Little Bird: A Why-Choose Mafia Romance (Seattle Underground)
Little Bird: Chapter 1

“Lizzy, you’re up in two songs. Hurry up or Lynal will have your ass!” Slim comes rushing into the locker room from the floor. Her glowing dark skin is sprinkled with sweat, and I can’t help but roll my eyes and wave her off.

Leaning into my black hole of a locker cubby, I try like hell to convince myself the seclusion of this job is worth everything we have to deal with.

Slim scoffs and I turn as she sits at her locker while the other girls apply too much make-up and change into clothes that barely cover their most intimate of parts.

This is what we do here at Players. We get naked and allow random men to touch us all so we can survive this messed up world we live in.

I shake my head, exhausted of running on the stupid hamster wheel. Always striving to replace more, but never getting anywhere.

“Lizzy! Move it girl!” Slim playfully barks at me, nudging me with her hip.

I should be moving, but sitting on the locker room bench in my comfy clothes is kind of my happy place at the moment.

Nodding, I turn back to my cubbyhole. I know I need to get ready, but the weight of dancing on the floor tonight feels extra heavy.

I want to be one of those girls from the movies where the guy showers her with all the love and tenderness, where she’s worth more than what her body can do. I want a life where I have choices and freedom to be who I want to be. To maybe even replace a happily ever after, but that is just stupid fantasy shit. The reality is that women are here to serve men, nothing more.

A woman is only as good as her pussy. That’s what dad always told me anyways.

Blowing out a breath, I stand, removing my comfy sweats and panties, then slide on the thin pink thong. Next goes my warm sweatshirt for a black fishnet mesh bra. They don’t cover much, but it’s better than walking out on the floor naked.

“Time to face the fucking music I guess…” I mutter to Slim, who is oiling her body to give it a nice shine under the lights. I’m not that committed.

“Kick ass on the pole, girl.” She winks at me as I shove the last of my stuff into my cubbyhole.

“You know I always do.” I toss my hair over my shoulder and turn to stick my tongue out at her as I leave the sanctuary of the back room.

The floor is flooded with people tonight and the neon lights make the two girls on stage look like goddesses. There’s no way they won’t be taking men to the lounge rooms after their dances.

The lounge VIP dances are where the money is, but it’s also where you have to rub your mostly naked body all over the horny bastards. Letting men that are pigs touch me is nothing new, but at least here I get paid for it.

Most nights I try my best to be thankful for this job. It pays cash, allowing me to go unnoticed by society and be pretty much completely hidden. This job is my sanctuary, and I try like hell to remember that, because I want to quit every single day.

My song is on next, and I begrudgingly climb the stage. The music fills the room, and I take hold of the pole, grinding on it to the pulsing thrum of the beat. The men gather around the stage, throwing dollars towards me.

The more they pay me, the more I do.

It’s a game to engage the men; they like seeing what their dollars can get them. I let my large boobs spring free, and some asshole has the actual nerve to whistle at me.

I rake my eyes over the men seductively, and most are regulars. But I spot a new man in the corner and lock my gaze on him as I dance.

His sea-blue eyes glow under the lights, holding me captive till I dip and take the rest of him in. Burly looking, with shaggy black hair, and earring studs in each lobe. His facial hair is thick and groomed, looking almost manicured over his firm, sculpted face.

The suit straining tight against his sculpted arms looks to be worth a thousand dollars alone. He is definitely the most well-dressed person here and men like that throw more than a dollar or two on the stage at a time. I have a feeling a dance with this guy could cover my rent for a month. Biting my lip, I leave the pole, crawling across the stage towards him, never breaking eye contact. Men like a submissive woman.

Crawl to me princess… I will away the monster’s voice in my head, the man who taught me what men like.

Running my tongue over my upper lip, I start bouncing on my knees, fondling my tits, almost like I am bouncing on a cock. Come on honey, come throw your money at me.

If I can hook this guy, he might come back. I would love him as a regular.

Please baby, you know you want this. I’m basically begging him with my body at this point, but he doesn’t move.

Someone to my left tucks money into my thong strap, so I turn and start twerking in his face, bouncing my pelvis off the floor to give my ass more jiggle. The man smacks my ass with a sharp sting, but I ignore it. He tucks more money to my thong strap and I turn to face him.

“Want some titties?” I splay my chest out to him.

“Hell yeah.” I grab his shoulders and pull him to me as I rub my boobs in his face. Please let this song be almost over…

His hand holds cash as he rubs it down my rib cage, tucking it into the front of my thong, dangerously close to the apex of my thighs. Anxiety fills my gut, and I move back so he can no long touch, but only look. I swear if you give these guys an inch they try for a mile.

