Get Tria back
Get a job
Don’t buy smack
Find a better place to sleep
Michael read over the list, including the few things I had added since being on the streets.
“We can cross these out,” he said as he pointed to the last two items.
I nodded.
“I just need a job,” I finally said. “Yolanda dropped me as a fighter, and I can’t find any other work. I didn’t have the rent money, and now…well, I can’t find another job. I need money for Tria.”
“You said you broke up with her,” Michael reminded me.
“She left,” I corrected.
“I think I’m missing something here,” Michael said. “Why do you need money for Tria if you are no longer together? Are you supposed to pay her to get back with you?”
“No!” I yelled. “She isn’t like that!”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time,” he said cynically.
“I don’t have anything, Michael!” I reminded him. “It’s not like Amanda and her grubby little hands trying to get everything for herself!”
“You do, too!” he growled back, ignoring my comment about his daughter-in-law. “You know it, and plenty of other people know it. There’s never been a change to the will, Liam. All of this belongs to you in the end.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Doesn’t stop it from being yours,” Michael replied. “You’ll own a controlling interest in the hotels, too.”
I growled inwardly and rubbed my eyes. I didn’t want to think about all that shit, let alone talk about it.
“I need money for Tria,” I said.
“Why?” Michael asked. He leaned back a little and crossed his arms as he eyed me expectantly.
“She’s pregnant,” I finally said quietly.
Michael’s eyes widened.
“Does she know?” he asked in a hushed voice. “I mean…about…about…”
“Aimee,” I whispered. My stomach tightened, and I leaned forward a bit to try to hold myself together.
Michael’s head tilted forward once in acknowledgement.
“I told her, but it was too late,” I went on. “I’d already fucked it all up. I have to be able to help her, Michael. Even if she won’t talk to me, she doesn’t have the money or the doctor and vitamins and all that shit. I need to be able to support her so she stays healthy. If anything happens to her…”
I couldn’t say anything else, and Michael nodded solemnly.
“Maybe you should tell me what happened.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest, rested my chin on them, and recounted the last couple of weeks to Michael. I managed to get through it without actually vomiting though I considered it a couple of times.
“So, I gotta have a job,” I finished. “I gotta make enough to be able to support her, and I can’t fight at the moment—not without someone to get the fights lined up and train me and shit.”