CHAPTER 7 - The Deal
505 Words
Naina’s vision tunneled.
Meera’s face on the screen looked like a nightmare trying to be real.
Rafe stepped in front of Naina, voice low and controlled. “Turn it off.”
Liora smiled like she’d been asked to lower the music.
“No,” she said.
Naina’s throat tightened. “What do you want?”
Liora’s gaze remained on Naina, not on Meera.
“A file,” she said. “A receipt. A copy. Call it what you want.”
Naina swallowed. “I don’t have anything.”
Liora sighed, bored. “You will.”
Rafe’s jaw clenched. “This is kidnapping.”
Liora’s eyes slid to him. “This is compliance.”
Rafe’s hands curled into fists.
Naina grabbed his sleeve lightly. “Rafe.”
Rafe’s gaze flicked to her.
Naina whispered, “Not like this.”
Rafe’s jaw clenched, but he stepped half a pace back.
Liora watched the exchange with interest, like she enjoyed the human part of it.
“Ah,” she murmured. “You care.”
Rafe’s voice went low. “I care that she doesn’t get hurt.”
Liora’s smile widened. “Then help me.”
Naina swallowed hard. “If I get in that car, do you release Meera?”
Liora’s expression stayed calm. “Eventually.”
Naina’s stomach turned. “That’s not an answer.”
Liora tilted her head. “It’s the only one you get.”
Rafe’s voice snapped. “No.”
Liora’s eyes flicked to him, cool. “Then I make an example.”
She tapped her tablet.
On the screen, Meera flinched as if someone off-camera had stepped closer.
Naina’s breath caught. “Stop!”
Liora’s gaze returned to Naina, satisfied. “Get in the car.”
Rafe stepped closer to Naina, voice low enough only she could hear.
“Don’t,” he said. “This is how they disappear people.”
Naina’s throat tightened. “Then what do we do?”
Rafe’s eyes burned. “We outsmart her.”
Naina swallowed. “How?”
Rafe’s voice dropped. “Tell her you have a file. Make her bring Meera here.”
Naina’s stomach turned. “She won’t.”
Rafe’s gaze held hers. “She will if she thinks you’re lying.”
Naina’s pulse spiked.
She looked at Liora and forced her voice steady.
“I do have something,” Naina said.
Liora’s smile sharpened. “Do you?”
Naina lifted Meera’s scarf slightly, fingers tight.
“It’s not on my phone,” she lied. “It’s on a drive. Offsite. If you hurt my sister, it gets released.”
Liora studied her, calm.
Then she smiled.
“Good,” she said softly. “Now we can be honest.”
She tapped her tablet again and spoke into it.
“Bring Meera,” she said. “To the garage.”
Naina’s breath caught.
Rafe’s eyes widened slightly.
Liora looked at Naina, pleased.
“Now,” she said, “you’ll get in the car.”
And the black car’s back door unlocked with a soft click.
- Writer
