I felt my lips tremble with anxiety, but I held her gaze. “That’s why I’m here, Maria. Toxicology is your area of expertise. Please help my daughter.”
“And why should I help you, Luna?” she asked, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “What’s in it for me?”
Her question, though expected, sent a chill down my spine. Her question hung in the air like a sharp blade, and I realized just how steep the price of my request might be. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but there was no other choice.
"I'll give you whatever you want," I replied, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth. "Just save my daughter."
Maria arched an eyebrow, clearly pleased with the power she wielded over me.
“Anything?” Maria mused, tapping her fingers against the table with a deliberate slowness. Her eyes never left mine, studying me like a predator contemplating its prey.
“Anything,” I replied, my voice resolute, even as a shiver ran down my spine. The word hung in the air like a promise I wasn't sure I could keep.
A heavy silence settled between us, thick with anticipation. Finally, Maria leaned forward, a glint of triumph in her eyes.