Page 45 of The Way You Hurt Me

"Willow Brown."

"A pleasure. If you would follow me."

I have no clue what we're doing here, but clearly, Dimitri does. I get the feeling demanding clarification isn't going to help much. Besides, I'm too tired for questions. Instead, I follow Dr. Stevens, Dimitri's hand still on the small of my back.

We descend one flight of stairs, arriving into a large hall that might have served as a ballroom, maybe. Today, it's an infirmary, with two dozen cots, all occupied. There are about twenty women, and a few men, a few asleep, others weeping or staring into space.

It's the kind of scene I'd expect after a war. After something too horrifying to put into words.

Doctor Stevens is speaking. At first, I can't make sense of his words.

"We have rescued twenty-one individuals this time. One took his own life—an oversight. His nurse shouldn't have left the scalpel so close. Two needed surgery—they're now out of danger and recuperating. Everyone else is on their way to recovery. All will need psychiatric help before we can talk about what they'd like to do with their lives now."

"What…" The whisper barely left my lips. "What is this?"

"The sex trade," Dimitri deadpans. "Not the fun little hobby you've made of it. The other side. What could and likely would have happened to you, if Tom had gotten you out alive."

The doctor looks between Dimitri and me. "The young lady isn't aware of the business, sir?" There's a hint of disapproval in his tone.

"No. She's a little naive, and needed a wake-up call. Please return to your duties, Matthew. You were most helpful."

The doctor nods and leaves. As for me, I don't look away from Dimitri, mostly because I can't. I just can't look at these people, so desperate and broken.

Some of them look young. The boy closest to us? Very young.

"What's this place?"

"My home. I believe I already made that clear. I mostly live in the city, so when needed, I lend it to Doctor Stevens here as a temporary haven for those we pull out of the flesh trade."

I can only blink.

"Tell me again how you know what you're doing, Willow. Say you're better than any of them. I dare you." Dimitri takes one step towards me, and I step back instinctively, catching the cold edge in those eyes. "This could have been you. If you weren't the luckiest little girl in New York City, it would have been."

"I…" An apology is at the tip of my tongue. I swallow it back. I have too many questions. "You're helping them? These people. You aren't going to…"

"What?" He chuckles. "What do you think I could be doing to them?"

"Nothing." This time, I don't make it a question. "You're helping them."

He stares at me for a long moment, and finally says, "You're done with Ruby Red."

Like me, he's not asking. And he's right. I honestly feel ashamed about the fact that in my little bubble, I didn't even think of the possibility of ending up beaten, with fresh cuts, bruises, and dead eyes. Broken. To me, that was the kind of thing that happened to other people on the street, never me.

But without Dimitri's surveillance, it could have been me tonight. It would have.

"Good. This way."

We leave the hall, to my relief.

"Is there anything I can help with?" I ask, guilt twisting my guts. "These people…"

"They'll have around-the-clock care until they've recovered. You're the one here for help, not the other way around."

"Help?" I ask, confused.

We reach a door, and he knocks. "One minute!" a tired voice answers.

Then there are footsteps, and it opens in front of a kindly faced, beautiful blonde.

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