“I’m sorry, brother,” Mack says.
I’m speechless. My heart constricts tight within the grip of disappointment and despair. This was supposed to be my chance to make things up to her; to show her I can be someone she can depend on instead of the son she wishes she never had. But now the evidence we need to clear her from this loan bullshit is destroyed and, worse, she’s dying. I’m an even bigger disappointment than I could have ever imagined.
I can’t let this happen.
Maybe I can’t save her home, but I can save her life.
Whatever it takes.
“Get me the doctor,” I say.
“What is it, Blaze?” Crash says. “Brother, if you need more meds, just ring that thing by your bed and the nurse will get them for you.
Stone meets my eyes. And in a second he understands; he has a family, he’d do anything — give anything — to save them.
He nods. “Crash, Mack, don’t argue. Go find Doctor Simensen. Get her here, now.”
They leave, and it’s just me and Stone in this stale hospital room. He pulls up a chair next to the bed and takes a seat.
“You sure you want to do this, Blaze?”
“I am.”
“It’s not a simple thing. She might even say you’re not qualified.”
I laugh. “There’ are a lot of things I’m not qualified for, Stone. Hell, I found out my credit score. You want to know what it is?” I don’t wait for him to answer. I tell him, and watch as, just like all the others, his eyes get a touch wider. “Hell, I’m surprised they even let me have a bed here instead of throwing me out in the alley.”
“God damn, Blaze. I’m surprised, too. It’s really that low? Listen, brother, when you get out of here, you’re going to sit down with Crash and me and you’re going to learn how to balance a fucking checkbook,” Stone says. “That score is worse than irresponsible.”
“Yes, dad,” I say, and then, when Stone raises a threatening eyebrow, I clear my throat and say, “Sorry, Stone.”
The door to my room opens and Crash comes in with a young woman in tow. She looks to be just under thirty, thin, with severe features, stern blue eyes, and an expression on her face like she hasn’t smiled in the last few years.
“What is it, Mr. Dunne?” She says. “Your companions were insistent in bringing me here and said it was an emergency. I’m very busy — with your mother’s care — and, unless it is really an emergency, I’d appreciate it if you could keep your questions to the nurses.”
“Tell me what’s happening with my mom.”
It looks like there’s a protest about to come from her pursed lips, but I sure as shit won’t have that. I reach out and grab her by the wrist. Stone puts his hand on mine and pulls it off the doctor.
“Sorry, doc,” he says. “Declan is just concerned for his mother. We’d all appreciate it if you could update us on her condition.”
“We spoke just an hour ago, Mr. Stone,” she says.
“Declan wants to hear it from you. Do us a favor and tell him, all right?”
She sighs. Then nods.
“Fine. Mr. Dunne, your mother is in near-critical condition. Among the many health concerns we have regarding her gunshot injury, most serious is her liver. The bullet nearly obliterated that organ,” she says.
There’s more, but I hardly catch any of it; the look on her face and the tone in her voice causes the probability of my mother’s death to come crashing down upon me with deafening force.
“Declan, you with us?” Stone says, giving my shoulder a light shake.
“Do you need some space, Mr. Dunne? Do you have any other questions? Because, if not, I really would appreciate the opportunity to get back to my rounds. I don’t mean to sound curt, but we are slammed and time is short.”
I shake my head. Take a breath. “You sure as shit aren’t one for bedside manner, are you, doc?”
“Not when people are dying, no.”
“What are my mother’s odds of recovering?”
“This isn’t a numbers game, Mr. Dunne. I don’t want to set any false expectations.”
“Humor him,” Stone says. His voice is cold and commanding.
The doc gives him a sideways look and shifts uncomfortably. “Mr. Dunne, we can repair much of the damage the bullet did to your mother. We can stop the bleeding, we can give her transfusions, but that is it. Your mother urgently needs a liver transplant and, without one, she will die.”
This isn’t a surprise to me; I’ve dealt out enough gutshots to know the damage a bullet can do. In my mind, I remember everything that woman sacrificed for me, even though I was far from being a perfect son; most of the time, I was a headstrong asshole who rushed headlong into the worst situations without giving a thought for the consequences. I don’t blame her for all the anger and hurt feelings she’s got for me; I gave her plenty of reason to feel that way. But all I want — all I’ve ever wanted — is to make her proud and repay her for everything she’s done for me.
“Mr. Dunne, do you have any more questions for me, or can I get back to my rounds?”
I meet eyes with Stone for a second — the old man looks prouder than I’ve ever seen him and, as I look to my other brothers, I see realization and respect dawn on their faces.
Through it all, I’ve given everything for my mom. Now’s my chance to give one thing more.
“I have another question for you, doctor. You said my mom needs a transplant. How quickly can you get
