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“You haveotherneeds?” Her golden irises studied me.

My head dipped just enough for her to notice.

“This way.” She motioned for us to follow. I glanced back, Scarlet’s focus on the rowdy gamblers.

“Scarlet?” I called her name.

She didn’t react.

“Scarlet,” I called louder, trying to get her attention.

Not even a flinch.

“Scarlet!” I huffed, stomping the few feet between us, her gaze finally snapping to me. “I’ve been calling your name.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “I didn’t hear you.”

“How could you not?” My brows furrowed. “Come on.” I motioned her to follow me, catching up with the manager of the brothel.

The woman took us up to the top floor, the lower ones being used for their “clients.” Vulgar moans and the creaking of metal beds followed us all the way to the top, tensing every bone in my body. The madam opened the door to the tiny room with low arched ceilings. The only other items besides the small bed were a side table with a water bowl and a few thin towels.

“Bathroom down the hall,” Madam stated.

“Thank you.” I let Scarlet go in.

“That’s 200 lei. For room and food.” Madam put out her palm, not letting me pass.

I dug into my bag, pulling out a few notes and placing them in her palm.

She folded them up, tucking them into her bra, her laser eyes on me. “Let me know your preferences downstairs,” she said quietly to me and then glided down the hall, disappearing from view.

Not once in my life had I ever felt shame for using prostitutes, for enjoying sex with various partners, paid or unpaid. But something pinched in my gut, itching underneath my skin at the notion, the bite mark I could still feel throbbing against my pulse.

Stepping into the small room, I bowed my head slightly to avoid hitting the low curved ceiling. Scarlet dropped her bag on the single bed in the corner, her back purposely to me. I could feel a defensive barrier, her spine so perfectly straight, and I knew she heard thedoamna.

The silence between us bloomed like blackthorn while the salacious noises from below streamed into the room, scraping the devilish thorns down my spine.

“So.” I cleared my throat. “You have everything you need?”

No answer.

“O-kay. Get some rest. We’ll leave early tomorrow.” I turned to go but stopped, annoyance nipping the back of my neck, glaring at her as she didn’t respond to me. Did I want her to stop me? “What’s wrong?” Irritation coated my question.

“Nothing.” She dug into her bag, pulling out some clothing we got at the shop in Hungary.

“Scarlet…” I exhaled.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she snapped and turned around. “Go get high or laid… probably both. I don’t care.”

“Really?” I scoffed.

Her lids tapered, a haughty expression as if I were some lowly peasant on her face.

“Really.” She folded her arms. “Go run and hide from your issues in drugs and sex. Seems to be your default.”

Anger blazed, curling and toiling like a current through me, dropping my feet across the floor before I even thought, getting barely an inch from her.

“Youdon’tknow me.” I curled my hands into fists, fighting the temptation to grab her neck, curl my fingers into her spine.