Page 15 of The Bratva Sinner

"I don't care if you believe me. I don’t know who you are. I don’t want to know any of you.”

If she was kidnapped, her anger and fear are warranted. She has no reason to trust any of us.

"The drugs," I say. "I need to know what they gave you. If you need to detox, we can do that here. Cinder's done it before, and she's better at it than most doctors. But it’s important we know. Coming off too quickly can be dangerous."

"I don't do drugs!”

“Okay,” I hold up my hands. She looks healthy under the bruising. Tan. Strong. “I know Cinder asked, but do you know what they gave you?”

“No. I'm fine now. The food helped."

"That might be one layer of it. There could be more in your system that you can't feel yet."

"I'm fine," she says again with more conviction.

I let it go. “Okay. Can I please have a doctor?—”

“Stop! I don’t want to see a doctor. I don’t need you people to be my heroes. I just want to go.”

"I understand, but I'm going to be honest with you. Whoever Bekir was delivering you to, that person will not just let you walk away. If you walk out of this house with nowhere to go, no money, and no phone, in a city you don't know, it’s notifhe’ll find you, it’s when.”

"I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that you believe that."

Her eyes narrow. "Don't patronize me."

There's something about the way she’s sitting here, still fighting. She’s lost whatever fight there was. I know it, but I don’t think she does. She's not soft. Lila seems like the type who will fight until there’s nothing left. A warrior.

"I'm not patronizing you, but this is my city, and those are now my enemies, whether I like it or not. You're safer here."

"Safe." She scoffs.

"Lila." I hold her gaze. "If you want to leave, I will personally drive you wherever you want to go. I'm not keeping you here against your will. That's not what this is. But I promise you, staying here is the right move.”

She stares at me, searching for the truth. I watch her running through her options. She's smart.

"I want to leave," she says finally.

She doesn't trust me. I think on some level, she knows staying is the smart thing to do, but she's too proud to admit it. I understand that.

I nod. “Okay. But please stay one night. Let your body heal. Cinder said you were still weak from the drugs.”

I see the fear in her eyes. She must know that leaving in her condition would be the wrong move.

“Will I be locked in here?” she asks quietly.

“No. The door will be unlocked. You’ll see guards around the house. They work for me, and I promise that none of them will touch you. This is a large house, so you can ask them to take you to the kitchen or living room. Wherever.”

Her eyes are glassy. It kills me that I can’t pull her into my arms and promise I won’t hurt her. But that’s not what she needs.

I stand slowly and step back to keep from towering over her. She looks up at me. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I walk to the door and pause. “Do you want me to close this?”

“Please.”