Page 12 of Ghost's Angel

"About two hundred grand. They've been borrowing to cover their gambling debts. Interest is killing them." Saint pauses. “Prez…according to one of my contacts on the street, Kovalev’s been pressuring them to do a ‘trade' to cover what they owe, and Mira’s name has come up several times.”

We stare at one another, the implication hitting like a freight train. There have been rumors floating around lately that Kovalev was dabbling in human trafficking, but we thought that was all they were, rumors. I’m realizing now that we fucked up by not watching the fucker closer. By the look on both Saint’s and Cipher’s faces, they’re aware of the human trafficking rumors as well.

They’re trying to sell Mira to cover their fucking debt?!

"I want everything," I growl. "Bank records, property deeds, every fucking piece of paper with their names on it. And I want to know every detail of their connection to Ivan fucking Kovalev.”

"Already on it." Cipher's fingers resume their dance across the keys.

Now, hours later, I cradle a weak, pale-faced Mira in my arms. What the fuck’s wrong with her? Is she sick? I know one thing, she needs to eat. She’s too thin for her frame, and I’m kicking myself for not having a hot breakfast ready and waiting when she woke.

"In my bag..." she mumbles as I carry her up the stairs and back to my room. "My...my meds.”

I lay her against the pillow as I rifle through her duffle. She looks small and vulnerable.

There’s a prescription pill container at the bottom, and I scan the label before handing it to her. Metoprolol.

“Are you sick?” It’s a stupid question. Her hands are quivering slightly and her lips have taken on a blue tinge. There's a light sheen of perspiration on her forehead.

She fumbles with the child-proof cap then shakes out a pill.

I watch, puzzled as she runs her thumbnail over the face of the pill several times, carving a groove across it before carefully breaking the tiny tablet in half.

"What are you doing, angel?"

She startles slightly, like she forgot I was standing here watching her. “Oh, I... I only take half.” Her voice is quiet, matter-of-fact, but instead of looking me in the eye, she stares up at the corner of the room.

A seething fury bubbles up from my chest. "Show me the bottle."

She hands it over without argument. As I thought, the instructions clearly state:Take one tablet daily. Do not split or crush tablets.

"You're supposed to take a whole pill." My voice comes out rougher than intended.

"I know, but I need to make them last until payday." She shrugs like this is just how life works. "They're expensive.” She lets out a weary breath. “Everything’s expensive, and now that I lost the cleaning job?—”

I cut her off, fighting to control the fury building inside me. "How long have you been doing this?"

“I don’t always.” She won't meet my eyes. “It’s just… Sometimes...sometimes I have to choose. When rent is due, or I’m out of groceries…” She twists her fingers in her lap.

“There’s no other way?”

She looks up, a spark of anger in her eyes now, which is better than the resignation of a second ago. “Last winter, I had to pawn my mother's locket—the only thing I had left of my parents—just to afford a refill."

The confession hits me like a physical blow. My beautiful, proud angel having to sell her only connection to her deceased parents just to stay alive. While those foster parent fuckers bled her dry.

I stride to the door and yell down to the common room in a booming voice, "Prospect!"

In two point three minutes, a kid rushes in panting. “Yes, Prez!”

“I hand him the prescription bottle. Get your ass to the pharmacy. I want this prescription refilled. Now."

"On it, Prez!”

I grab my cell and punch in a number. "Doc? Yeah, it's Ghost. I need a favor. Got a woman here with a heart condition needs to see a specialist. I want the best… Two months? Fuck that! She needs to be seen ASAP. I don’t care what favors you need to call in, Doc, this can’t wait.”

When I hang up, Mira is staring at me with wide eyes. "Ghost, you don't have to?—"

"Yes, I do." I sit beside her on the bed, cupping her face in my hands. "Listen to me, angel. You never have to choose between medicine and food again. Never have to pawn a piece of yourself just to survive. You understand?"

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