The Mafia's Wanted Desire

8

ASHLEY

I sat holed up in the car, breathing softly with each passing second. I brushed my fingers through my hair which was tied in a ponytail, easing out my compact mirror from my clutch. I opened it and took a long glance at myself, my eyes particularly resting on the crimson-red matte lipstick my lips were coated in.

I didn't recognize the girl that stared back at me in the mirror. She looked bold, classy, and like she didn't give a f**k.

The spa treatment I got today transformed me into a model that was about to walk the runway. The peach-thin-strapped dress I was wearing stopped two inches above my mid-thigh. It had a plunging neckline that cupped my boobs perfectly, showing an ample amount of cleavage.

The straps formed a crisscross on my back. The dress was tight around the waist and dropped around my mid-thigh in a cute flare. The sultry makeup Dawn had taken her time to perfect on my face made my honey-brown eyes pop, giving me this lazy bedroom look.

My hair was tied in a high ponytail that framed my makeup perfectly.

I had paired my look with a gold clutch and matching six-inch heels that made me appear taller than I looked.

"Ash, get out of the car!" Dawn shrieked, giggling alongside Ivana. I heaved a loud breath and took one last glance at myself in the mirror.

I wasn't this girl but that was who I wanted to be tonight. Wild, bold, and classy. I didn't care what any other person had to say about it. Consequences are damned. And with that, I stepped out of the car, eliciting a mini squeal from the girls.

"God! I'd tap that ass if I were a guy!" Dawn groaned, twirling me around.

"I know, right?! She looks gorgeous!" Ivana added, buttressing Dawn's point.

Dawn was clad in a red long-sleeved mid-thigh dress that hugged her slim frame, giving off her long legs. She went all nude on her face, her hair left unpacked, dropping past her mid-back. She looked like she was about to grace the cover of Vogue magazine.

Ivana, as usual, stuck with something simple. A pink satin dress that pressed firmly against her skin, augmenting its paleness. Her blonde hair was thrown atop her head in a messy bun, having the littlest makeup on her face.

My cheeks reddened at their compliments and they giggled, nudging each other. They grabbed me by the arm and led me into the lounge that looked buzzing with liveliness. The entire room had been transformed into something else with the colorful led lights and overly loud music that was emitted from the speakers, wanting to split my eardrums into two.

"It's so loud in here!" I yelled. Dawn didn't respond, she only bobbed her head in response. We made our way through the crowded space and the sweaty bodies of the people were on the dance floor. We found an empty booth in no time and I slumped on the sofa, groaning softly.

"I'm getting the shots!" Ivana announced, grinning. The blonde-haired girl left her seat and headed to the bar, leaving Dawn and me alone.

She looked like she was enjoying the music, swaying her body on where she sat with a large smile on her face. I knew she couldn't wait to get on the dance floor.

Ivana arrived with a bottle of vodka and some shot cups, grinning from ear to ear. I cringed internally at the sight of the colorless liquid.

"No, no, no, If I'm drinking, you are drinking." She said firmly, giving no room for argument.

"Seconded," Dawn affirmed and I groaned.

And without hesitation, Ivana filled the cups to the brim. There were about ten of them.

"Come on, girls! We are here to have fun!" Ivana yelled at the top of her voice and picked up a cup, stretching it into the air. She waited for us to pick ours and Dawn nudged me, picking hers.

The girls had their eyes fixated on me, waiting for me.

"Stop acting like he has some sort of sick control over you. You are not his puppet, or are you?" Dawn queried, quirking her brow at me and I scoffed.

"No," I took a cup and raised it in the air.

"Here's to stronger bonds in our friendships," Ivana toasted and we cooed.

"And more money!" I chipped in, drowning in the loud music.

"And boysssss," Dawn drawled and we clinked our shot cups, downing them at a go. We giggled like little girls and went on to the next and the one after that until there was nothing left to drink anymore.

"Who wants to dance with me?" I asked, with a Cheshire grin. I feared that my mouth would stretch to the back of my head, due to how hard I had been smiling since we got here.

“Come on!" The girls chorused and we left our seats, sauntering over to the dance floor. It was as though the Disc Jockey knew we stepped in, the song changed on cue, Collide by Justine Skye ft Tyga was blaring from the speakers, sinking into my pores.

I smiled and shut my eyes, then I allowed the music to control me.

Just for tonight.

Just for tonight.

I desperately wanted to be this girl.

I moved slowly, whining my waist and rocking myself against Dawn who held on to me tightly, giggling into my ears. I could hear how loudly Ivana was cheering us.

"Go, Ash!"

"Go, Ash!"

"Go, Ash!"

I squatted and wiggled my butt with no care in the world.

"Yo, that's my girl right there!" Dawn whooped.

?We can go all the time

We can move fast, then rewind

When you put your body on mine

And collide, collide?

I chuckled and flipped my hair sassily, turning to Dawn and Ivana who were enjoying themselves.

