Zita wanted to smile at her, reassure her, but she couldn’t. Instead she said to David, “Will either do?”
He slowly examined Manuela, a smile on his face. “She’ll do nicely.”
This time, she couldn’t hide the revulsion on her face.
“You don’t like it?” the man asked.
“Not my kink,” she said.
“You like to dominate the women?” the man asked David in English.
David brushed Zita’s hair out of her face to show the bruise. “Only when they need it.”
The man nodded his approval. Zita was going to be sick.
David got out the money and put it on the table. “Will this do?”
The man took it and smiled. “Yes.”
David took Manuela’s arm and started leading her to the door.
Manuela sobbed hysterically, dragging her feet. “No, no.” Each cry ripped Zita’s heart in two.
“Wait. Where the hell are you going?” Mustache man demanded and the teenager blocked their path.
Zita translated, her skin tight.
“I’m not taking my dick out in a place like this.” The disdain on David’s face was so much like Bob. “I’ll catch something.”
“He has a room at the hostel down the road,” Zita added as she translated.
“It’ll cost extra.”
They negotiated a price.
“You’d better behave,” the man told Manuela.
The little girl was shaking, but she nodded.
They took Manuela out of the building and one of the men on the door fell in step behind them. Zita wanted to tell her it was going to be all right, but she couldn’t risk it yet.
When they arrived at the hostel, the guard checked out the room before letting them in. Tears streamed down Manuela’s face. She reached out to Zita. “Please help me.”
Zita couldn’t bear it. She turned away as David shut the door with him and Manuela inside and the lock clicked.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” the guard asked with a smirk. “Think you’re missing out?”
Zita straightened. She had to remember why she was here; she had to keep this man distracted. “Not at all. He’s not my type.” She had to be careful. She didn’t want to give him any more ideas than he already had. She had to be able to leave when she wanted to. “What about you? Don’t you wish you had the girl?”
The guy grimaced. “I like women who know what they’re doing.” His eyes raked her body. “You’d know a thing or two.”
She forced a smile on her face, hoping David would hurry up. “Well now, I don’t like to kiss and tell.” She stepped away from the door and he followed her, turning away from where David and Manuela would pass.
“I’m sure you don’t,” the man said. “Where are you from? I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I’m from the other side of town,” she said. “This guy needed a translator.” Zita grimaced. “He didn’t mention what he wanted to do.”
“You following him around then?”
