Entangled with the Mafia Don novel Chapter 31

Davina's POV:

The night was a brutal teacher. The warmth of the day evaporated quickly, leaving behind a biting chill that seeped into my bones, despite the thin jacket I still wore. The city, which had pulsed with life and laughter just hours before, now seemed indifferent, its shadows long and menacing. Every rustle of leaves, every distant siren, sent a jolt of fear through me.

I wandered aimlessly, the streets my only companions. Shopfronts, their shutters drawn, stared blankly ahead. The occasional passing car illuminated my tear-streaked face before speeding away, its occupants oblivious to the young woman huddled in a doorway, her world shattered.

Sleep offered little respite, a fitful, broken series of uneasy dozes punctuated by the cold, the hard concrete, and the gnawing fear of the unknown. Each time I drifted off, the faces of Mom and Lexi, etched with hurt and anger, would flicker behind my eyelids. Dexter’s smug smirk was another unwelcome visitor in my troubled dreams.

The first rays of dawn were a cruel awakening, painting the grimy alleyway in shades of grey and highlighting my disheveled state. My body ached, my throat was raw, and the despair that had been a dull ache had sharpened into a piercing agony. I had nowhere. Absolutely nowhere.

The thought of facing another day, another night on the unforgiving streets, was almost unbearable. With a heavy heart, and a desperate sliver of hope clinging to the edges of my despair, I made my way back to the Devil's Club. It wasn't a home, but it was the only place where I was, in a twisted way, expected.

The backstage dressing room was empty and cold. The garish costumes hung limply on their racks, mocking reminders of the life I was forced to lead. I sank onto the velvet stool, the tears I had held back through the long night finally overflowing. Shame, exhaustion, and a profound sense of loneliness washed over me, each sob tearing through my already fragile composure.

The door creaked open, and a shadow fell across the floor. I didn't look up, lost in my misery.

"Davina?" Devlin's voice, held a surprising note of concern. She rarely ventured into the dressing room during the day.

I flinched at the sound of my name, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

"What in the hell happened to you?" she asked, her tone softening slightly as she took a step closer. "You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards."

I finally lifted my head, my face swollen and streaked with tears. The sight of my distress seemed to take her aback.

"I… I don't have anywhere to go," I choked out, the words catching in my throat. "My… my family… they kicked me out."

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