"I'll be right back," I informed them, and the duo nodded. I spun on my heels and left them on the dance floor.

A banging headache jammed in my temple once I settled into my seat. I groaned softly and got off the sofa, wanting to get out of the loud environment. My vision had gotten a tad bit blurry as I made my way out of the crowd, heading to the nearest place my legs could take me.

A line appeared between my brows, creasing in bemusement as I stared at the dark hallway that was right in front of me. I had been walking around the lounge aimlessly and I stumbled upon this hallway. For one, it was eerily quiet.

The pace at which I had been walking was reduced drastically, the clinking of my heels on the tiled floor echoing in my ears. It looked like there was no one here aside from the two hefty bouncers that stood by the wall like they were guarding the entrance.

Finally, some quiet.

I squared my shoulders and tilted my chin upward, staring back at them defiantly. They were in for it if they thought I was going to be intimidated by their looks. I got to their front and jutted my hips out, placing an arm on it whilst my head was c****d to the side.

"I want to pass," I said audaciously.

If they heard me, they didn't bat an eyelash. I scoffed and was about to step in when one of them tried to pull me by my arm.

"Touch me and lose your arm!" I scowled at him, clutching my purse tightly.

"No one is allowed in here, young lady. Boss's orders." The heftier one growled at me and I stuck my middle finger at him.

"f**k you!" I cursed, glaring at him.

I didn't know what had gotten over me. The boldness I never knew I possessed had overwhelmed me, driving me to make the most terrible choices, and making me do things I would never do on a normal day.

"You should leave," The other one who hadn't uttered a word since I got here, dismissed me and I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't you make me leave, Hulk!" I huffed.

He opened his mouth to speak but he was cut short by the beeping of his phone. His eyes skimmed the content of the message and he beckoned his colleague, whispering into his ear. The heftier one nodded and shot me a sadistic smile.

"Petty much?" I growled.

I walked past them this time and they made no move to stop me. I shrugged it off and proceeded deeper into the hallway. I stopped in front of a large door and pulled the knob, stepping into the dark room.

Did I say Gen's office was cold? This room was freezing! The hair on my skin was sprouting, strand by strand. A chilling fear crawled up my spine, causing me to let out a harsh breath. There was this tiny voice in my head that was yelling at me to get out now. To leave now and never turn back, but I blocked it out.

Run, Ashley. Run.

What was the worst that could happen?

I swallowed and turned around, my eyes dropping to the silhouette of a man that was slouched on a chair. I froze in my steps, my legs failing miserably to take me out of this place.

The lights came on abruptly and I staggered backwards, my clutch dropping to the floor with a loud thud.

He had his back turned to me. I couldn't see his face under the lights. Then slowly, the swivel chair spun around and his face came into view, knocking the little breath I had left out of me.

My throat ran dry. The air in me was stuck in my lungs unable to flow properly. My skin prickled, and my knees turned wobbly, leaving goosebumps to sprout all over my skin, sending a wave of tingles across my body like a zap of electricity.

My words were stuck in my mouth with no clause or phrase to even convey them. I couldn't bring myself to utter a word. I was dumbfounded at the perfection in human form that stared back at me.

I was melting into a puddle underneath his gaze.

He observed me, intently.

My feet were glued to the floor, fear consumed me, swallowing me whole, and with just one glance, he was shattering me into pieces and molding me back into a whole. The domineering aura that emanated from him was scary. The confidence that oozed off him was unnerving.

The kind of man that knew what he wanted and got it regardless of the steps he took. He effortlessly gave off that aura without having to try so hard. He commanded this air of superiority and regality that surrounded him.

It was so hard not to notice.

His striking green eyes bore into mine, digging holes in my body and searching through my soul for whatever it is that I was hiding. They reminded me of the gunmetal. They were cold, sharp, and emotionless, making him so difficult to read.

He had the finest high cheekbones a man could possess, which made him look as though he was sculpted by a Greek god. I shivered under his gaze, feeling the hair on my nape erect one by one.

He sat in a way that he was slouching on his chair. His pitch-black hair was overly messy, falling across his face stylishly. I watched as he twirled his ring-clad fingers in the air, his diamond wristwatch glowing under the bright lights.

His black shirt was fully buttoned at the sleeves, leaving his upper button undone. He wasn't overly muscular but I was drooling so hard with heat pooling between my legs. There was one thing I found utterly fascinating about him.

It was his lips.

I had never seen anyone look this good with salmon-colored lips. It was thin and small, leaving to wonder about the kind of things they were capable of doing.

I bit my lower lip unconsciously, feeling the urge to press my lips against his.

This man was INSANELY HOT.

"Hello, Peach,"

Those two words rolled off his tongue. His voice was soft, silky, and sounded almost velvety, housing this hint of sexy undertone to it. It was seductive, breathtaking, and a huge turn-on.

I gasped.