"You walked into the lion's den, sweetheart," he whispered, stepping closer. "And lions don't let go so easily."
He looked down at her leg, at her trembling hands, and the fear in her eyes.
"A beautiful young girl like you," he chuckled, "shouldn't...
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She was too still.
I've seen death. Caused it, even. But nothing hit me quite like seeing Mishti's small body go limp beneath me, her lashes trembling before her eyes rolled back and she passed out. My heart-fuck-my heart stuttered.
"Mishti?" I muttered, hands already catching her before she slipped fully into unconsciousness.
She didn't respond. Just collapsed like a doll that had been wrung out of life.
Shit.
I scooped her into my arms. My gut clenched. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. This wasn't the plan. What the hell was wrong with her?
I laid her gently on the bed and grabbed my phone, punching in the number of the only doctor I trusted with anything even remotely close to this.
"Come. Now. My Penthouse. It's urgent."
The moment the doctor walked in, I didn't waste time on greetings. "She fainted. Fix her."
The doc examined her silently, frowning as he checked her pulse and pulled out a small flashlight to test her eyes.
"She's severely undernourished. Exhausted, dehydrated. She hasn't been eating, has she?"
My jaw tightened. "Feed her, then."
"I can't force feed her unconscious," he said bluntly. "She needs rest. But when she wakes up-get food into her. Real food. And keep her warm. She's running cold under that sweat."
"And don't speak a word of this outside. Not even to your damn shadow," I said coldly.
He nodded quickly, gathering his bag. "Understood."
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I returned to her side. She looked even smaller now, tucked beneath the sheets, her hair sticking to her damp forehead, lashes fluttering like she was trapped in some nightmare.
Then-
She whimpered.
I leaned closer. "Mishti?"
Her lips trembled, and in the weakest breath I'd ever heard, she murmured-
"Papa... Papa..."
"What?" I asked, startled. "What about your papa?"
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glazed with tears. "He... he's in the hospital. I need the money...save him.."
And then it hit me.
My world tilted.
"You..." My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. "You did this. You came to me... for money? For your father's treatment?"
She nodded weakly, a sob escaping her mouth. "Save him..save..."
My chest clenched. The room around me warped and collapsed. I thought she was another desperate girl playing the game for some luxury or thrill. A pretty, silent whore trying to trap me with her virgin act.
