DEBT OF DESIRE

The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound reminding me that my mother was still here, still fighting. Each beep felt like a countdown, reminding me that time was running out. She looked so small, so fragile, lying there with tubes running across her body, as though they were the only threads keeping her alive. I sat at the edge of her hospital bed, holding her frail hand between mine. “Stay with me, Mamma… please don’t leave me. You’re all I have,” I whispered, brushing strands of hair from her pale face. Elena Russo—the strongest woman I had ever known—looked nothing like herself anymore. The sickness had stolen her glow, leaving her weak and helpless. And I hated it. I hated that all I could do was sit here, powerless, while bills piled up like mountains I couldn’t climb. If I could trade places with her, I would—because she would know what to do. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I pressed my forehead against her hand. “Please, God… just one miracle,” I prayed. The sound of footsteps broke through my thoughts. “Miss Russo,” the doctor said carefully, “your mother’s medical bills for the last three months haven’t been paid. The hospital has decided that if the balance isn’t settled by the end of the week, we’ll have to cut her medication and transfer her to a public hospital.” My chest tightened. “What? They can’t do that. My mother paid insurance when she was healthy. Please, doctor—stop them. She’s all I have.” The doctor’s eyes softened with pity. “The insurance company confirmed that your mother stopped paying three years ago. I’m sorry, Miss Russo. There’s nothing I can do.” With a final glance of sympathy, she walked out of the room, leaving me shattered. I turned back to my mother’s silent figure. “Where am I supposed to find that kind of money in just a few days?” I whispered bitterly. I wiped my tears and kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry, Mamma. I’ll find a way. You just focus on recovering.” I kissed her forehead and headed home When I got home, I paced the empty living room. The walls were bare, stripped of everything I’d sold to cover earlier costs. There was nothing left to give. Nothing—except myself. Unless I pulled off a bank heist, there was no way a young woman like me could raise that kind of money in time. I grabbed my phone and called my two best friends from college, Jake and Pamela. When they arrived, I laid everything out—the bills, the ultimatum, the impossible deadline. "What?we'll sue them, Aria They can't do that."Pamela fumed. “Unfortunately, they can she stopped paying three years ago. after my father died,” I said, my voice hollow. Jake rubbed his face. “Then how are you going to come up with the money? We all know none of us has that kind of cash lying around.” “I thought about a loan,” I said. Jake shook his head. “From where? You’ve got a bad credit score.” I swallowed hard. “Then I’ll go to Rafael Romano.” Both of them froze. “Wait—what?” Jake’s voice rose in alarm. “Aria, that man is bad news.” “Yeah,” Pamela added quickly, lowering her voice like she was afraid he’d hear her through the walls. “People say when you cross him, he makes you… eat your own fingers.” “Come on, guys. I know he’s dangerous, but he’s the only person I know who has that kind of money.” Jake grabbed my hand, his eyes pleading. “Think this through, Aria. You’re desperate, but this is suicide. Rafael Romano isn’t just dangerous—he’s a mafia boss. Blood and violence run in his family. If you can’t pay him back…” He trailed off. “I know,” I said, lifting my chin. “But unless either of you has another option, this is what I have to do. are you coming?" Silence. Neither of them could meet my eyes. I didn’t blame them. I was terrified, too. But fear wasn’t going to save my mother. That night, I took Jake’s car and drove straight to a club that was rumored to belong to Romano. The bass shook the ground as I stepped inside, but I didn’t waste time. I marched to the bar and leaned in. “I need to speak to your boss,” I said firmly. The bartender barked out a laugh. “What? Are you drunk?” “I’m serious.” My patience snapped. “This is urgent.” He eyed me, lowering his voice. “Nobody goes looking for the big dog. The big dog finds you.” “I don’t have time for games. I need to see him. Now.” Something in my expression must have convinced him because his smirk faded. “Fine. But he’s not here. During the week, you might catch him at his mansion outside of town.” He scribbled an address on a slip of paper. Before handing it to me, he warned, “Be careful. I wouldn’t go there alone… unless you want to disappear.” “I’ll handle myself,” I said, though my pulse was racing. Hours later, after a long drive down lonely roads, I finally arrived. The address led me to a sprawling mansion built like a castle, looming against the night sky. Its stone wall gleamed under the lanterns and the lawn was trimmed with military precision. Even the silence felt dangerous. No guards lingered by the gate, which unsettled me more than their presence would have. I swallowed hard and stepped through, my footsteps echoing too loudly. When I reached the massive oak doors, I raised my hand to knock— And a gunshot shattered the silence. My blood froze. “Oh my God…”