Page 24 of King of the Bronx

“Don’t look at me like that,” I warned her.

“Like what? Like you just got fucked in the kitchen by that hottie?” She walked over to the bed and sat crossed legged on the mattress.

“It’s nothing.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night. Are you clean?”

“I hope so. I’ll find out for sure in a couple days. That was so stupid of me.”

“It happens.”

“What about you?” I asked. There was a strict rule that the men had to wear condoms, but I knew some of the girls let them take it off if they paid extra, hence why I had Dr. Eric come in every week to get them tested.

“I’m sure I’m fine. I don’t care how much money they offer, it’s not worth getting sick. I’m trying to get my son back.”

Erica had a three-year-old son that her parents currently had custody of. Like me, she’d grown up in foster care, but she’d gotten addicted to some bad stuff. From the stories Erica had told me, she went through a lot of hard times trying to stay clean. When Erica had her son, they found drugs in her system and custody was given to her parents. She’d been clean ever since the incident, but finding a job was hard with a criminal record.

“How’s he doing?” I asked.

“He’s good. He looks just like me.” She grabbed her phone off the bedside table and pulled up a picture to show me a curly-haired little boy with a grin spread across his face.

“He’s adorable,” I said, my chest filling with joy. I wondered what it would be like to have a little mini-me running around.

“Thanks. I miss him, but he’s better with my parents—at least until I can get an apartment and find a real job to show the court.”

I could see the love and longing in Erica’s eyes. She visited her son every weekend and stayed sober for him. I was reminded again as to what would happen if I didn’t get the money I needed to the Irish. I had to do it…for Erica.

I stood up from the bed. “I should let you get some sleep.”

“I’ll see you tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ll be a little late again. I’m going back to the underground.”

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