𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

𝟔𝟒| 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬

I sat behind the makeup table and let Andrea do her job. Due to my miserable social life, I never felt the need to do my makeup. Sometimes I let my mom try some lipstick or one-color eye shadow on me, but that's it. But don't think I didn't like it. I secretly admired people who could do colorful make-up for a celebration or breathtaking smoky make-up with one palette and a brush. The thing was, I didn't like makeup on me. I didn't know how to make makeup on myself natural, without looking like a clown. I perceived myself as a person who was trying too hard to fit into a world in which I have nothing to do.

But now I was beginning to feel like I was exactly where I belonged. Despite the blood on my hands.

I stared at Andrea as she was spinning around me, changing one product after another. She made a perfect eyeliner for me and applied a dark red matte lipstick on my lips. She defined my cheekbones with contouring, and, thanks to the highlighter, she gave my face a gentle shine. I really liked it.

At that moment, a person ran through my mind, which I hoped would like it as well. Leo. What will he say when he sees me? Will he notice this change?

Robie entered the locker room to take turns with other dancers, interrupting my thoughts. The image of Leo faded as quickly as it appeared.

„Talia, you look great!" She praised me as soon as she noticed me.

„Thanks. Andrea did wonders on me, she really knows how to use makeup," I praised her and smiled. The brown head returned my smile. Robie stood behind the chair I was sitting on. She leaned closer to me and whispered:

„Is it true what is being said among girls? Is an escape really planned?"

Andrea and I exchanged brief glances. Not all girls knew what was going on. Those who had been on stage before, including Simone and Robie, had no idea what was going on outside the locker room door a few minutes ago.

„It's true," Andrea told her. „Talia and Tom came here to save us." Robie's eyes bulged in shock.

„Wait... Tom?" Like YOUR TOM?" She asked eagerly. Andrea nodded happily.

„Yes. My Tom," she said, her pride reflected in her eyes, which shone like two diamonds. She touched the pendant on her neck lightly with her left hand. The pendant that Thomas gave her.

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

„Girls, um, just such a little note," I said. „You should stop calling me Talia. My real name is Ria," I said. Robie seemed to be thinking.

„So that means Jack isn't Jack either?" she wondered. Jack?

„Who is Ja-" I stopped in the middle of the sentence, but then I remembered. „No, he's not. His name is Otto." I smirked. I'm already looking forward to Otto's reaction when I tell him that Robie asked about him.

„But the fact that you're just friends is hopefully real?" The blonde demanded, not forgetting to use the emphasis on the right word. I laughed.

„Yes, we really are," I said mechanically. „And I think the fact that he likes you is also real." Is it possible that these sympathies were mutual?

There was no time for another confession because our conversation was interrupted again. Simone was behind it this time.

„Girls!" She shouted at us with a short hiss. „Why are you just standing here?" Her gaze stopped at me. „Talia, Diego told me he wanted to see you dance. I want you to have a show with Andrea and Robie. Your performance will follow in a moment, you should get dressed."

Damn. I completely forgot that I had to save this club by dancing.

Robie launched:

„Actually, her real name is-" But Andrea jumped into her speech before Robie could finish her sentence.

„Simone, don't worry. TALIA is done in a moment. Robie, go pick a dress for her," she told her. The two girls exchanged glances. Then Robie said:

„Okay, on my way! R-, Talia, come with me." And she pulled my hand.

„Fine," Simone nodded, „be on the stage in fifteen minutes."

When Simone left the locker room and the air was clear again, Robie verbally attacked Andrea, obviously taken aback.

„What was that supposed to mean? Simone doesn't know about that?!"

„No. And she can't even know about it, "Andrea said. "It's about Diego. I think she's devoted to him. After all, of all the dancers, she spends the most time with him. I heard her talking about him. It is quite possible that she has certain feelings for him," she explained, and everything began to take on a whole new meaning. Robie gasped silently and put her hand in front of her open mouth.

„You think she's in love with him?" she stressed.

„I don't know," Andrea said, shrugging. „I'm just afraid that if she knew that Ria was going to kill Diego, she would warn him."

