CHAPTER 1

"Mummy?!" Mummy!" Little Caterina's voice resounds through the living room. She has always been a child that demands a lot of attention. She could do just fine on her own, but she believes no one needed to know that.

"Yes, baby?" Her mom walks slowly into the living room as she rubs her big belly. She was already eight months and two weeks gone, but she had no problems maneuvering her way around the pain and stress. 

"I want to go to the park!" 

"Not today, Catty. Your father said to stay indoors." Her mom eased herself into one of the cushions. 

"But, daddy isn't here." Caterina gave her mom one of her signature poppy dog eyes. 

"How about we go swimming instead?" 

"No! I want to go to the park!"

"Catty, don't raise your voice at your elders,"

"But, mummy..." She stops talking when she notices her mom gripping her stomach in pain. 

"Mummy, are you alright?" Fear was evident in her voice.

"Catty, call 911." She hurriedly picks up her mom's phone and makes the phone call. Tears made their way down her face, but she had never been one to cry out loud. 

"Mummy, they are on their way, okay?" She looks back at her mom and a scream rips out of her throat. Her mom was still in a sitting position, but there was blood flowing down her legs, her eyes shut, and her body perfectly still. 

"Mummy!..."

A couple of minutes later, they arrive at the hospital and her mom is rushed to the emergency room. Her father comes running into the waiting room and searches for her. 

"Angel..." He breathes in relief as he spots Caterina.

"Daddy!" She runs into his wide open arms and sobs silently into his chest as he picks her up.

"Is mummy going to be fine?" 

"Yes, Angel. She'll be fine."

The sound of rain pouring down brought Caterina out of her sleep, effectively ending her nightmares. She is now very familiar with the nightmare as she has had the same nightmare for more than ten years now. She considers herself lucky to have woken up when she did as it only goes south from there. Caterina had gone to bed late last night, and with any luck, she would be going to bed late again tonight. Turning to her side, she stretches as she checks the time on her bedside table.

"Shit, it's 4:15. I'm going to be late!" Caterina exclaims as she jumps out of bed. She works as a stripper at Napoli Royale Casino and her shift starts at 5:00 pm. She wasn't particularly proud of her job, but it was the only way she could make ends meet, so she didn't mind. In a few minutes, she's out of the house and racing to her car. Her workplace is about 15-minute drive from where she lives, but the traffic usually doubles the time she spends on the road. She taps nervously on the steering as she speeds out her street and onto the highway. Her boss wasn't the nicest and she didn't want to have to deal with him again for the second time this week. It was only Wednesday.

The sound of her phone ringing breaks the silence in her car and the caller ID flashes the name 'Mr. Conti'. 

"Think of the devil too, I guess." She sighs and prepares herself for what's to come. She answers the call with the calmest voice she could.

"Hi, boss."

"Caterina Russo,"

"I'm on my way, I swear." She says through her teeth as she steps on the gas. She felt lucky as the road wasn't as busy as it usually is.

"I sure hope so. You know this is your last straw, right?" She goes silent and he takes it as his cue to continue. " It doesn't have to be like this, you know..." 

"Mr. Conti, I have to go now. I'm driving." She ends the call with disgust and calls her best friend, needing someone to vent to. He doesn't answer, so she gives up and drives in silence till she reaches her destination.

She arrives just in time and speeds into the building as fast as she can. Getting into her changing room, she pulls off her hoodie and sweatpants and puts on her uniform consisting of a pair of matching one-piece black thongs that gave a little covering to her back, a black necktie, and a pair of red heels. Her make-up is a red lip stain and mascara. Soon, she's on the stage and making her way up and down a pole with grace and ease. Many eyes are drawn to her as she is indeed a sight to behold. 

A very tall and handsome man walks into the casino and over to the club where Caterina is dancing. He is dressed in office attire and his black hair is gelled back, making his face more visible. He takes his seat as she watches this intriguing woman do her thing. He had been watching her for a while now and he has decided to make his move. He calls one of the waitresses over.

"What would you like tonight, Mr. De Luca?"

"Who is that woman in red heels?" 

"Her name is Caterina Russo,"

"When does she get off?"

"In about half an hour sir,"

"Good. Show me to her changing room," He is led to the front of a dark room and nods for the waitress to leave.

"Let's find out what's so intriguing about you, shall we?"

The next thirty minutes go by rather slowly for Caterina. The moment the hour hand on the giant clock opposite her stand hit 12, she gracefully made her way down from the pole and to the break room where she would change into her uniform.

Mr. De Luca had become impatient waiting in the shadows for Caterina to show up. When she finally made her way into the room, he watched through the thin blinds as she changed out of her uniform. He had expected to see a slim body with curves that were carved by the gods themselves, so when he saw these massive scars spread across her back, he becomes livid with anger. 

"Who is the fucker that did this?" He whispers. He had no reason to care, but he did and now he is going to find this fucker and make him pay.