Anurag had been driving for what felt like hours trying to figure out what road they had taken, his heart was seemingly beating a hundred miles per hour, his mind racing with too many horrific imaginations of what he'd find when he finally found her-if he found her. It was the if that scared him the most, he hated working on a probability scale, but he had always been a statistical man and he knew the numbers well enough to know that every minute that ticked by was precious, every moment longer made for a higher percentage that she'd be dead when he found her. But, he couldn't think like that or he'd never find her, he had to be smart. Then it finally clicked, whoever had made the deal with Rodriguez would probably try and play dirty, meaning they'd want to sell her off, so they had the better gain. Lifting his phone to his ear as he drove he waited "Hello, my name is Anurag Basu from the LAPD, you can check my credentials".
"Detective, this is officer Andrews, how can I help you?" He seemed young, new on the job, a part of him wanted to warn the young man to run as far as possible from the job and to never look back, but he reminded himself that not everyone's experience would mirror his.
"I've followed a suspect all the way here and I have reasonable belief that a woman will be sold tonight, what are the places in which women are sold in Las Vegas?" Noting down the list in his head, he nodded "Uh huh, okay great, I'll contact you again if I find anything".
"Not to be disrespectful, but I have to remind you that you cannot make an active arrest in this jurisdiction, your badge means nothing here".
"No arrest, just saving a woman, thank you" cutting off, he rolled his eyes. He wasn't exactly a stickler for the rules, often he had to take the back alley in order to get information, he didn't like it at first, but rules alone didn't always get the job done. His way meant lives were saved and that thought helped him sleep at night.
Prerna massaged her upper arm as she was finally released, blinking through her tears she stepped away from the many women lined up "What, what am I doing here?"
"This little lady, is a brothel, tonight you will be sold to the highest bidder" smiling sheepishly at her, his yellow and silver teeth gleamed beneath the wobbly light "Wipe your tears, save that for when you're sold" winking, he walked away as she was dragged forward by another man.
"Please, I don't want this, this is illegal and, and".
"And, and" he mimicked, eyes wide and bottom lip jutting out "Your husband is in the mafia, you know all about illegal, don't be a pest, get in line" shoving her forward he watched as the curtain fell down, then took his place beside the podium "Ladies and gentleman, we have collected the finest women we could find for you to select for your own personal wants and needs, decide your bids and with the slam of the hammer the auction will begin".
Prerna couldn't move, her body was frozen in place, mouth dry and back stiff, she wanted to scream but no sound left her lips, the beady eyes of the many bidders made her feel both ill and dizzy, she knew her life wasn't great on any account, but she had fooled herself that Rodriguez was the only bad man she'd have to face in her life, it had never occurred to her that she'd have to survive a tornado of them.
Anurag pulled up in a car park, got out of his car and glanced around. Getting in wasn't going to be easy, but he wasn't the kind of man who gave up the first time. "Excuse me" rubbing his stubble he let out a brief chuckle, looked around then eyed the tall guard "My wife is at home and I wasn't going to come, but you know how it is, women, all they do is whine, whine, whine and it's like I'm slaving away all day at work and she is never grateful, tonight I just need a woman who is thankful for me, need to work it all off if you get me?" He hoped his act would work.
"I'm afraid I need the password sir".
"I know they tell you not to write it down, but I'm forgetful, my wife found it and asked all these questions, so I threw it in the trash, I'm not even from here, I'm sure you can do a man a favour, you know how it is, don't you?"
"I really shouldn't".
"Oh, forget it" pushing his fist into the man's stomach, he bashed his head onto his knee, then elbowed him in the eye "Unbelievable, all you had to do was let me in" pulling at the lapels of his jacket he pushed open the door and made his way to the darkest corner.
Prerna bit hard down onto her tongue as she was prodded in the back with a bony finger to move forward, her ears rung, mind swirling with far too many bad endings to this night, looking to the door she crossed her fingers, maybe Rodriguez would come, maybe he would see the err of his ways and rescue her.
"We have fifty thousand, do we have fifty-five? Fifty-five there, do we have sixty? Sixty, do we have seventy?"
Squeezing her eyes shut, she held her hands together tightly in a lame effort to stop her legs from shaking and giving way.
"One hundred thousand".
Prerna's eyes flung open at the amount, her jaw dropped suddenly as her breath hitched in her throat. She had no time to ask herself why Anurag was here or why he was willing to pay so much to save her, all she knew was that he was here, and he was saving her and within that moment that was all that mattered. Jumping from the stage she ran straight for him, clashing into his chest she brought her arms up and around his shoulders while burying her face into his chest "Thank you, thank you" sobbing loudly into his warm hold, she shivered at the chill down her spine at what could have happened. As soon as the man shouted out sold, she began to relax, still unwilling to let him go yet, his heart quickened beneath her ear, matching her breathing as he lifted a hand to her back she stretched out her fingers over his muscular shoulders, cheek firm against his toned chest "Take me away, please" her voice cracked "I want to go home", though she had no idea where that was anymore.