I ignored the look Robie gave me when she heard I was going to kill Diego and said:

„If the situation is as you describe it, I agree not telling her." A heavy sigh came out of my mouth thinking about everything that was awaiting me. There was no enthusiasm for my role, but I knew I could no longer back down. Someone has to help these women. Someone has to punish the culprit. And that someone is me. „Dress me now. Let me get this over with as soon as possible."

„I look ridiculous," I said, and couldn't believe in what they put me in. Looking at myself in the mirror, I criticized every single millimeter of my body. The corset bodysuit with lacing on the back looked better on the hanger. At least it had a ruffle skirt. It was shorter at the front than at the back, but it was better than nothing.

„You look like a GODDESS," Andrea said enthusiastically, setting a satin bow on the front of her corset right.

„More like a fool," I muttered. I had to control myself otherwise I would tear the costume up into a hundred pieces.

„Foolishly divine," Robie grinned, earning a hit in her ribs from Andrea.

„Robie, you're not helping!"

„I'm sorry, but Ria is right," she agreed. „Your costume suits you, but your expression and posture are terrible. You have to relax more," she advised me. I'm supposed to... what?!

„I've never danced in front of anyone else in my life, and now I'm supposed to move around in a nightclub full of millionaires and a guy I'm about to kill before he kills me? You're right, Robie, I should relax more," I said, flourishing with sarcasm. Andrea sighed heavily and placed her hands on my shoulders.

„Ria, take a deep breath," she told me. „And listen to me well. What everyone on stage expects of you is not a striptease. It's a sensual dance. You have to feel the music. Imagine that the dance is a means of seducing someone and drawing them to yourself. Did you see what girls were doing before?"

„I did. And I know I can't do it."

„But you can! You must believe in yourself more," Andrea encouraged me. Robie shut the compact powder and tossed the brush into the container, among others.

„More importantly, relax. We are in this together, you don't have to be afraid of anything," she smiled.

I took a deep breath and cooled my inflamed lungs.

„Okay then. Let's do it." I stepped forward briskly, but Andrea's hand stopped me.

„Wait. You forgot this." I frowned incomprehensibly. Did she really hand me patterned gloves? And glittery high-heeled shoes?

„Huh?" Came out of me, half shocked and half amused. „Can't you just rather burn me on the stake right here, right now?"

„Haha, no, get on the podium," Andrea said, and Robie pushed me forward with her hands. I'm more than sure that this performance will kill me sooner than Diego himself.

„These were your favorite twins, Gwen and Jannett," Simone's velvety voice was heard from the microphone. She was standing on the edge of the stage, about to inform us about another performance. Our performance. „I will ask you for another big round of applause." A loud scream echoed the club, while the twins bowed and got out from the podium contentedly. They went to the nearest bar, where the bartender had already prepared drinks for them.

We came a little earlier with the girls, so I saw a bit of their show. It was really hypnotically charming. I was beginning to worry that I would screw it up and destroy the whole plan.

I ran my eyes quickly around the club. It didn't take long for me to notice Otto. With a distinctively patterned jacket, he stood out among the boring businessmen dressed in the classic black or gray color. There was also a man in a white suit, but I didn't pay attention to him. Actually, I didn't pay the attention to anyone except for Otto and Leo. Who, by the way, I couldn't find. I even glanced at Tom. He stood at the door, keeping his eyes on Andrea, who returned his passionate gaze. Leo, where are you...

What if something happened to him? What if...

„Ria, don't worry, you can do it," Robie whispered in my ear, showing her thumbs up. I nodded a few times and looked back. My eyes fixated on the person sitting in the middle. Diego Santini didn't seem to be interested in the show at all. He sat relaxed on a comfortable sofa, tapping on his phone. He was surrounded by a bodyguard on each side, whom I had met before in the locker room. If he won't watch me, there is no reason to panic.

„And now welcome our regulars Andrea and Robie on stage, accompanied by the new star Talia." Simone smiled brightly at the audience, then at us. Diego looked up from the phone display and looked directly at me. My stomach tightened into a tight knot. You're Ria O'Donnell, for God's sake, and you are afraid of dancing?

