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The Call of Falcon’s Keep.

D o you ever dream of what it would be like to be someone else?

To be free of all that you carry within yourself?

The freedom that comes from absolving yourself of all the expectations being placed on your shoulders?

Well, there isn’t a chance I can ever experience that, and my family made sure of it when I received a text from my brother summoning me back home. It’s not enough to be so far away from them because even with the distance, reality creeps toward me, inch by inch, day by day until it’s staring at me in the face, waiting for me to break.

“Nera!” Bec shouts from beside me over the music and I snap out of my daze to stare out into the crowd of seedy men, waiting and watching. The lights flash, blurring my vision for a moment, when my hand connects with the cool metal pole, sending my body into the routine I’ve been practising for weeks.

Sometimes I wonder if my friends are ashamed of how I make extra money on the side, but the only explanation I have for them is that it makes me feel in control.

“Why do you do it when your family is already comfortable?”

Elodie’s question is the one I always think about before I step onto the stage, and it makes me question myself every single day.

What would happen if Dante found out?

“Get off the stage if you’re not going to show us your tits!” someone from the crowd roars just as my leg hooks around the pole. Closing my eyes, I tip my body back, throwing my weight onto the pole and swinging as the beat of the music thumps through my body.

It’s busier than usual tonight, meaning trouble is always looming, and although I’m comfortable with the security we have in this establishment, it makes me nervous when the crowd become rowdy. The man standing in the front row, looking at me like a piece of meat, is beginning to show signs of said trouble. Ignoring him, I continue with my routine, my knees slamming onto the floor as I lay back, swaying my shoulders to the beat.

He points to me, whispering into the ear of a waitress and she nods when he places bills into her bra, smiling.

My eyes scan the room and land on Kyle’s. He nods over to the private rooms, and I make my way off the stage. Just as I walk past him, he grabs me by the arm.

“If you need me, I’ll be right out here.”

I give him a small smile and open the door to the room, but when I enter, I wish I hadn’t. Three men sit side by side, waiting…for me . I’ve given private dances before but never for more than one person at a time. I hesitate before taking my place in the middle of the room, trying to keep my exterior calm and collected.

It’s a given fact that when you sign up for a job like this one, there will always be someone out there judging, and although it bothers me sometimes, I try not to let it get to me.

“Just another slut with daddy issues.” One of them laughs as I stand there awkwardly. “Go ahead, take it off, baby. We want to see what we paid for.”

I want to walk out of here, but I don’t because I crave the control.

“You couldn’t be further from the truth.” I smile through the pain of his words.

“What was that? I didn’t hear you over the sound of your dirty pussy juices running down your whorish legs.”

My jaw is locked as I take a breath and take note of the knife handle poking out of his pocket.

“I was close with my father.”

The three of them look at each other and snicker.

“Why are you here then?”

“That’s my business. Did you pay for a show or to talk?” I ask as I remove my navy lace bra and almost immediately, all eyes fall to my breasts, their words getting stuck in their throat, and I chuckle.

Simple creatures.

Living in America has taught me many things. For one, everything seems insignificant because of how many people there are in this country.

Competing.

Grinding.

Trying to make something of themselves.

Life in Italy seemed a lot less…cut-throat.

Although it wasn’t always the safest, the happiest or most prosperous, it was home. But now, I’m closer to my friends here than my family in Italy.

“Did you end up finishing that term paper?” Elodie asks, hooking her bag over her shoulder as we head up the steps into the business building on campus.

“I had a late night last night, so I didn’t get a chance to, but I think I should be able to get it finished during lunch today.”

She looks at me, clear disapproval on her face.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“It’s not safe, Nera, and you know this. Why do you still do it?”

To feel like I have a sliver of control over my life.

I ignore her words and continue walking toward our lecture hall when I spot Jeremy and suddenly, everything goes cold. The ice slithers up my spine and lodges itself inside my throat, making it hard to swallow. Elodie follows my gaze and slips her hand into mine, comforting and calming my mind.

“Don’t engage,” she warns, picking up our pace and practically pulling me through the corridor.

“Nera,” Jeremy drawls, his army of brutes standing beside him with sly grins.

“Piss off, dickhead.” Elodie pulls me harder, causing me to drop my phone.

Shit .

My hand slips out of hers to pick it up when my space is invaded by Jeremy’s obnoxiously large bicep.

“Allow me, bella .” He picks up my phone, handing it to me, and I shiver at his proximity. I’ve always hated that pet name and the sound of it coming from his lips now sounds almost like a threat.

Elodie comes between us, shielding me, but I place a hand on her shoulder, moving beside her. I’m not afraid of Jeremy, just ashamed of myself because of everything that happened between us.

“Are you just going to avoid me forever?”

“I’m not avoiding you. I intentionally don’t want to associate myself with you anymore, but I’m wondering why you won’t take the hint?” I clutch my phone harder in my hand, hoping the shake in my voice wasn’t noticeable.

“Are you still angry?” He talks in a low voice with a foul grin.

“Angry!?” Elodie yells, closing the distance between them. “You’re a piece of work, Davis.”

“I wasn’t talking to you. Why can’t you stay out of other people’s business?”

“It’s fine, Elodie, I’ll be right behind you.” I motion for her to get to the lecture hall, and she hesitates before looking between me and Jeremy. He’s tall, typical jock build, and has a cocky personality to go with his disgustingly charming face.

“Keep your hands to yourself, Davis,” she cautions before she gives me a look and walks off to the lecture hall.

“I’m serious. I don’t want to hear your voice or see you anymore. Just stay out of my way, okay?”

His army of loyal followers burst into laughter at my words and he smiles. The dimple on his left cheek appears, and the blue of his eyes swirls with a challenge. We’ve almost finished the semester, meaning our degree is almost at an end. I’m eager to never see his face again, while also devastated that I must return home to Italy, leaving my friends behind.

Leaving the life I’ve grown accustomed to.

He leans into me, and I grit my teeth. “What will you do if I don’t?”

When he pulls back, a lock of hair falls to the front of his face, and although I once considered him to be attractive, it all vanished in one night when I caught him with someone else.

“Don’t push me.”

His expression changes as the dimple disappears and lines settle between his brows. “No one will believe you.”

My heart sinks because I know he’s right. With the influence his family has on the school and the social standing he has with the teachers and with practically every other student, there is no way in hell anyone would believe me. The worst part is that he knows this. He is protected by it, and it’s because of this that graduation couldn’t come quickly enough.