Chapter 1: Prologue
Prologue
Ashley stumbled out of the club, the colorful lights blurring together as she tried not to bump into the dancing crowd. Something felt off within her.
She tried to recall the drink she had earlier—a few sips of some fruity cocktail shouldn't have made her feel like this. But now, her head was spinning, and her body tingled in a way that felt strange and unfamiliar.
Heading home, she tried to keep her racing heart calm. A nagging feeling crept over her, whispering that her little rebellious act hadn't been the best idea.
With Ashley's 16th birthday approaching, she had wanted to feel a little wild, a little reckless. So she had snuck out of the house once her aunt, Charlotte, left for her brothel.
A week ago, Ashley overheard a neighbor talking about the party, and she'd jumped at the opportunity after careful thought. The strip club being only a few blocks from her house, easy to slip in and out unnoticed, made the idea even more enticing.
She faked her age and ID, bursting from amusement as she lied her way past the bouncers. She also hadn't told Lorenzo because he could be a little too persistent sometimes, making her do just what he wanted. She didn't want to be talked out of her little party idea.
But now, with this strange sensation between her thighs and her skin feeling hot and sensitive, all she could think was that everything had been a mistake from the start.
The temptation to touch herself increased, but she couldn't do it. She'd never done such before, and...
She glanced back, unable to ignore the ominous feeling of being followed.
Ashley quickened her pace, almost jogging at some point, even though her limbs felt heavy. Glancing over her shoulder from time to time, she gulped in more air as if it would make her head feel less hazy. At least it helped keep her heart pumping.