Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“Well, good. Then she won’t get mad that I brought you more of these.”

I pull off my backpack and open it up, handing him the magazines full of racecars. His eyes widen, and his smile only grows. Considering a car accident put him in this bed, his mother hates him loving a fast vehicle. But it’s one of the things he loves and makes him giddy, so she allows it. As long as it’s just in a picture and not for real.

“Thank you!”

He hugs me tightly around the waist, and I chuckle while hugging him back. Turning my head, I see Marcy stepping off the elevator, and her watery eyes meet mine. That’s not good. I was hoping I was going to see a smile on her face today.

“Hey, kiddo, let me go talk to your mom for a second, okay?” I ask, pulling back as Daniel opens up his magazine.

“Yeah. Okay,” he says, already disinterested in me as he flips the pages.

I smile while stepping away, but that smile slips when I reach Marcy.

“They can’t do the operation,” she says on a sigh, as though she couldn’t possibly say anything else first.

“What? Why the hell not? Dr. Kates said the operation wasn’t a life-threatening procedure. Daniel is already facing the worst consequence without going under the knife,” I whisper-yell.

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A tear falls from her eye, and she nods.

“They said they could do it, but our insurance won’t pay for it. It’s considered an elective procedure that could result in permanent paralysis. He’ll be permanently paralyzed if they don’t risk the surgery, but the insurance found a loophole to keep from shoveling out the money we need. There’s no way we can afford the surgery. The specialists for this procedure would cost over two hundred thousand dollars, and we’re barely affording our rent as it is.”

“There are tons of hospital charity funds for things like this,” I tell her, taking an easier breath. Money can be handled, as long as they do the surgery.

“No, there’s not. Those funds are allocated to children who need life-saving measures,” she says around a choked wad of emotion. “I can’t even be upset because I feel selfish for wanting to take away from a child who may need it to keep breathing just so my son can walk. How screwed up is that? I feel guilty for wanting my kid to walk.”

She wipes away a tear, and I pull her to me, hugging her, trying to give her comfort the only way I can. My eyes roam over the board behind her head, and they settle on the hospital charity event coming up this weekend.

Everyone who is anyone will be there. It’s a Sterling Shore elite event, and my wheels start turning.

“I’ll get the funding, Marcy,” I promise, leaning back. “Trust me.”

She almost looks scared to be hopeful, but she cracks a watery smile. “You’ve already done so much, Bella. It’s because of you he even got to see that specialist without them charging us for a consultation. We’ll figure out something. Hopefully.”

“Not soon enough. This isn’t a surgery that can wait any longer. I promise I’ll get the funding this weekend. Okay?”

She still doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t know just how determined I can be.

“I should get back to Daniel. Are you coming?” she asks, motioning toward him with her head. “I haven’t told him what they said, and I don’t plan to just yet.”

I shake my head. “Go ahead. I need to make some calls.”

She walks away, and Berta comes up beside me.

“Girl, I couldn’t help but overhear. You gonna hit up Allie’s rich boy for those funds?”

I shake my head while pulling out my phone.

“I never ask for favors like that.”

“It wouldn’t be a favor for you. Besides, Wren Prize donates money to charity all the time. I’m sure he’d do it if he heard Daniel’s story and knew he had a chance at walking again as long as someone paid the bills. Besides, you let Corbin get you your job back. That’s a favor.”

I lower my phone and look at her, giving her all my attention.

“Wren, along with every other rich person in the world, hears a thousand heartbreaking stories daily. They have to pick and choose what charities to donate to, because they can’t save the whole world, Berta. If I told him Daniel’s story, he’d feel obligated to take care of the costs, but not just because the story is heartbreaking. But because I was asking. I’ll never owe anyone anything. The only reason I even let Corbin Sterling get my job back for me is because I never should have been fired in the first place, and it was his choice to right a wrong. No favors allowed.”

She tuts like I’m crazy before walking off, and I pick my phone up, dialing the Sterling who is most tied to the hospital. Corbin answers a little hesitantly.