My song finally ends, and I quickly move to grab my cash and climb off the stage so the next girl can take my place.

The new guy doesn’t move from his seat, only takes a sip from a whiskey glass at his table, but his eyes never leave me. Prickles run over my skin as heat rushes between my thighs. There is something about this man that is both terrifying and alluring.

One of the regulars who seems to always love my company starts moving my way. The old man rarely showers and always smells like booze. He’s a gross creep and I would rather give a dance to anyone else in this place, but money is money at this point. If I don’t take the VIP dances I can’t eat.

The new guy leaves his seat and fuck is he massive, easily six foot five, and is moving towards me just like the old man. Guess he was intrigued after all. Not that anyone could tell by the stoic look on his face.

“It seems you got plenty of a show on the stage.” New guy’s eyes bore into mine. “My turn now. I already paid for an All-Star with her.” The new guy sneers to the other guy, finally breaking our gaze. Almost like he’s marking his territory.

His voice is deep and smooth, making things light up in all the right places, but I cannot go there.

And I can’t let the guys see every fiber of me is screaming in suppressed rage. I’m the plaything for hire right now and if I want to keep my job, I need to keep that image, and I need this job…

“Well I look forward to your company, sugar, but I need to speak with my manager before we head on back.” I offer a seductive smile and march towards Lynal in the booth, smoke damn near rolling out of my ears.

“What the fuck Lynal?” I hiss at him. “I may strip for you, but I’m not one of your whores.” I keep my voice low, but I’m fuming. All-Stars are more than just teasing. They are full on sex and Lynal knows I don’t do them. I have been told who to fuck most of my adult life, and I refuse to do that anymore.

“Hey, he came in here, asked for you by name, and paid two-thousand to fuck you. You’re going to make fifteen-hundred tonight, so go get your man, use your pussy, and be thankful for the blessing,” Lynal barks at me and I jump a little at his tone.

“Fuck you, Lynal!” I say, seething towards him.

Fuck it, it’s not worth the fight tonight. Really it shouldn’t bother me. It’s not like I’m not used to being passed around. I just wish I wasn’t.

My father has had me servicing his Northside Gang since I was eighteen.

Shaking away my frustration, I stand straight and put a smile on my face.

I will fuck this pig of a man tonight, take my money, and replace a new job, because I’ll starve before Lynal turns me into another one of his whores.

Making my way back to the man who bought my company, I put on the mask I have worn for years. ‘I enjoy this and can’t wait to be in your presence.’

“Alright sugar, right this way.” I smile at him and grab his tie, leading him to the far back lounge room that is strictly used for All-Star treatments. It has locks, soundproofing, and a bed. My gentleman doesn’t balk, just wears a crooked smile.

I mean if I have to fuck someone, there are worse looking guys out there. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little curious to see him without a shirt. I mean his shirt is straining against his arms and shoulders so much that if he flexed, it may actually rip!

Once in the room, I release him and turn to face the door, locking it behind us. You have been fucking guys like this forever. Get it done and you’re set for a month. I let out a breath. No matter how many times I have sex with someone I don’t want to, it never seems to get any easier.

Turning to face him, I have to hide my surprise. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, with his ankles crossed. Apparently he likes foreplay. Most would be half naked before the door is even locked.

I saunter over to him with a seductive sway in my hips. I know the act well.

“Sweetheart, you can stop right there,” he commands with a dark voice, as smooth as the finest of whiskeys.

Well this is new. A man who pays for my company doesn’t stop me before I’ve even touched him.

“I don’t need you to fuck me Chelsey, I just needed those other men to stop touching you.” His voice is deep and firm.

Fuck. Panic rises in my chest, sweat coating my palms, but I don’t move from my spot.

How did they replace me? I was careful, so incredibly careful!

“How do you know my real name?” I say with an edge to my tone.

“Oh, I know everything there is to know about you,” he coos at me with a cocky smile. “I know you’re twenty-two. That you’re staying at a run-down trailer two blocks from here. And that you ran away from your father because he was going to sell you as a concubine to the leader of the Chicago Italian Mafia.” He pushes off the bed and backs me up to the door, grabbing my chin. “You have not been easy to replace. Though my brothers and I do love a good challenge.” He leans closer to me and I shutter at his proximity. “But you were extra difficult to track down,” he growls.

No one knew of my father’s plans to sell me. The only reason I knew is because I overheard him talking to my step-mother.

“How else is she going to earn her keep? I have our sons to carry on the family line, so she will do what a woman was made to do. She will go to Riccardo, be fucked to his heart’s desire and strengthen the ties between our gang and the Italian Mafia.”

I struggle, trying to break free from the man holding me, but we both know I don’t have a chance of getting away.

