Page 13 of Blood

“Have you got something for me or not?” I ask.

“Depends. What do you have for me?”

Greedy bastard.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I’m not in the fucking mood for you. I had a family emergency. I can’t come to your office this month.”

The prick huffs, and I can just imagine the horror on his face right now. His cash cow isn’t coming to town.

“What do you mean you’re not coming to my office this month?”

“What part of that sentence needs to be explained?” I snap.

The line goes dead. He did not!

Motherfucking . . .

This time, he picks up on the first ring, but I don’t give him the chance to speak.

“Do that again, and I will put you in your own fucking morgue.”

I hear him fumble for words.

“I-I-I just wanted you to realize that I’m serious. I need that money. My girlfriend’s pregnant again.”

I’m sure his wife is happy about that.This man disgusts me.Means to an end, Kaleb, you need him,I remind myself.

“I’ll pay double next month,” I offer.

“I need it now,” he whines.

I open my mouth to ask why he can’t wait—the baby isn’t going anywhere—but stop myself. I don’t care. Not about him, not about whatever fucking issues he’s having. What I care about is the information he has.

“So I’ll pay by card.”

“How do I explain that?”

“I don’t fucking care.”

Shelby sits in a chair next to Pauline, and they start doing paperwork together.

Maybe she needs a job. I make a mental note to check her finances again since it’s been a while. My family and I made sure she was okay after her father passed earlier this year, but she’s not been around the house as much since her stepmom moved out of town.

Losing one parent is hard, but two . . .

Pain fills my chest at the thought of losing Helen or Christopher. My eyes search for Sam.

“If you don’t have any money, I don’t have any information,” Brown says. His voice shakes, but there’s an undertone to it. He means it.

Shit!

My gaze finds the two women filling out forms.

“Bill me as a patient,” I suggest.

“What!”

“You’re a doctor, aren’t you? Bill me for a consultation or medication.” I shrug.