another death in my hands since the escape from Luca.

"He has information we need," Betty replies.

I let blow out the air in my mouth, in frustration. I know I owe Betty for saving me from Luca but using me to seduce men to their death wasn't part of the initial plan. That's not the person I dreamed of becoming here.

We step into the bar. Betty nodges me ahead and whispers,

"If he dies so what? They're part of the people that want you dead. It's kill or get killed. You've to stick with one."

She drops three white capsules in my hands and turns around. Leaving me all alone.

Her words didn't help pacify me but at least she has promised to handle the rest. 

It shouldn't be that hard. Just a few pellets. 

“More drinks,” I walk up to a brown-haired man at the corner of the bar, wearing a brooding expression.

Smiling seductively at him, I give flirting a shot as I cross my legs in a way that my laps are exposed opposite him.

He looks dangerous and doesn't seem like one who requires company but Betty is at a corner, watching my every move. The dress I'm wearing was her choice. I've to fulfill my end of the deal, a price for my temporary freedom.

I fill up his glass and pour myself a glass too as I try to strike a conversation.

"wanna dance? It's forbidden to sit alone in a bar," I tease, trying hard to conceal my nervousness. He empties his glass, his eyes scanning my body in a very uncomfortable way. All along I retains a smile.

“Show me what you got,” he finally speaks, with a lopsided smile.