“Well since you know all about me. Why don’t you tell me who you are?” I bat my eyes at him.

Men are all the same, they all want a good lay. If I can get him into bed, I might have a chance at hitting him with the lamp on the nightstand, buying me enough time to get the hell out of here.

Lacing my fingers into his shirt, I press my pelvis into him.

“My brothers and I are the head of the Romano Crime Family.” He grabs my hands, pinning them above my head with a condescending smirk. “When we heard what Riccardo was willing to pay for you, we decided to start tracking you ourselves. We were pretty happy when we found you here… In our own territory.” He coos at me, running a thumb down my cheek and I turn away. Fucking bastard…

Adrenaline floods my system, but I cannot let the panic win. Taking a deep breath, I slow my heart and face him head on, hoping he can’t see the emotion underneath my glare.

“So, your plan is to sell me to Riccardo then? Send me back to Chicago?” I scoff at him. Yet under all the bravado, I’m terrified of returning.

“Oh no, you misunderstand. If Riccardo wants you, you must be a hell of a prize,” he jeers, leaning close to my ear. “No, we intend to keep you for ourselves.”

Relief surges through me. This could be worse. I can buy time with them and then escape again.

“Well if I’m going to stay with you, what’s your name, sugar?” I coo at him and bat my lashes, sliding my leg between his.

“I am Nico, but you may call me Nic.” He releases me from the door, and I drive my knee up hard and shove his chest hard.

He effectively blocks my knee, only stumbling back a step or two.

I turn and scramble for the lock, but before I can twist the knob, I’m pressed flat to the door.

I let out a soft whimper of pain, my chest screaming from the harsh pressure.

He is firm and unyielding in his hold as I fight against him, tears threatening my eyes. There is no escape. That was my one chance…

“I’ll give you props for trying.” His voice is a deep growl, and I can feel his chest vibrate as he speaks. He takes hold of my throat and spins me to face him. My stomach jumps to my throat at the look of pure rage in his eyes. “But if you ever do that again, I’ll kill you where you stand.” All the air in my lungs leave and he leans close enough that our noses almost touch. “Do you understand me?”

I’m frozen, my mind trying to sort out what to do next.

“Do. You. Understand. Me.” He raises his voice with each clipped word and I drop my gaze.

There is nothing left to do but submit to my new captor.

“Yes,” I mutter, and the word sounds so damn weak.

“Yes what?” he sneers.

“Yes, sir.” His hand leaves my throat, and he steps back slightly.

“Good. My brothers should already be in the car with your stuff. We’re going to get your payment from Lynal and then walk nicely out of here.” I turn to the door, desperate to leave, but he moves next to my side. “But make no mistake, there is no chance of escaping. We run Seattle, and hiding bodies isn’t a problem for us. So do us all a favor and behave.”

I jump a little at his choice of words and have no doubt he means them. I give him a nod and pull the door open. I don’t look for help. I can’t have anyone hurt or dead because of me. Whatever is going to happen with the Romanos is my fate. I won’t risk putting anyone else in danger to try to escape it.

I make my way to Lynal, my new captor close behind like a shadow. Lynal hands me my money hastily with fear deep in his eyes as he looks at Nico behind me. He makes no move to intervene and any final hope of a rescue dies within me.

He was the last person who might have helped me. I scan the room for Slim, thankful she isn’t on the floor. She would try to help, or at least ask questions.

Making our way to the door, Nico grabs my arm, stopping us. “I can’t let you walk outside like that.” He shrugs off his jacket and places it over my shoulder. “Cover yourself.” I instantly wrap myself in it, but I refuse to thank him for it.

He pushes the door open, and we make our way to a black SUV in the parking lot. Nico quickly helps me in the back seat where another man is sitting. He looks a lot like Nico but a little slimmer, shaggy black hair, his face showcasing a light dusting of facial hair, and he doesn’t have any ear piercings. He says nothing to me, only nods at Nico and is as stiff as a damn board.

The second brother turns to look at me from the front passenger seat. He eyes me up and down, then tosses me my clothes from my cubbyhole.

“Get dressed. I don’t want to drive you around looking like a whore,” he commands. He’s just as joyful as Nico, but I do as I am told and begin sliding on my sweatshirt over the mesh bra. No way in hell am I getting completely naked right now.

This brother has shorter hair and is clean shaven. He is just as burly as Nico, but has a snug ring in his nose. Does he have other piercings? Shit, no Chelsey!

They smirk as if they have just won the lottery, and I can’t help but think it is hot as fuck. But I know what lies beneath those smiles. What lies below the surface in all men.

The cruel need to fuck and own anything they desire.