I shook off my feeling of fear and took my place with false self-confidence. There were three chairs on the stage and the girls pushed me to the middle one. Great. Now everyone takes a sight at me.

The whole club plunged into darkness, dark purple spotlights began to light up above our heads. The smoke of dry ice billowed around me. I was just waiting for the music. Just before the first tones of Call Out My Name by The Weekend was heard, the silhouette of the man caught my eye. I recognized him right away. It was Leo. One of his glances was enough and an electrifying load ran through my body. Something inside me ignited immediately, and I suddenly believed I could do it.

I decided to dance for him. Leo Tokarewski, you should settle down, because this dance performance will be just for you.

I remembered Andrea's words. This is not a striptease, but a sensual dance. You have to feel the music. Imagine that the dance is a means of seducing someone and drawing them to yourself.

There was no one but me and Leo at that moment. The mesmerizing music attracted my senses and forced me to survive every step. Actually, I didn't know what I was doing, but the lust in Leo's eyes told me I was doing well.

I checked the situation. The other dancers came to the guests. There was a girl that was dancing right on Otto's lap. His expression spoke for itself. He must have felt like heaven. Too bad he had no idea how this moment would turn into hell in a moment.

Andrea stood up for me. She began to spin around me and howl like a snake in a paradise garden.

„It's time," she sent me a silent signal. Robie appeared by my side.

„Take his weapon," she told me, tossing her hair as long as seaweed. My eyes lit up like two lanterns. I'm coming for you, Diego Santini.

With graceful steps, I went to my enemy, who was obviously not expecting it. However, he didn't resist my presence. He ran his tongue over his lips and stared at me from the top to the bottom. I walked behind him, touching his chest, neck, and hair gently, and I made sure that every movement was sensual, full of passion and lustfulness.

The last time I had to use my body to achieve what I wanted - I hated myself. I felt used and filthy. But now... it's different. I looked at this situation from a different angle. I was not a helpless victim now. I was the person who pulled the strings in my favor. I used my female body as a weapon.

I don't even know how I found myself in Diego's lap. I dug my knees into the soft velvet couch and my face was so close to his that I could feel his breathing. His eyes exposed him – I had him exactly where I wanted him.

While unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt, I tried my best to control my shaky fingers. A faint moan came from Diego as I wandered with soft kisses through his tight neck. The whole time I felt two hot glances at me - one belonging to Diego and the other to Leo, who was watching the whole scene from the corner of the room.

I continued to play my game.

I slowly began to take off Diego's suit jacket, in which he had a weapon hidden. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Tom and Leo approaching Diego's bodyguards. I carefully put my hand in his jacket pocket and touched the weapon with my fingertip. Yes!

Diego noticed that something was wrong. He raised his eyebrows and smiled playfully. He reached down and pulled out the gun instead of me. He looked at me and approached my head with it. The barrel was just a few inches away from me.

The world stopped for a millisecond, and I stopped being afraid.

I grabbed his hand in which he held the gun and moved it closer to me. Now I had it glued to my forehead. Surprise appeared in Diego's eyes. I'm not afraid of you. So, what are you waiting for, kill me! my inside screamed heedlessly after him.

Diego laughed and set my hand on the gun. It was secured. I took it from him and pretended to see a gun for the first time in my life. I deluded him with kisses again. Kissing him was... weird. It was like he was still trying to stay in control of me. He had no idea he was losing it.

The opponent narrowed his eyes a little, which I used for my own good. I discreetly disengaged the weapon and waited for Tom and Leo to be ready. I grabbed Diego's chin between my thumb and forefinger and opened it a little. The weapon touched his burning skin. Diego put his hand on mine so we both had our fingers on the trigger. Then he lowered his chin.

I narrowed my eyes and pulled the trigger. Two more shots were fired immediately. One from Leo and the other from Tom's weapon.

I felt a shower of blood swamping me, enjoying the outbreak of every red drop on the exposed skin glistening in the radiant spotlights.

I have cleansed the world of one sinner.

And I was proud of it.