Cohe

ying still and pale on a hospital bed, wires and tubes snaking from his body. His head was swath

my vision. My hand hovered over his forehead, afraid to

re concussion, fractured arm, and multiple contusions. He's lucky to be alive, Ms. Cohen. But there's a possibili

normally again. My legs gave out, and I slumped into the chair beside his bed,

on the wall mocked me, its hands crawling slowly. Finally, sometime in the

whispered, my voice choked

ce. "What... what are you doing here?" His voi

ie, please. What happene

st the restraints that kept him still. "N

your leg... th

ay? You think you're the only one who can make sacrifices? I saw how you looked

ney? Bennie, I can

ng to do, dance for it? You think I don't see how hard you

hroat tightened,

ng his face to the wall. "P

ng. It felt like a knife twisting in my gut

iar face. It was Lucas, one of Bennie

s voice low. "I'm so

nd still reeling. "What hap

think you should know. That fight with Leo? It wasn't Bennie's fault. Leo bullied him first. Said s

r, had made Bennie seem like the aggressor. The anger, cold and

d but enraged, echoed from the ro

fied. "I gotta go, Josie. T

er, forming a picture of ruthless manipulation and calculat

e at the door, her face unusually grim. "Josie. We have a... special request toni

ghtened.

More than enough for Bennie's initial medical costs, mayb

he ice. But... he wants more than just the uniform. He wa

nt being utterly exposed, physically and emotionally. My stomach churned. But

id, my voice flat,

y in her eyes. "Are you sure, Josie? This is... beyond. Th

ce hard. "Bennie needs me. An

already waiting. He was the same man from the previous night, the one who

"So you decided to be

had given me. "The terms are clear, Mr.

your... compromised position." He scribbled his signature, then

lked to the center of the room, where a spotlight illuminated a massive block of ice

slipped to the floor, leaving me in the scant lace undergarments. I picked up the v

and drew the bow across the strings. The first note, mournful and clear, filled the room. I

early enjoying every agonizing second. I played on, tears streaming down my face, mingling

t were raw and bleeding from the prolonged exposure to the ice. I was numb, insi

tood up, then turned to leave. "My driver wil

red, my voice barely a whisper. "You s

'performance' quite lived up to the full amount. A little... disappointing

ng block of ice. My vision blurred. I tried to run after him, to demand

he melting ice. "He actually... he didn't pay you?" Her voice was laced with disbelief. "T

eyes scanning the room, landing on me, then falling to my

voice clipped. "I'm here on behalf of Mr. Valentine. He cl

met his, pleading for just a shred of the man I once knew.

him?" I asked, my voi

I'm here to ensure his interests are protected." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Though, I must say, for s

was a cruel twist of the knife. He was accusing me of bein

etri. This is ridiculous. Josie fulfilled her end of the b

tisfactory. However, I am willing to settle this quietly. My client is prepared to offer a token payment, purely out o

ying to cheat me again. A

ed, my voice trembling with rage an

viewing the full scope of the situation, I have a condition. I will take on your ca

against my ribs.

his voice flat. "For the bullying incident that 'ruined her

cost me my parents, my reputation, everything. And he wanted me to do it for Claudia, the woman who had

o speak. The air in my lu

onsider it, Josie. It's either thi

is future. I had no other choice. This was

ine," I rasped, the word tasting like ash. "Y