~ Zeynep ~
I tightened my grip on the rusty handle of the iron door and took a shaky breath. The moment I stepped inside, the acrid stench of stale cigarettes and a heavy, suffocating silence greeted me. I closed my eyes for a second, trying to suppress the terror clawing at my insides. Just breathe, I told myself.
When I opened my eyes, I walked in with cautious steps. I didn't even get a chance to knock; the door swung open from the inside.
Çağan was standing right there.
He swung a string of amber worry beads in his hand, stepping aside to let me in. "Zeynep," he smirked. "It's good to see you here."
His voice was calm, but there was a hidden dagger in his tone.
"I assume you're here to settle your debt?" he added without missing a beat. He gestured for me to come further inside, but I shook my head, my feet planted on the threshold. I cleared my throat, which felt like sandpaper, and forced myself to meet his gaze. He didn't blink, his eyes locked on me like a predator watching its prey. I looked down, unable to bear the weight of his stare.
"Can you give me a little more time?"
The sound of a grunt followed, and then the sharp clatter of his beads hitting the floor made me jump back in fear. When I looked up, his face had hardened into stone.
"How many times have I given you time?" he snapped. "One month, two months, three... Months have passed, Zeynep, and my hands are still empty. This isn't a playground, girl!"
He was right. He had given me time, but I just couldn't scrape the money together.
"Please, just a little longer," I begged, my words tumbling out in a panic. "I just started a new job. I applied for a bank loan, too. The moment the bank approves it, I'll pay you a part of the debt."
My voice trembled as I spoke, my fingernails digging into my palms to stop my hands from shaking.
"Not all of it? Just a part?" he roared.
I flinched, stepping back instinctively. A few of his men in the room turned to look at us, their gaze making my skin crawl.
"I don't have time!" he barked.
He stepped closer, invading my personal space until he was towering over me. I stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
"There is one other way," he said, his voice dropping to a low, heavy drawl.
A spark of desperate hope flared in my chest. "What? I'll do anything!"
A dark grin spread across his face as his hand landed on my shoulder. My entire body stiffened. I wanted to pull away, but his grip was iron.
"Let go!" I raised my voice, and surprisingly, he pulled his hand back.
"Zeynep..." he said slowly, dragging out my name. "I've given you too much leeway. I know you're struggling. But a debt is a debt."
I nodded quickly, desperate to just leave this hellhole. He leaned in, his eyes boring into mine. Then, he reached out to touch my face with his other hand. I jerked my head to the right. His hot, harsh breath hit my skin, making my stomach churn.
I knew exactly what kind of offer was coming.
When he leaned towards my ear, I tried to pull back, but this time he didn't let me.
"Let me go!" I shouted again, but he didn't retreat. I bit my lip to stop the tears from spilling.
"If you stay with me for one night..." he whispered, the end of his sentence hanging in the air like a foul stench. It was a disgusting proposal.
"Stop it!" I cried out, my voice cracking.
He laughed, unbothered. "I'll wipe half your debt."
It felt like a stone had been lodged in my throat. I froze. He pulled back calmly, as if he had just made the most ordinary offer in the world, and bent down to pick up his beads.
"I... I will pay my own debt!"
My voice was shaking violently now, tears streaming down my face.
"That's what I want too! You pay!"
He continued his vile taunting as I stumbled backward.
"I'll find the money! I'll bring it to you! Just not... not like that!"
A sob escaped my lips, cutting off my words. His grin only widened.
"Fine then," he said cold, his eyes devoid of mercy. "Your time is up in three days. You bring me my money, or you bring me your body."
I clenched my fists as he turned his back on me. But then he stopped and turned around one last time.
"Or," he said, his eyes gleaming with malice, "Your nephew."
My eyes went wide. The blood drained from my face.
"Wha— What—"
I couldn't speak through the terror, but his smile grew even more sinister.
"The money you borrowed to save him from the organ mafia? If you don't pay me, I'll get my money back from the organ mafia myself."
My heart stopped.
"Don't you dare touch my nephew!" I screamed.
He just winked, tossed his beads into the air, and walked into the back room without looking back.
"I'll bring your money!" I screamed, trying to run after him, but one of the men blocked my path.
"I have to tell him something!"
The man shook his head, grabbed my arm, and started dragging me toward the exit.
"You won't touch Umut!" I wailed, fighting against his grip.
The man threw me out the door. I hit the ground hard, my face scraping against the cold concrete. I shook my head violently, sobbing into the dirt.
"I won't let you... I won't let you touch him!"