Nora stepped into the cozy café, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Demitri. He was already seated near the window, his piercing gaze fixed on the view outside. She walked over and pulled out the chair across from him.
"I’m sorry for making you wait," she apologized, offering a polite smile as she settled into her seat.
Demitri fixed his gaze on her, but he didn’t respond imdiately.
Nora, feeling the weight of his gaze, placed an envelope on the table and slid it toward him. "Here’s the bill you paid yesterday," she said. "Thank you for saving my life and for taking to the hospital."
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting slightly on the edge of the table before she continued, her tone softening. "And... I’m sorry. For treating my savior badly." Guilt flickered in her eyes as she looked at him, awaiting his reaction.
Demitri took the envelope from her. He felt if he would refuse to take it, it would only make the lady before him uncomfortable.
"You should report yesterday’s incident to the police," he suggested.
"I wish I could," Nora whispered.
"What do you an? Such cris should be reported imdiately," Demitri pronounced.
"I am aware of that, Mr. Velkazh. Anyways, thank you for what you did for last night. I’m truly grateful," Nora asserted with a small smile.
Demitri nodded simply and the two decided to leave. As he headed to his car, he turned to look at Nora, "I’ll drop you ho."
"No, thank you. I have to go on a job," Nora stated. "You should go ahead," she said in her soft tone.
Demitri nodded and went to his car. Sitting inside, he saw Nora walking in the opposite direction of him but not through a taxi. "I should not be bothered about her," he murmured.
The mont Demitri pressed the accelerator, he noticed the sa group of n approaching Nora with long strides. His instincts flared, and without hesitation, he slamd on the brakes. In one swift motion, he exited the car and made his way toward her.
"Miss Pace, let’s go," Demitri said firmly, extending his hand to her.
"Hey, who are you? She has so business with us," one of the n growled, his thick beard and moustache adding an intimidating edge to his presence.
Nora’s face flushed with embarrassnt as she t Demitri’s gaze. "Mr. Velkazh, you should leave," she murmured.
Demitri, however, stepped in front of her, shielding her from the n with a calm yet authoritative deanor. "What business do you have with this young lady?" he demanded, his piercing gaze locking onto the group. "Leave now, or I’ll call the police. This is a public area, and I’m sure you don’t want to attract unwanted attention."
The five n exchanged wary glances, scanning the growing number of onlookers. Reluctantly, they backed off, their leader muttering, "Nora, we will et again," before they retreated into the crowd.
Demitri pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen to call Zayne. Before he could proceed, Nora reached out and grabbed his hand. "Please, don’t," she requested as her lips quivered.
Demitri frowned, his concern deepening. "Why not? Are you really going to let them harass you again? You can’t handle this alone forever. I know soone who can help—he’s a cop."
Nora shook her head, her hands trembling as she lowered her gaze. "I can’t go to the police. I owe them money. If I report them, it’ll only make things worse," she admitted and bit her bottom lip.
Demitri studied her for a mont, noting the exhaustion and fear in her eyes. He softened his tone. "Do you have to leave for work now?"
"Yes," she replied hesitantly.
"Co on, I’ll drop you," he said without giving her a chance to refuse.
Walking back to his car, Demitri opened the passenger door and waited for her. After a brief hesitation, Nora stepped inside. Once Demitri was in the driver’s seat, he glanced at her to ensure she’d fastened her seatbelt. "Where’s your workplace?" he asked.
"I’m a waitress at a restaurant," Nora replied, quickly entering the address into the GPS.
As the car started moving, Demitri broke the silence. "Miss Pace, you need to get rid of those n. I’m guessing they’re making you pay a fortune in interest, aren’t they?"
Nora arched a brow, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Are you always this kind to everyone you et, Mr. Velkazh?"
He smirked slightly, keeping his eyes on the road. "I’m just helping soone in need. My grandmother was once trapped by a loan shark. Things got so bad that her life was in danger. Luckily, my close friend stepped in and saved her. I know how devastating these situations can be."
Nora’s skepticism wavered as she listened, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her handbag. "Can people really escape them? I once reported them years ago, but it backfired. They got released, and..." She trailed off, her voice breaking, unwilling to reveal more.
Demitri’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I understand your fear, but I can ask my friend to help you. Not because I expect anything in return, but because I’ve seen the damage these people can cause. No one should go through that alone."
Nora stared at him, startled by his genuine concern. She struggled to comprehend why a stranger would care so much.
"I don’t want to bother anyone with my problems," she finally said.
"It’s not a bother," Demitri assured her gently. "Sotis, accepting help is the only way forward. I don’t know what kind of life you’ve had, but I do know you deserve better. Think about it. If you change your mind, you can always reach out to ."
He flashed her a small, reassuring smile before refocusing on the road.
Nora clutched her handbag tightly, an unfamiliar warmth spreading in her chest. "Thank you," she murmured.
~~~~
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