LOVE IN CROSSFIRE

THE PRICE OF SURVIVAL

For a week, I still hoped the golden eyes n*gga would somehow pretend that we haven't met before, and take me in for a night.

Maybe I wasn't just a twenty-one-year-old s*x addict dreads that addiction, but I guess I was also a money addict.

Of course everyone loves money, but I was desperate for it. My brother's medications cost a fortune, he had to be checked up every week, and surviving law school needed more than enough money.

Bella had been avoiding me for a week, and I thought it was high time I apologized. I'd been avoiding Corey for a while too, I wasn't ready to explain why I wasn't home almost every night.

I was willing to apologize to both of them, but I knew I wasn't going to stop doing what I believed I had to do.

“Hey Bella.” I started, as I sat next to her on the couch.

She didn't respond, she glanced at me for a while and went back to crocheting. Typically the same way I'd act if we were to switch places.

I cleared my throat, swallowed my pride and said. “Look, I'm sorry. You're my best friend in the whole world, I'm not gon' trade you for anything or anyone.” I said. Maybe I had pride, but I meant what I said.

She lifted her eyes slowly from her crochet, studied me and took it down again without saying a word.

I sighed. “I just really want to make everything work out for us. This f****d-up universe cheated me from day one.”

I got emotional, “This is almost all I can do to survive, Bella. I know I'm a slut but…”

“No!” She cut me off. She dropped her crochet on the stool beside her, and held my hands in hers, looking me dead in the eyes. “No, Aurora. You're not a slut. Don't ever say that again.”

My voice shook, my heart broken. “Then what am I? A seductress?”

She smirked through the bitterness. “That's way better than a slut, I guess.”

We laughed, for a second. It felt like the weight of pain eased.

She pulled me into a hug. “Everything will be fine, Aurora.” She whispered.

“There's something you should know, Aurora.” She said, her face shifted again like silence was creeping in. “I don't know why, but it feels like Corey's health might be worsening.”

My eyes opened in shock. “Worsening? Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because you've been avoiding both of us, and not taking your calls when you leave for the night.” A weak voice said from behind. It was Corey.

I got up in shock, and spun around. He looked leaner than before. “Corey…” Tears fell off my eyes in drops. “I'm sorry.”

I rushed to him, helping him settle on the couch. His cough rattled through the room and shattered my heart.

“Are you gon' call dad?” He asked.

My stomach tightened. Calling my dad was the last thing I wanted to do at that point. My father was a murderer, a blood sucking demon. Who knows? I might lose Corey if he gets involved in our lives again.

“Even if you don't want to call your father, why not send Corey to him?” Bella said.

I threw a glare at her. I'd warned her never to bring up such suggestions again.

“No.” Corey cutted in. “I'm not staying with dad.”

“So why do you want me to call him? There's no use, Corey.” I said, my voice breaking even more.

“Maybe he could fund my surgery. I could have a heart transplant or something.” He said, tears flowing down his cheek. “Please, Aurora. I don't want to die.”

I closed my eyes slowly, tears falling off my eyes uncontrollably. I pulled him into my arms like he was the only thing that kept me breathing. I couldn't let him die. If he did, I'll have to be in that grave too.

Softly, I whispered, “Everything will be fine. I'll make sure of that.”

Bella came into the embrace. We were one big broken family—just the three of us.

That night at the club, I made up my mind: I'd put everything into every client. I had to raise millions for my brother's surgery. He had to survive.

If my brother died, I'd be no different from my father. So I had to work my ass out to make sure he survived. Besides he was all I had.

I didn't get any clients that night, so I spent the night at Cal's house alongside Michael and Nolan as always.

I was sitting on the bed waiting when Nolan came in first and sat beside me, “What's wrong?” He asked, nudging my shoulder.

I shook my head. “It's nothing.” I lied. “Let's get to the business of the night.

“No!” Cal's voice came from the doorway. Michael trailed in behind him. “You've been so moody today. Your spirit is crushed, Aurora.”

They sat around me, and the weight of it broke me. I couldn't hold back my tears. I let it fall as much as it wanted to.

“Talk to me, my lady.” Nolan said softly when I finally caught my breath.

“It's just life, Nolan. It's so unfair to me.” My voice cracked and filled with emotions. “It's given me nothing to live with. While life gave others lemons, Nolan, it gave me onions. All I've done with my life is cry and make it useless.”

“It's fine. People feel like this most of the time.” Michael said, leaning forward and looking more serious than ever. “Life has been unfair to so many of us, including Cal, Nolan and I. The one thing that changed our lives was consistency. Now we work at Coldstone, we're still not giving up, baby girl.”

I looked at him, speechless.

“Don't give up, Aurora.” Cal said softly.

I nodded, like a little girl who was taking advice from her elder brothers.

They were right. I had to stay strong and consistent. Consistency was obviously different from desperation. And me? I was desperate and willing to stay consistent.

That was the first night I slept like a normal person, like every other girl would, without having their demons prick them at night. Maybe for once, my demons could feel my pain.

Every other night in Coldstone felt like a blessing. Not only Cal, but Michael and Nolan made sure I had a client or two for the night. They had my back.

But that didn't last for long. It happened for just a week until I had to repeat a certain client.

“The underfloor? Again?” I asked, with my eyebrows raised.

“Yes baby. I don't think you'll want to keep him waiting.” Cal said.

I smirked. “Must be another special client, huh?”

“Only special clients will be allowed in the underfloor. Don't keep him waiting.” He said again, as he left.

There were two security guards already waiting for me.

I spun on my stool to look at them, then one of them said to me, “Take your time, Querida.”

Querida? Was he flirting with me? Or maybe not.

I sat there for a while, taking three more shots of tequila. I wanted to make sure I was high enough. Maybe high would help me better with a special client. I wasn't ready to get five hundred dollars again from a client who could pay in four and five figures.

I got up, my balance swayed a little due to the effect of the excess tequila. I wasn't drunk, just high enough — exactly how I liked it.

“I'll lead you, my lady.” One of the securities said.

He led me to the underfloor, and I was already imagining how good I'll be in bed with this client, because I needed the goddamned money.

I was led to the exact room I'd stayed with the golden eye nigga.

I waited quietly as the security knocked three times. There was no response, but he opened the door, and gestured that I go in.

The room was dark. I rolled my eyes at him, and went in. The door was shut right after me.

For some reason, I felt insecure. I wondered why the room was so dark and it felt like nobody was inside.

It felt like a horror movie where the girl is stupidly walking into a haunted house.

I imagined a lot at the time, until I heard a voice from across the room. That was when I noticed that I'd been standing like a monument all the while.

“Get yourself comfortable.” The voice said from the darkness.

I froze harder. That voice!