Anurag turned his head to the side to look at her, she hadn't said much since leaving the den, she had just looked down and awkwardly pulled herself away from him, he found he missed the warmth of her body as soon as it was gone. "You're probably wondering why I'm here" he thought it best to address the issue at hand before she brought it up.
"I know why: she whispered "You're after my husband" she seemed the furthest thing away from shocked "And you wanted to use me to do it, don't worry, I'm not offended, you're not the first and you won't be the last" relaxing back against the seat, she let out a tearful sigh "I'm a pawn in this game, never an important part on the chess board" turning her head so she was looking out the window, she swiped away a tear "Just drop me off at a hotel please".
This was the make or break moment, reveal his cover or pull her in even more? "You're married? I didn't know, your husband doesn't seem great if he's letting a woman as beautiful as you be sold to other men, I mean no disrespect but it's not hard for me to guess why so many people are" he made bunny ears with two fingers "After your husband".
Prerna looked back at him "Please don't try and play me for a fool, I'm used to this".
Slamming his foot down on the break, they both flung forward "No, honest, I don't want you to think that way of me Prerna, I really do just want to get to know you, you're a very attractive woman, can't a man just want to take an interest for you?" He knew if the situation was different, he'd definitely want to get to know her, sure lying wasn't great but she was as expected, still covering for her husband, and that could only mean that the events of tonight were planned by them both, they just so happened to get blindsided by the other party trying to sell her again.
"Really? You really just want to be my friend?" Prerna had wanted a friend for as long as she could remember, of course she had people at the centre, but this seemed different somehow.
"Would I lie to you?" Grinning, he started up the car again "Of course I wanted to get to know you as more than a friend" he watched pink tinge her cheeks as she looked down again, she was such a nervous person "But knowing you have a husband kind of foils that plan".
"Promise" stretching out her hand, she wrapped her pinkie around his as he repeated the one word that would go on to build the foundation of a bond neither of them would ever expect.
"Are you hungry? I know a great place just north of here".
"I have about three dollars" holding up the cash he had previously given to her, she smiled softly "But I can't spend this".
"Is that the?" Anurag was taken back by the fact she had kept the money "Why didn't you spend it?"
"You'll laugh at me if I say".
"I won't, promise" he squeezed her pinkie again, not too bothered by the fact neither of them had pulled their hands away.
"It meant a lot to me, so I don't see this as money, but as kindness and I can't spend it until I can repay the favour, I mean you bought me food, gave me your coat, saved my life, I'm not even half way" Prerna wasn't sure how he'd react, she was sure it sounded stupid to him, but kindness wasn't an experience she felt often.
"You don't have to repay me, but if you really want to, then allow me to buy you food tonight, you haven't had the best night" it seemed so easy to be fooled by her act, her innocence was alluring, but he wasn't keen on giving her the benefit of the doubt.
"Oh, I couldn't do that" Prerna dropped her hand, then crossed her arms "You're too kind, thank you, but no thank you".
"See now you've hurt my feelings" he joked, unrealising of the effect his words had on her.
"Now you've hurt my feelings" Rodriguez snarled into her ear, hand so tight around her throat that she began to see stars.
Snapping herself out of it, she backed away "I'm not hungry, I just want to sleep, please" glancing to the side, she readied herself to pull open the door if need be, she was stupid to have trusted him, to have thought he was different. He'd hurt her too, she just knew it.
Anurag was baffled at the way she suddenly shut down "Did I say something wrong?" His brows furrowed as his hand reached out for hers only to have her move them back "Prerna, I was only joking".
"You know what, I'll find my way from here, thank you" holding the handle of the door, she swallowed back a scream when the doors clicked close "Anurag, I want to leave, please let me out".
"You have three dollars, no phone, you don't know your way around and you're in a dangerous part of town, you're NOT getting out of the car" he hadn't meant to order her around, but it seemed as if she had an attraction to danger and he didn't want to be the reason she got herself hurt, not when he could prevent it.
"I'll be fine" her hands were shaking now.
"Prerna, you're safe here, I'm not going to hurt you" this made her head whip around fast, eyes as wide as a deer caught in headlights, was he onto something or was she just fearful after the events of the night?
The last thing she wanted was for him to make a promise he couldn't keep, it was the early hours of the morning and she was tired, dreary and hungry. "Actually, I'd love a bite to eat if it's not too much to ask" she knew he knew she wanted to change the topic, she was thankful that he allowed it without questioning.
"I promise this will be the best burger you've ever ate" he hoped to cheer her up slightly, he didn't like to see her frown.
"I'm sure you're right" closing her eyes, she allowed her body to float away into the darkness, sleep had evaded her for so long, this truly felt like heaven.
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