The Final Deal With Mr Hale

~ingrid~ I heard my name echoing over the loud music. A glass shattered against the floor. "Where the hell is that b***h?!" someone yelled. I hid in the darkest corner of the bar, my hands shaking so hard I had to press them against my thighs. "Ingrid! She works here, doesn't she? She owes us money!" They were getting closer. Customers stopped to watch the chaos. If the loan sharks found me here, it was over. I jumped up and ran. Chairs crashed behind me as the men chased me. I sprinted for the hallway behind the stage. It was lined with private VIP rooms. I couldn't go in any of them, but their heavy footsteps were getting closer. Gasping for air, I yanked the nearest doorknob, scrambled inside, and locked it. The room smelled like stale cigarette smoke. At first, I thought I was alone. Then I saw a man sitting on the sofa. He was alone, smoking quietly, and watching me. Outside, the loan sharks banged on the doors. "Open up! Check this one!" I held my breath and pressed my back against the door. Slowly, the shouting faded. Security must have chased them off. My legs gave out, and I slid down to the floor. If they found me here, it wouldn't be long before they found where I lived. I covered my mouth to hold back a sob. "Are you trying to die in here?" the man asked. His voice was calm and uninterested. I looked up. "Aren't you the one smoking?" I muttered weakly. He studied me for a moment. "Seems like it," he said. "I'm going to die soon anyway. So a little smoke won't matter." When he lifted his hand, the silver watch on his wrist caught the dim light. It probably cost more than the debt I owed. Our eyes met, and for some reason, I didn’t feel like arguing with this strange man. "If you're going to die," I said hoarsely, "how about lending me some money first?" He smiled slightly. "You girls are all the same. Always asking for something." Before I could answer, someone banged on the door. "Ingrid! Open the damn door!" It was my boss. I stood up and unlocked it. The moment it opened, she slapped me hard across the face. "The one rule here, you do not bring your problems into my business," she snapped. "You're fired. And you'll be paying for the damages tonight." I was too tired to explain. Security grabbed my arms and dragged me away while my boss apologized to the man in the room. As security dragged me out, I glanced back. The man was still sitting on the sofa, watching me through the smoke like he was memorizing my face. They threw me out the back door. I hit the pavement hard. Blood dripped from a cut on my palm, but before I could process the pain, my phone rang. It was Alex. "Get your f*****g ass here," a rough voice said through the speaker. "Or your brother gets sold." Everything felt hazy. My little brother. They had him. "Why..." I whispered, my throat burning. Why did it always have to be like this? I pushed myself to my feet and began running. **** "Alex!" I cried, bursting into my apartment. The door slammed against the wall. My little brother was tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Tape covered his mouth, and his eyes were wide with fear. "Let him go!" I yelled, rushing forward, but a man grabbed my arm and shoved me back. "Please let him go," I begged, the tears finally slipping over. Leo, the leader of the loan sharks, stepped forward. "We haven't even started, and you're already crying?" he mocked. He grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me to my knees. "You owe us money. Pay up." "I've paid everything I could!" I pleaded. "I don't have any more! Please, let Alex go. He's all I have left." Leo slapped me. I tasted blood. "Ingrid," he said calmly, gripping my chin to force my head up. "Why are you acting like I'm the bad guy here? You owe a debt. It's just business." His hand slid down and grabbed my shirt. I froze. "People pay good money for girls," he said. Then he glanced at Alex. "And kids his age sell for a good price overseas." "No!" I screamed. "Please don't take him!, I just need more time!." Leo watched me for a moment. Then he smiled. "Two days." He stood up, wiping his hands on his jacket, and waved to his men. "You have two days, Ingrid. Don't try to run. Let's go." They left, slamming the door behind them. In the suffocating silence, I rushed to Alex. My hands shook as I ripped the tape off his mouth and untied his ropes. "Are you hurt?" I whispered frantically. He threw his arms around me burying his face in my shoulder. I hugged him back tightly, finally letting myself breathe.