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Rosa stood in front of her dressing mirror as she changed, ready to go home and rest. She changed out of her work clothes and put on something casual. 

She wore loose pants and a tank top. She threw on her jacket when Marie walked into the dressing room with a conflicted look on her face.

"Sorry, Rosa," she said with a bag strapped to her shoulders. "I can't wait any longer. I have to go now or I'll be late for church service."

"I am almost done," she cried.

"You still have to speak to Franco and we are not done cleaning up."

She sighed and waved at the young woman. "Alright," she replied. Rosa wasn't particularly religious but she wasn't against it.

"I'll see you in the evening,” Marie whispered, guilt made her voice smaller.

"Yeah," she said absentmindedly and turned her attention to her vanity.

Marie looked like she might say more but she stopped herself and exited the room.

Rosa didn't mind going home alone. Besides, she didn't always share a taxi with Marie, but if she could, she would rather do so. Not only did it cut the transport cost, but it was a bit safer.

They weren't in the rough parts of Reef City so they weren't always at risk, but Rosa didn't like to take chances especially with the line of work she did. Men tended to think they were entitled to her body simply because she wore scanty clothes and danced on them at night.

She sighed as she recalled moments where she had to deal with stalkers. She could hold her ground but she would rather not have to use the weapon tucked in the deep corners of her bag.

She put her used clothes into the bag and cleared her table. She did have to speak to Franco to get her pay for today and her help might be needed to close up the club.

She placed her bag on the table and made her way out of the dressing room. It wasn’t hard to find Franco; he was in the club ordering the cleaners about.

“No, no, no. Leave the tables there. Take out all the clothes. We need to wash—“

"Franco," she gently called.

The bald man slowly turned around, impatience lined his features, but when he saw who called him, he smiled brightly.

"Rosa. I wasn't sure if you were free yet."

"The club is practically over, Franco. Don't make me look for you."

"No need to sound so impatient, sweetpie, I have your payment." He grinned.

His good mood pissed her off. He was getting paid at her detriment. "Where is it? I'd like to leave now. Thank you."

"You did very well," he praised. "The Mafia King was quite generous once again."

He gestured to the nearby bouncer and he walked forward, holding a bag. Franco then gave the bag to Rosa.

"Keep doing what you're doing," he said and stretched out the bag.

"I can't promise," she replied as she tried to take it but he wouldn't let go.

"You better. Maybe you didn't notice but we had a better turnout today than we did in weeks and I am pretty sure the Mafia King is the cause. We need to keep him here for as long as we possibly can."

"Can you stop trying to pimp me out to him?"

"I will never ask you to do something you don't want to."

"You have been doing that since Friday night," she cried and pulled the bag from his grip.

"He has clearly taken a fancy to you. I don't see what the problem is in reveling in it a little. Let loose, Rosa, you're too stiff."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you hate me, Franco. Of all people you want me to let loose with, it's a Mafia King. He could shoot me if I even look at him wrong and that would be the end of it."

"He wouldn't. As long as you don't cross him. You should be fine. This is Asher's turf after all and our Mafia King protects us."

Rosa shook her head. "I don't care. I don't like this. If I still have to deal with him next week, I'll take that break you keep asking me to take."

"Is that a threat, Rosa?"

"No, Franco. I've had it up to my neck and I keep telling you, I want nothing to do with this Alpha but you're too blinded by money to care about my discomfort."

Franco stepped a little closer and smiled. "I try to keep it as professional as possible but you need to learn to separate your feelings from your job."

She narrowed her eyes. It was a waste of her time to keep trying to express her situation to Franco. He was too blinded by money and the reputation of the Mafia King to care.

"Bye," she said and slung the bag over her shoulders while walking away.

"Get some rest, I'll see you in a few hours."

Rosa shook her head but didn't respond. If she had to deal with Alpha Nolan in the evening as she had done earlier, she was going to walk out of the club in the middle. She didn't care.

She made her way to the dressing room and picked up her bag. She said goodbyes to the remaining girls before making her way out the back of the club.

She stepped out into the street and was just about to hail a cab when she caught sight of a blacked-out car across the street. The lights flashed and the engine started.

Her eyes nearly fell out of her sockets. There had to be a limit to his madness. He couldn't do this, right?

There's no way, right?

The car moved across the road and stopped in front of her. The back window rolled down and a cloud of smoke floated out. Dark blonde hair and the burning glow of his cigar peeked out from the darkness of the car.

"Get in, Rosa. I'll give you a ride."

"No!" She yelled and tightly gripped her bag, wondering if she might have to use the weapon in her bag.