AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can get part of it,” she said.
I blinked, sure that I heard her wrong.
“I can sell the apartment. After all is said and done, I estimate that we would have about fifty thousand.”
“And be homeless,” I reminded her. My mother had inherited this house from my grandparents. It was the only reason we were able to live in it. It was already paid off.
“I found a smaller place. It’s a one bedroom, a studio really, but we could pay for it in cash, and the rest of the money would go towards the treatment.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I’d never known my mother to plan anything in her life, except when she was going to have her next drink. It told me a lot that she’d put so much thought into this.
“It’s bad, isn’t it.” My mouth went dry as I watched my mother’s face go pale.
She nodded and tears sprung to her eyes. “If we can’t get him into the treatment, she suggested we start considering hospice care.”
I gripped the edge of the table at that, sure that I was going to faint. “Hospice?” I asked, quietly. I wanted to have heard her wrong. “He’s only thirteen….” I trailed off.
It was a stupid thing to say. She knew how old he was. We both did. For the last three years, we kept track of time meticulously. Celebrating each of Mikey’s birthdays as a huge milestone.
I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. “When do we need the money by?” I asked.
“Next month. I put his file into consideration, and it’ll take a month to know if he’s been chosen.”
I nodded decisively and stood up from my chair. “I’ll make sure that we have the money.”
“Ivy…”
I shook my head. “Nikki is always talking about how much money she makes at the club. If she can do it, so can I.”
I could see the disgust on my mother’s face. The last thing she wanted me to do was take off my clothes for money. But we had no other choice.
“Only until we get through the treatment.” I said nothing to that. Just like my mother, I was willing to do whatever I could to save Mikey’s life. Taking off my clothes and dancing on a pole was a small price to pay.
“I’m going to go in tonight,” I said as I walked towards the back of the house. “Don’t wait up.”
My mother said nothing, and I didn’t turn to look at her. I worried that if I did she would see the unbridled fear on my face. I might be willing to strip to get the money my brother needed for his treatment, but there was more to returning to Red’s than just that.
I’d witnessed a murder last night, and by walking back into the club, I was giving the guy in the alley a shot at taking me out.
I trembled at the thought. I’d checked the news this morning, and there had been no mention of the club, which meant that the alley guy was still alive. Returning to the club was the dumbest thing I could do, but I knew I didn’t have a choice.
I needed fifty thousand dollars, and I needed it fast. I’d never make that kind of money anywhere else. So while I wasn’t eager to court death, I was willing to take the risk. After all, my brother’s life was on the line. And I would sooner allow myself to wind up dead in the Hudson than not take any chance to save him.
