Chapter 1

I spent two years as a human punching bag in underground fight clubs.

Finally scraped together enough for my son's surgery. Then my wife gave it away to her childhood friend. For the fifth time.

Fifty thousand dollars. Not a penny more, not a penny less.

But this time, my organs were wrecked beyond repair. I'd never earn another fifty grand.

I cornered Harvey in his hospital room, still clutching my bloody boxing gloves.

"Give me back my son's money! He's dying of heart failure!"

Vivian sighed. She convinced Harvey to return it.

But the day Ryan was rushed into emergency surgery, the payment bounced. Insufficient funds.

That same day, Harvey updated his social media.

[Some psycho tried to scare me today. Good thing I've got this $50k watch to cheer me up. My girl's the best—real ones know how to treat their childhood friends right!]

I called Vivian over and over. When she finally picked up, all I got was a lecture.

"Jason, you were too aggressive that day. You terrified Harvey so badly that he had an episode. I need to stay with him while he recovers."

"I'm a doctor—I know Ryan's condition better than anyone. He's not that fragile. He can hold on a little longer."

"Once my research grant comes through, I'll get him into surgery immediately."

I hung up. Calm. Empty.

With what little money I had left, I purchased a double burial plot.

Holding my son's cold, stiffening body, I sent Vivian one last text.

"Vivian. I want a divorce."

I'd barely confirmed the burial plot when Vivian's call came through.

"Stop being dramatic, Jason. Harvey had a heart attack that day—you scared him half to death. His condition was way more critical than Ryan's."

"Ryan has a chronic condition. A few more days won't hurt."

"Once Harvey stabilizes, I'll figure out the money for surgery."

Critical? How critical could a man be if he just bought a fifty-thousand-dollar watch?

All I could see was Ryan's face in those final moments.

He'd tugged weakly at my sleeve. "Daddy... if Mommy comes, will the pain stop?"

"It's okay if it hurts. I just want her to visit me... I want to see her one more time before I fall asleep."

He never got to.

My throat tightened. "We don't need your help anymore."

"Vivian, answer me honestly. Does Harvey matter more to you than your own husband and son?"

Her voice was sharp with impatience.

"Jason, Harvey and I have been friends for decades. He got his heart condition because he shielded me from human traffickers when we were kids. They beat him so badly his heart never recovered."

"I owe him. Can't you just understand that?"

In the background, I heard Harvey's whiny complaint. "Your husband bothering you again? God, he's so annoying. Can't he grow up?"

Vivian's tone softened immediately. "You're right, you're right. No one's as good as you."

"Don't get worked up, baby. Your heart can't take it."

Then Harvey sent me a private message.

"Yo, Jason, I just overheard. Actually, Vivian's got money—she just dumps it all into research. I suggested she 'borrow' yours instead."

"Didn't think she'd actually go through with it lol. If you really need it back ASAP, I can tell her to return it."

"She's being kinda shitty to you, not gonna lie. Want me to yell at her for you?"

Tears dripped onto my phone screen.

Every time Vivian got her hospital bonus, Harvey would "borrow" it for his treatments.

She always said she owed him. That she'd do anything he asked.

So when Ryan got worse and we had no money, I had no choice. I became a punching bag to pay for surgery.

My phone buzzed. A message from the fight club manager.

"Jason. Got a big spender tonight. Yeah, he hits hard—but he pays harder. One hour and you'll have enough for your kid's surgery. You coming or not? Offer won't last."

Before, I would've jumped at this. No matter how badly my insides were already damaged, I was always first in line.

Now, Ryan's cold body pressed against me like ice seeping into my bones.

"Not coming."

"Never again."

I ignored the flood of question marks that followed. The morgue was freezing. Ryan hated the cold. He must be so uncomfortable.

I forced a smile at the nurse. "Could I borrow a blanket? My son gets cold easily."

The nurse's face softened with pity. She brought me a brand-new fleece blanket.

"Here, sir. Let the little one rest comfortably."

I whispered my thanks. She waved it off.

"If you want to thank someone, thank Dr. Vivian Parker from our hospital. She's got a friend staying here as a patient."

"To make sure we'd take extra good care of him, Dr. Parker spent thousands on gifts for the entire staff. This blanket alone costs a few hundred dollars."

"Spending that much on him? I bet he's her boyfriend."

I froze.

I thought of those days when Ryan was dying—when I went on my knees begging doctors for help, scraping together pennies, drowning in desperation.

Tears streamed down my face before I could stop them.

"Yeah. Thanks to Dr. Parker."

My hands shook as I wrapped Ryan in the blanket. The nurse looked at me with unbearable sympathy.

"Where's the child's mother? Why isn't she here at a time like this? If she could've scraped together the money, you wouldn't have lost him to something as treatable as surgery..."

I smiled bitterly. "His mother? She's gone."

The nurse started to apologize, then fell silent. She didn't know what else to say.

As I stumbled through the paperwork, I turned a corner—and ran straight into Vivian.

She was rushing down the hall, pushing Harvey in a wheelchair at full speed.

She barreled into me so hard I slammed sideways into the wall.

"Get out of the way!"

My head cracked against the concrete. Blood trickled down my forehead.

Vivian didn't even glance back to see who she'd hit. She just kept running, screaming at a doctor up ahead.

"Dr. Walker! Harvey needs a cardiac exam—NOW!"

I slid down the wall, curling into myself as pain wracked my body. I sat there for a long time.

Eventually, Harvey came back with Vivian in tow.

"See? I told you that you hit someone. You should apologize. The doctor said I'm fine—I'm a grown man, I can handle a little scare."

He glanced down.

His eyes met mine.

"Oh. Wait... the guy you just mowed down is Jason?"