One of them drew closer. “So this is where you’ve been hiding?” His stare was as sinister as the tattoo engraved on his neck.
“I…I…wasn’t…” I stuttered as the words refused to leave my constricted throat.
The man closed the space between. The acrid smell of cheap cigarettes crawled into my nose. Gripping me by my hair, he hurled me to the floor, and my body thudded as I fell. A wince escaped me as pain journeyed through my body.
The man lowered to the floor next to me, and I recoiled.
“Where’s my money?” he questioned with a hoarse voice.
Silence traced the air as we both stared at each other. I didn’t have the money. But was I bold enough to say that—not at all?
“You don’t have the cash?” His eyes dipped to a rare moment of sympathy.
My body eased up as I nodded.
A vile smile curled his lips upward, and his eyes darkened. “You can always sell your organs to pay up.” He ran his filthy fingers down my face.
A stinging chill crippled my nerves, and my breath stilled.
The man rose to his feet. “You have a week from now to pay up, or else you might end up walking around with one kidney.” With those final words, he and his partner left.