EN

the front of us. A middle-aged couple jumped out, ru

" the woman asked, alrea

bbed, still cradling Sarah's

h unconscious in my lap the whole way. They waited with me while doctors whisked her aw

ng a fifty-dollar bill into my hand before th

ed stiffly to my skin. Nurses avoided my gaze. F

"Both kidneys are failing completely. We've stabilized her for no

uestion that alwa

d complications... fifteen thousand dollars.

e. "Fifteen thousand?

tional complications, infection, and fluid in her lungs. With

to come up with fif

r?" I asked,

and whirred. Her face was gray against the w

spered, clutching her

ear they needed payment for further treatment. I spent the night in a hard

the same useless pamphlets. I couldn't focus on her words.

briefly regaine

her voice barely audib

"Look who's talking, yo

she asked, dir

Absolutely not. I'm go

s, filled with tears. "Don'

kissing her forehead

, my former boss at the high-end restaurant where I'd worked before the diner. He'd fired me after I missed sh

**

ey I had. Two hours later, I arrived sweaty and disheveled at the gleaming establishment whe

old the hostess, a new gi

eing my appearance with distaste an

enda Mitchell. It

urning moments later. "He can give

ing, with expensive clothes and a perm

t, Mitchell. I'm in the

ter is dying. She needs fifteen thousand dollars

. "And you came t

. "I can work it off. Nights, weekends,

iocre server at best. And now you want me to loan

e answere

urned back to his computer. "

on burning through me. "I'll

lickered in his

mean extra shifts, overtime, jus

for you. Off the books. Good money, fast. Some of my high-end clients

. "That's not

een thousand is serious money, Brenda. Nobo

eyes. "She's

ering me toward the door. "Now, unles

I spat, yanking away. His

pointed at me. "She's harassing me. R

outed as they grabbed my

nce worked with. Nobody stepped forward to help. Out the back door, they

the filth, and finally broke down completely. Deep, wrenching sobs tore through me as I hug

quite a

ed me. I looked up, h

a suit that probably cost more than six months' rent. Sharp cheekbones, dark e

tered, struggling to my fe

he stepped closer.

viously." I turned to

question. "Quite a lot

ou were eav

ls are thin. Fifteen thousand dollars

ared. "What

ness was almost refreshing. "But I

thinking of Mike's offer. Something like amusement f

illionaire. Real estate mogul. Notorious playboy with a different model on his arm

en for proper awe. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need

, but his next wor

could give you the mon

ly. "Why woul

ing, and you're in a p

eady t

, looking almost offe

t a laugh.

d it. Not a hint of humor in those dark eyes. "I

else. Someone in

ns. Someone desperate enough to accept ce

nt chills down my spi

week? Let's not waste time. I'll give you twenty thousand dollars today. Enough for her surge

en as desperate hope flickered t

oldly. "I know you have no other opt

e? Why not hire an a

no connections to my social circle." His eyes rake

gistered through my

y, you receive another fifty thousand do

"Fifty thousand?

l. More than enough to start over

to me. A roundi

atch?" There

te, and present yourself as I direct. You'll sign an extensive NDA. And-" his eyes h

my si

estate. Private nur

ood to be tr

to think

ed, checking his watch again. "Then

n warred within me.

ical. Twen

ed in my mind. The beep

sec

st out. "Yes.

umph flashed in hi

cing a business card and a pen. H

ded me the card, then pulled out a thick envelope from an inner pocket. "C

ith trembling hands.

"If you try to scam me, take this money and disappear, I will find you.

, unable

this address at eight tonight. Bring only wha

greed to crashed over me. I'd just sold myself t