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I put on the mask, wishing it could shield me from the weirdness ahead. Following Nathan, we stepped out of the car and slipped through the back door of the club. The distant thumping ofmusic grew louder, creating an annoying background noise as I followed him.
Nathan stood me at a dark corner that offered me a clear view of the party. People in masks roamed about, their faces obscured in an unsettling dance of anonymity. The scene was enough to make my stomach churn.
Some were injecting drugs into their veins, oblivious to the world around them. Others engaged in explicit acts, with men receiving pleasure from women on randomly placed couches. The air was thick with a mix of moans, muffled conversations, and the unmistakable scent of illicit substances.
Overhearing snatches of conversation, I caught wind of topics that had nothing to do with casual small talk. Instead, the air buzzed with discussions of violence, the mafia, and power plays. Weapons were scattered haphazardly, an ominous testament to the sinister undertones that saturated the atmosphere.
My eyes fixated on Adrik, unmasked and seemingly orchestrating it all. He moved with purpose, an authoritative figure in the midst of this mess. A wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm me as I grappled with the revelation of the world he inhabited. A world I had never fathomed. The same world that robbed me of the two people I loved most in this world.
I watched him from the shadows as a bunch of guys in masks crowded around him. He looked strong and in control, just like usual. The other men, all decked out in their fancy disguises, seemed eager to talk to him. He handled them with a domineering attitude, oozing power. I felt like an outsider. I was getting a glimpse of a side of Adrik that was way different from what I thought I knew.
I felt a sudden presence beside me, causing me to startle and break out of my thoughts. When I turned, I was surprised tosee my sister there, even beneath the mask, I recognized her. "Believe me now, Luna?" she asked, a hint of mocking triumph in her voice.
I stared at her, a whirlwind of emotions knotting in my chest. "So, this means that everything you said is true?" I asked, my words quivering.
Elena scoffed disdainfully. "If not, why would I be here? You'd still be back home, oblivious. I had to make you see." She took my hand and placed it on her stomach. "Don't mess this up for me, Luna. Adrik still feels responsible for you. He won't commit to one of us only, not as long as you're in the picture. I'm pregnant, and you need to let us be."
A sharp pang of pain shot through me as I grappled with the betrayal. "How could you do this to me? After everything I did for you?" I asked.
Elena remained silent for a moment before responding bitterly. "I never asked for all the things you did for me. You did them out of your own accord, so don’t delude yourself into thinking I needed you. I would have managed just fine without your silly sacrifices."
I closed my eyes as her words stabbed me in the chest. She wasn’t even thankful for the fact that I gave her the shirt off my back, starved so that she could eat, and took beatings for her all throughout her childhood. The room felt suffocating, anguish coursing through my veins. I stood frozen, my heart feeling like it was going to explode.
I shook my head with disbelief as I confronted her. "How could you be with him, Elena? He's my husband. And given what we went through with our parents and the mafia, how could you even touch him?"
Elena's laughter cut through the confrontation. "I guess you're just mad that I finally managed to get what you couldn't hold onto. Why can't you just let me have this? And as for our parents, I’ve just learned to be smarter about it than they were. That is exactly why I am more suitable for Adrik than you will ever be."
Before I could react, Elena continued, turning ominous. "I can help you disappear. Adrik will never find you again, Luna. You can go live that peaceful life that you so crave and never have to hear from us or see us ever again."
CHAPTER 6
LUNA
?After two months...
"Two baguettes for Mrs. Thompson, and don't forget the cinnamon rolls for the Johnsons!" I called out to Christy, my employee, amidst the bustling activity in the bakery. The morning rush was in full swing. I deftly moved behind the counter, handing out fresh pastries and bread to the eager customers.
I took a quick glance out the window, past the busy scene inside. I caught sight of the mountains and the peaceful countryside. The rural landscape stretched out, simple and calming, with fields a mix of green and brown, and the clear, blue sky above. It was a refreshing change from the city chaos.
"Hey there," greeted Samuel with a friendly smile, breaking me out of admiring the view outside my bakery. He was a regular customer who had been frequenting the place since I opened two months ago. He was a bit more flirtatious than the rest of my customers though.
"Hey," I responded, matching his grin.
"Can I get a caramel coffee, make it as sweet as you?" he asked, his playful tone filling the air.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You never give up, do you?"
He smiled widely, a glint in his eyes. "You can bet on it."
As I prepared his coffee, my thoughts wandered for a moment. He wasn't bad-looking, with his shaggy brown hair and chiseled jaw. But despite his charm, my mind couldn't help but be dominated by thoughts of one man only. Shaking off thoughts of Adrik, I handed him his caramel coffee.
He made sure to brush against my fingertips as he took the cup, and I scoffed. He placed a hand on his chest in mock offense and muttered, "You wound me."
I rolled my eyes at his silly antics. "You'll survive, trust me." With a subtle chin lift, I signaled him to move along, allowing the next customers in line to place their orders.
But before he left, he leaned in and whispered with a mischievous grin, "You forgot to write my name on the cup."
Swiftly grabbing a sharpie from the counter, he scribbled something on the cup. I looked down to find it reading, "Alissa’s future boyfriend." His teasing gesture made me burst into laughter. The sound echoed through the bakery as I attended to the other customers. I was getting used to my fake name after its frequent use, which I was ecstatic about. During the first few weeks, I wouldn’t respond to it if someone called me over. That definitely made for some awkward situations.
