“When did you call for backup?” Abhijat asked, as they were escorted out of the club by the prime minister’s security detail.

“Long before you arrived. I told you I was there to try and find Afreen. What did you think I planned to do after I found her? Fight my way out of the club with a drugged and injured woman in tow?”

“Where will they take the children?” Afreen asked, clutching a bloodied napkin to her nose.

“To a government home in the suburbs, for now,” Fasih reassured her. “Ruqaiya has been in contact with Pragati. Their volunteers will work with the government to rehabilitate the children. I expect most of them will be returned to their families in Eraon. But you’ll get to know the details soon enough. Your colleagues are quite eager to see you. They’ve all been very worried.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Ruqaiya knew about this?” Abhijat asked, aghast.

Fasih shook his head. “Not initially, but she’s just found out.”

“She’ll kill you, you know that, right?”

“But I can publish this story so long as I keep you out of it, right?” The weedy man enquired, turning to Jehan with imploring eyes. Laihan, Rito had called him. Abhijat made a mental note to look him up as soon as they got back to the hotel.

Rito smacked him on the head, even as Jehan shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

Abhijat glared at his sister. “You and I are going to have words.”

“Yeah? ‘Cause I was the one hiding in a room with the fucking prime minister dressed like a hooker, was I?” she snapped. Then, she turned to Jehan. “No offense.”

“None taken,” he assured her, a wide grin splitting his face. “Please, continue. This is very entertaining.”

“You will die by my hands, Fasih,” Abhijat growled, getting into his car as Rito and Laihan helped Afreen into the back seat. “And you’ll die slowly.”