At that mont Maria stepped out of her sleek black car, her heels clicking sharply against the cracked pavent.
The air was thick with the scent of damp rot and burning trash, making her wrinkle her nose in disgust. This place was nothing short of a cesspool—a forgotten corner of the city where the desperate and lawless thrived.
The dimly lit alleyways were lined with graffiti-covered walls, the neon signs flickering like dying embers. Stray dogs rummaged through overflowing dumpsters, and a group of n loitered near a rusted-out car, their eyes tracking her every movent.
However she ignored them. This was not her world, but she had stepped into it willingly.
Without being told Maria despised this place. The filth. The stench. The desperation clinging to the air like a sickness.
But hatred had led her here.
Her pride scread at her to turn back, to leave this disgusting place behind. But she couldn’t. Not this ti. The fire of revenge burned too brightly within her, and if swallowing her pride was the price she had to pay, then so be it.
Adjusting her coat, she inhaled sharply with a handkerchief covering her nose, and pushed forward, stepping into the darkness of the hideout.
Maria barely took two steps into the alley before she felt the first tug on her coat.
"Hey, lady," a gruff voice rasped from behind her. "You lost or sothing?"
She turned sharply, her cold gaze locking onto the man who had dared to touch her. He was scruffy, his clothes worn and filthy, his grin missing more teeth than it had. But before she could say a word, another one stepped in front of her.
"Damn," he smirked, his eyes dragging over her designer coat and heels.
"Look what we got here. Rich Lady wandering into the wrong place."
Maria clenched her jaw, gripping her purse tightly as she moved to step around them, but another set of hands reached for her arm.
"Not so fast, sweetheart," the third man sneered.
"You don’t just walk in here lookin’ like that without payin’ a little... toll."
The stench of cheap alcohol and sweat hit her like a wave. Her stomach churned, but she refused to show weakness.
"Get your filthy hands off ," she hissed, jerking her arm away.
They laughed. A dry, humorless sound that made her blood boil.
"Co on, lady," one said, leaning in too close.
"Just a little sothing for us. Ain’t nobody gonna miss a couple bills."
Maria’s hand shot out before she could stop herself, slapping him across the face. The sound cracked through the alley, montarily stunning them.
"You crazy—"
"Touch again, and I’ll make sure you regret it," she seethed, her voice dripping with venom.
For a second, the n hesitated, taken aback by her fury. But then one lunged again, and she shoved him back, her heels skidding against the uneven ground.
"Look at this one, got so fight in her," one of them laughed, rubbing his jaw.
But before they could make another move, her nacing voice cut through the air.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"
At that mont Maria’s patience had reached its breaking point.
"I said, get away from !" she shouted, her voice ringing through the filthy alleyway. She shoved one of the n who had grabbed her arm, her manicured nails digging into his skin before she yanked herself free.
"Don’t touch again! You disgusting rats!"
The n only laughed, circling her like a pack of scavengers.
"Why you acting all high and mighty, lady?" one of them sneered, reaching for her again. "Ain’t nobody here to save you."
Maria’s chest rose and fell rapidly as her fury mixed with unease. She had faced powerful n before, but this was different. This was filth. Low-life scum who didn’t even know their place.
At that mont one of them yanked at the hem of her coat.
"Bet this cost more than my whole damn house," he cackled.
Another one grabbed her wrist, his grip rough.
"Maybe we should—"
"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"
The voice was sharp, lethal. It cut through the air like a blade, freezing everyone in place. The gang of n instantly turned their heads, eyes widening in horror.
At that mont Maria blinked, her breath still heavy, as she saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure stepping into the alley. His presence alone sent a wave of dread through the crowd.
"Don’t you idiots know who she is?" the man continued, his voice cold as steel. "She’s a client of the boss."
Silence followed then, panic.
The thugs instantly recoiled, their hands flying into the air as if to prove they ant no harm.
"Sh-she didn’t say anything," one of them stamred, stepping back.
"We—we were just ssing around," another one mumbled.
"ssing around?"
Then the man let out a low, humorless chuckle.
"So, you were ssing around with his client? Do you have a death wish?"
That was all it took.
The mont the boss’s na was spoken, every single thug turned around and bolted, disappearing into the dark corners of the alley like cockroaches fleeing the light.
Maria didn’t move for a mont, her chest still rising and falling rapidly. Then, she exhaled slowly, straightening her coat, and lifted her chin.
She had co here for a reason.
And now, it was ti to see the boss.
Maria exhaled, smoothing her coat as she followed the man inside. She would never admit it, but she was relieved. Those filthy thugs had nearly ruined her mood, and the last thing she needed was to deal with lowlifes when she had sothing far more pressing to handle.
The dimly lit hallway stretched before her, the scent of cigarette smoke and cheap cologne lingering in the air. She ignored it, keeping her chin high as she stepped into the boss’s domain.
The mont she entered, she spotted him—Damon.
He sat comfortably on a leather chair, his legs crossed, his fingers lazily tapping the armrest. He looked up as she walked in, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.
"Well, well, well," Damon drawled, his deep voice carrying a mix of amusent and curiosity. "If it isn’t Maria."
Then his sharp eyes flicked over her, taking in her pristine appearance, her usual elegance standing in stark contrast to the grimy surroundings.
"Didn’t think I’d see you around here again."
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