“I always believe people when they sound confident,” I say. “I don’t know why.”
“You were set up,” he says.
“I walked in,” I snap, then flinch at myself. “I walked in on my own. Wiped, cleaned, did the job.”
“And someone lied to you.”
The way he says it makes it sound simple. Clean.
Like blame is a straight line instead of a knot.
“There was a man,” I say. “Badge. Said he needed to verify my age. I followed him.”
Doc’s face goes still.
“The door locked,” I whisper. “And then… it just turned into a room.”
I don’t give him everything. I can’t. The pieces are sharp and I don’t want to bleed all over his floor.
“They talked about me like I was inventory,” I say instead. “One of them said I’d sell for more.”
His hands curl into fists on his thighs.
“They said no one would look for me,” I add.
Silence stretches between us.
He doesn’t fill it.
He lets it sit.
“I ran when the door wasn’t latched,” I finish. “I didn’t think. I just ran.”
“You weren’t stupid,” he says quietly.
“I was.”
“No,” he says, firmer now. “You trusted someone. That’s not stupidity.”
I laugh once. It sounds wrong in my own ears.
“You don’t even know me.”
His gaze holds mine.
“I know enough.”
And that does something to me I’m not ready for.
My body feels heavier now. The adrenaline is draining out, leaving nothing but aches behind.
“I feel disgusting,” I whisper.
His expression shifts again. Softer now.
“You’re not. Did they… do something to you?”
“No.” The word escapes fast. “They said I was worth more as a virgin.”
