The Price of Help

I thought I had seen the worst of Alan Sterling's darkness. I thought that after he had helped my father, after that suffocating relief, we might have some semblance of normalcy. But Alan didn't do normal. He didn't allow mercy or hesitation. His idea of help always came with a cost.

The message appeared on my phone like a dagger through my chest.

"Meet me in my office. Now."

I didn't hesitate. I didn't question. My heart pounded in my chest, but fear and desperation overrode everything else. I