Chapter 2 Devil's Bargain

I stare back at this strange man with an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“What are you talking about?”

“I can arrange for her to be transferred to a private facility where she'll receive the care she needs and deserves immediately."

Mom suddenly tries to sit up, panic flashing across her face. "Evelyn, no, don’t listen to him, please you don’t understand what he's really—"

"Mrs. Howard, please rest," Kane interrupts, and his voice takes on a subtle commanding tone that seems to vibrate through the air.

To my absolute shock, Mom immediately relaxes back against the pillows, even though her eyes remain alert and terrified.

"How the hell did you do that?" I ask, staring at him like he's grown two heads.

"Do what? I simply suggested she rest because she's exhausted, and it's natural she would respond to someone trying to help."

I shake my head, trying to make sense of what I just witnessed because that wasn't normal at all.

Or maybe I am more tired and stressed than I thought; maybe the emotional trauma is making me see things that aren't really there.

"This private facility you mentioned," I say, changing the subject because I need to focus on saving Mom before it's too late.

"What would something like that cost? Because we don't have insurance that covers experimental treatments or fancy private hospitals."

Kane waves a dismissive hand like it means nothing. "Don't concern yourself with financial matters; I have more than enough resources, and I consider it my personal duty to help old friends like your mother."

"But I don’t even know who you are or where you came from."

"You don’t know me, that’s true," he agrees easily. "But your mother and I go way back, don’t we, Rachel?"

Mom's lips move, but no sound comes out.

"She's tired," Kane says when I start toward her bed in concern.

"The illness has taken a great deal out of her strength, but with proper treatment, she could make a full recovery and be completely healthy again."

"And you’re willing to pay for this expensive treatment? Out of the kindness of your heart?"

Kane laughs like I'm asking silly questions. "Nothing in life is free; surely you understand that basic truth by now."

"But sometimes the price is something much more valuable than money."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"I'm a businessman, Evelyn; I believe in mutually beneficial arrangements that work for everyone involved." Kane moves closer, and I catch an undertone of something that I can't identify but makes me nervous.

When he speaks, his voice is low. "I help your mother recover completely, and in return, you help me with something I need desperately right now."

"Such as what?"

Kane moves even closer until I can feel the heat radiating from his body. "I need a wife."

I blink, certain I’ve misheard because that can't possibly be what he just said to me. "What?"

"Marriage, Evelyn—a legal partnership that would benefit us both in ways you can't even imagine right now." His voice is smooth like silk.

"I gain a companion who understands the value of loyalty and discretion."

"You gain the resources to save your mother's life and ensure she receives the best care available anywhere in the world for as long as she needs it."

I take a step back, my mind reeling in shock. “You’re asking me to marry you? I don’t even know your last name!"

"You know I'm wealthy enough to afford your mother's treatment without even blinking," Kane says matter-of-factly like this explains everything.

"What else do you really need to know right now when time is running out?"

"Everything!" The word comes out louder than I intended.

I lower my voice but keep the anger burning. "You're a complete stranger asking me to marry you in exchange for medical care; that's completely insane."

His expression doesn’t change at all. "Is it more insane than watching your mother die slowly because you can't afford to save her life?"

The words hit like a physical slap across my face, and I want to scream at him for being right.

"Your mother has perhaps days, possibly hours, left to live if she doesn't get proper treatment immediately."

"I can arrange for her transfer to my private facility within the hour, but the choice is entirely yours to make, Evelyn."

"And if I say no to your proposal?"

Kane shrugs elegantly like it doesn't really matter to him either way. "Then I wish you both the best of luck."

I hate him in that moment for being absolutely right about our situation and lack of options.

"What exactly would this marriage entail?" I ask, the words tasting like poison mixed with desperation in my mouth.

"A legal ceremony properly documented and filed with all the appropriate authorities. You would take my name and live in my home as my wife and partner."

"In public, you would act as my companion and support; in private..." Kane pauses, studying my face carefully like he's reading my thoughts.

"We would negotiate the intimate details as needed based on how things develop."

"That's not a real answer; that's just more vague bullshit."

"It's the only answer you're getting right now," he says firmly.

"I'm not asking you to decide based on a complete contract, Evelyn."

"I'm asking you to decide based on your mother's life and whether you want to save it or watch her die in this depressing hospital room."

I close my eyes, trying to think clearly through the panic and desperation.

This is completely insane; people don’t marry total strangers, no matter how desperate their circumstances become.

But people also don’t usually watch their mothers die from mysterious illnesses either.

When I open my eyes, Kane is watching me with an expression I can’t read.

"If I agree to this madness," I say slowly, "when would this wedding actually happen?"

"Tonight. I have a judge who owes me some favors and a hospital chapel that's available after regular hours."

"Tonight?" My voice cracks. "You want me to marry you tonight?"

"I want your mother to start receiving life-saving treatment tonight," Kane corrects like this makes his demand reasonable.

"I need more time to think about this decision—"

"You don’t have time to think," he interrupts sharply like he's losing patience. "Every minute you spend hesitating is a minute your mother doesn’t receive the treatment she needs to survive."

He's absolutely right, and we both know it.

"How do I know you'll actually help her once we're legally married and you have what you want?" I ask desperately.

Kane reaches into his expensive jacket and pulls out a cell phone, never breaking eye contact with me as he dials a number easily.

"Dr. Reeves? This is Kane Hellbound; I need you to prepare your best suite for a critical patient... Yes, the specialists we discussed earlier... Tonight."

He hangs up and looks at me with a confident look.

"The ambulance will be here within thirty minutes of your agreement."

"And after she's treated and recovering? What happens to me then?"

"Then you learn what it really means to be Mrs. Kane Hellbound."

Something about the way he says those words makes my blood freeze in my veins, but when I look at my mother, I can see she's slipping away from me.

"Fine," I whisper. “I'll marry you."

Kane's smile widens. "Excellent choice, Evelyn; you won't regret this decision."

But even as he says the words, I'm already certain that I will regret this for the rest of my life