Chapter 2 - The Offer Maya Could Not Afford To Refuse
Maya did not sleep.
She sat on the edge of her bed until sunrise with her shoes still on, staring at the folded hospital paperwork on the kitchen table.
Sophie slept in the next room.
For once, her breathing was steady.
Maya listened to it.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
She had spent years becoming good at surviving without help.
Her mother had taught her how.
Not intentionally.
Her mother had taught Maya by showing her what happened when you trusted the wrong person.
She had disappeared from their lives when Maya was seventeen.
There had been no dramatic goodbye.
No explanation.
Just an empty closet.
A note with six words.
I need to find myself.
Maya had hated those words for years.
Because Maya had been the one left behind to find everyone else.
She got Sophie to school.
She took extra shifts.
She learned how to argue with doctors.
She learned how to stretch chicken for three meals.
She learned that electricity could be shut off with no regard for dignity.
And she learned that there was always someone willing to remind poor people that their problems were their own fault.
At seven fifteen the next morning, she received a text.
PRIVATE CLINIC, MERCY GENERAL. 9:00 A.M. ASK FOR DR. ELIAS.
She stared at the screen.
No name.
No signature.
She knew.
At eight thirty she and Sophie arrived at the hospital.
Sophie wore an oversized gray sweater and looked too young beneath the fluorescent lights.
She was nineteen.
She had always looked younger.
“Why are we here?” Sophie asked.
“I don't know yet.”
“You're scaring me.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“You are terrible at lying.”
Maya smiled.
“That runs in the family.”
A nurse appeared.
“Maya Bennett?”
Maya looked up.
“Yes.”
“Dr. Elias is ready for you.”
The private clinic was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Quiet.
Soft lighting.
No people coughing in plastic chairs.
No television screaming headlines.
Dr. Elias was a calm man in his fifties.
He reviewed the files.
Then looked at Sophie.
“There is a treatment we can begin immediately.”
Sophie blinked.
“Immediately?”
“Yes.”
“What does it cost?”
The doctor hesitated.
Maya already knew.
“Don’t tell her.”
Sophie frowned.
“Maya.”
“I'll handle it.”
The doctor looked uncomfortable.
“The Russo Foundation has agreed to cover the full course.”
Sophie stared at her sister.
“What?”
Maya said nothing.
After the appointment, Sophie cornered her in the hallway.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why is the Russo Foundation paying?”
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
Maya sighed.
“He sent us here.”
“Who?”
Maya looked at her.
“You know.”
Sophie’s expression changed.
“Dominic Russo?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Sophie leaned against the wall.
“That is not comforting.”
“It isn't supposed to be.”
Later that afternoon, Maya arrived at the Obsidian Room.
Henry was waiting.
“You're back.”
“Yes.”
“I thought you'd be gone.”
“So did I.”
He looked uneasy.
“Mr. Russo called.”
Maya froze.
“He said you are assigned permanently to Booth Nine.”
“I have my own section.”
“Not anymore.”
“What if I say no?”
Henry looked at her.
“You won't.”
“Because?”
He lowered his voice.
“Because he doubled your salary.”
Maya stared.
“What?”
“Double.”
“No.”
“It's already processed.”
“I didn't agree.”
“Apparently, that wasn't required.”
Maya walked to Booth Nine.
Dominic was alone.
He had changed from the night before.
Black sweater.
No jacket.
A newspaper lay open in front of him.
He looked up.
“Maya.”
She stopped.
“You paid my sister's medical expenses.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I could.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“It does for me.”
She crossed her arms.
“I don't owe you.”
“I didn't ask you to owe me.”
“Then what do you want?”
He folded the newspaper.
“Your honesty.”
She laughed once.
“You don't need to buy that.”
“Most people sell it before you can ask for it.”
She stared at him.
“You insulted me.”
“Yes.”
“And then helped me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the empty restaurant.
“Because you were angry.”
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“It does.”
He stood.
Dominic was taller than she remembered.
He approached slowly.
“When people insult me, they usually become frightened when I look at them.”
“I wasn't.”
“No.”
“You seemed surprised.”
“I was.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn't act poor.”
The words offended her.
“What does that even mean?”
He shook his head.
“That came out wrong.”
“Very wrong.”
“I meant you didn't behave like someone who thought needing money made you lesser.”
Maya studied him.
“You don't know anything about me.”
“I know your sister's medication schedule.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“That's invasive.”
“I know.”
“That's terrifying.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
He looked at her.
“I can.”
For some reason, she believed him.
That made the room even more dangerous.
Dominic stepped back.
“Your raise is yours whether you work for me or not.”
“I'll work.”
“I know.”
She frowned.
“How?”
“You came back.”
Before she could answer, Dominic's phone rang.
He answered in Italian.
His expression hardened.
“Now?”
A pause.
“Where?”
Another pause.
“Keep him alive.”
He hung up.
Maya's instincts sharpened.
“What happened?”
He looked at her.
“This doesn't concern you.”
“Good.”
She turned.
He spoke.
“Maya.”
She stopped.
“You notice things.”
“Yes.”
“Then don't notice tonight.”
She looked back.
“That's impossible.”
A strange expression crossed his face.
“What?”
“You hired the wrong waitress.”
He almost smiled.
“Yes.”
That evening passed strangely.
Dominic left early.
Maya worked until midnight.
When she stepped into the alley behind the restaurant, a hand grabbed her.
She barely had time to breathe before a cloth covered her mouth.
She fought.
Hard.
Her elbow connected with something.
A man cursed.
She bit him.
He released her for half a second.
Then another man struck the wall beside her head.
“Quiet.”
Maya's heart hammered.
She kicked.
The man fell.
She ran.
Three steps.
Then someone caught her from behind.
A gunshot cracked through the alley.
The grip around her vanished.
The man collapsed.
Maya turned.
Dominic stood at the alley entrance.
Rain dripping from his hair.
Gun in hand.
His face was no longer calm.
It was lethal.
His men rushed past him.
The attackers scattered.
Within seconds, the alley was silent.
Dominic approached Maya.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
He grabbed her shoulders.
“Look at me.”
She did.
His eyes were burning.
“Did they touch you?”
“No.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“No.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
Relief.
Then he released her.
Maya stared at the gun.
“You followed me.”
“I was late.”
“You knew?”
“I knew someone was watching you.”
“Why?”
Dominic looked toward the bodies at the far end of the alley.
“Because someone wants to know what you know.”
Maya's stomach tightened.
“What do I know?”
May you like
He looked at her.
“That is the question.”
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