Black Card
She swallowed repeatedly, trying to ease the dryness in her throat.
The cashier began scanning her items one by one. The soft beeping of the machine sounded too loud in her ears. Belle’s eyes flickered to the monitor—and stayed there.
The numbers climbed. Higher.
Her stomach dropped.
By the time the last item was scanned, the total glared back at her—cold, unforgiving. It exceeded her entire month’s earnings at the bar.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for her wallet. Inside, her gaze lingered on one particular card. The one she wasn’t entirely sure she should use.