Chapter 21: Girls' night

Mia's POV.

"I swear to God, you work way too much for it to be normal," Angela said, flopping down on my bed unceremoniously.

I had told her I was a software engineer who worked remotely when she had asked me why I was always busy clicking away on my laptop.

"Tell you what, let's go to a club tonight. I have the perfect place in mind for a girls night out," she said, suddenly sitting up and facing me, her legs dangling off the side of the bed.

I raised a brow, slowly closing my laptop. It had been a day since my date with Federico, which had ended rather prematurely seeing as he had gotten a call on our way back home and had to rush off to God knows where. He hadn't come home the entire night. I knew, because like an idiot, I had stayed up waiting for him, only for him to never show up. I had thrown myself into work thereafter, hoping to distract myself.

The worst part was, he hadn't even given me an explanation as to where he had disappeared off to when he had finally shown his face during breakfast. Not that he was obligated to. But I was still a bit peeved, more at myself than at him. It had been stupid of me to think we had had some sort of a connection on that date last night.

Apparently, it had only been me who had felt that way. If Federico did too, the least he could've done was tell me he wasn't going to be home the entire night. But, no, he had kept me waiting, leaving me hanging. Not that he had specifically asked me to wait up for him. But—

Ugh, this was all so confusing!

Actually, you know what, Angela was right. A night without boys or any thoughts of them was exactly what I needed to get my head straight on.

"Sure. Where do you have in mind?" I said to her.

She squealed happily, reminding me of Emilia. The little girl was going to be one hell of a woman when she grew up. "So, there's this club that, thankfully, is not under the control of our family, or any family for that matter. It's the perfect place for us to go to alone. I've gone there plenty with a bunch of friends during college. It's a cool place, you'll love it," she explained, almost stumbling over her words in her excitement to tell me all about it.

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I'll take your word for it. Let's go party. I need a break from men, anyway."

Her brows raised at my words, her smile falling a little when she looked at me. "Uh oh, what did my brother do?"

I shook my head. "He's an ass. Nothing I can't handle."

Angela laughed. "That he is. Let me know if he's troubling you too much and I'll knock some sense into him. Literally."

I nodded with a grin. And then, we began to get ready for a night of partying.

I slipped on a glittery crop top with spaghetti straps along with a pair of denim shorts. It was something I knew was both sexy and comfortable. I planned on dancing the night away, and I wanted to be as comfortable as possible while doing that.

Angela had chosen a similar ensemble, stating the same reasons.

Per usual, I'd put on minimal makeup, choosing to let my hair stay natural. There was no point spending any time styling it when it was going to get frizzy with sweat when we danced.

"Ready?" Angela asked just as I put on silver hoop earrings.

I nodded at her. "Yep. Let's get this show on the road," I said, shooting her a wink. With her long, slender legs, curvy waist and fresh, dewy makeup, she in no way looked like a mother, let alone married. I sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening to give me at least a fraction of the beauty that was Angela when I became a mother myself.

Angela looped our arms together before we made our way out of the room and settled into the car that was already waiting for us outside, courtesy of Angela. She had informed me that Emilia was going to stay with her mom and that she had told her husband she was going clubbing. As in love with her as he was, he wasn't overly controlling from what I'd seen, happily letting Angela do her thing. I figured it was one of the reasons the pair worked so well together. Angela seemed to be a free spirit and her husband respected that.

Thankfully, we hadn't encountered anyone on our way out. And by anyone, I meant Federico. He had left soon after breakfast and didn't seem to have returned so far.

No, don't think of him, I chastised myself internally. Tonight was all about me.

After a car ride we spent chatting each other's ears off, we had reached our destination.

Telling the driver to come pick us up when we called him to, we got out and made our way into the already packed club even though it was only eight at night.

The thumping bass of some Italian song pulsated in the space around us as we headed straight for the bar.

"Four shots, please," Angela placed our order, grinning at me, her body already swaying to the music. I did not understand the song at all but the beat was catchy enough that it made me want to start dancing right away.

Soon enough, the bartender placed our glasses in front of us. We clinked our glasses together before downing both shots in one go.

"Let's dance!" Angela shouted, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the dance floor a few feet away which was packed with sweaty bodies swaying to the music.

I happily joined in on the chaos, letting the preppy beat drown out all my thoughts as I danced without a care in the world.

God, this was fun, I thought to myself as I ground my body against Angela's.

I felt like I could finally let lose after a long time, just acting my age for once in my life. "More drinks?" Angela shouted into my ear after we had danced for three consecutive songs.

I nodded eagerly, ready to move away from the writhing bodies around me for a break.

We ordered another round of shots, then another, and another, clinking our glasses each time.

"Let's go eat something," I said to Angela, pointing toward the booths at the far back where I had seen a waitress take some food earlier.

"Yeah, I'm fucking starving," she said before grabbing my hand and leading me to one of the booths that had just recently emptied from the looks of it.

We each took our seats and quickly placed our order of cheeseburger and fries, ready to fill up our stomachs with some greasy goodness.

"I need to pee," I said to Angela, who pointed towards the left where I could just about make out a door that probably led to the bathroom.

"I'll come with you," she offered, getting up.

I shook my head. "Guard our booth with your life. I'll be right back," I told her before going in the direction she had pointed.

When I reached the metal door, I tried the handle, only to find it locked.

Frowning, I tried it again as if it would miraculously open up. It didn't.

Sighing loudly, I turned around, ready to make my way towards the booths to ask one of the waitresses there where the bathroom was.

However, just as I took a few steps away from the door, it opened from the inside and a scantily dressed woman walked out, seemingly a little unsteady on her feet.

Oh, so that is why it was locked.

I rushed forward before the door could close again before making my way inside.

Only, it wasn't a washroom I saw inside.

It was a metallic staircase that led downwards.

I was about to leave when the sound of someone shouting in a language that was clearly Russian echoed up the stairs, making me freeze on my spot.

Then, the sound of a gunshot going off was heard.

A girlish scream.

Some more Russian words, seemingly angry.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Had I just accidentally walked into some sort of a Russian mafia hideout?