"Who is this," my mother asked, eyeing Markus with the particular suspicion she reserved for anyone new in my orbit.
"This is Markus, Mom." I smiled, hoping to head off whatever interrogation was forming behind her tired eyes.
"Hello, ma'am," Markus said, bowing slightly — formal enough that it almost looked out of place on someone built like a bodyguard.
"Oh — nice to meet you too," my mother said, recovering her smile. "Beth Cinder."
"Let's go see Karen," I said quickly, looping my arm through hers before she could ask the obvious follow-up.
"What about him," she said, glancing back at Markus, still standing patiently by the car. "He's not leaving?"
"I'm Alex's driver for the day, ma'am," Markus said. "I'll be here when he's ready."
"You have a personal driver now?" Beth said, looking at me like I'd grown a second head. "How exactly does that work?"
"It's a long story," I said, steering her toward the entrance before the explanation could get any more complicated. "I'll tell you later."
The hospital was quiet for a Tuesday — only a handful of people scattered through the waiting area, a mother with a sleeping baby, an old couple holding hands like they'd been doing it for fifty years and had no intention of stopping. I waved at the receptionists on my way past, handed over the yellow envelope for Karen's surgery fund, and made my way to the elevator with my mother still tucked against my side.
"How much did you bring this time," she asked once the doors closed.
"More than usual," I said. "Big crowd at work tonight." A small lie sitting on top of a much bigger one, but it was easier than explaining a casino heist to my mother in an elevator.
"I'm sorry you have to do that kind of work," she said quietly, looking down at her hands.
"It's fine, Mom," I said, pulling her into a hug. "Once we have what we need for Karen's surgery, I'm done. I promise."
"I just don't want anyone hurting you because of what you do," she murmured into my shoulder.
"It's not the dark ages anymore," I said, trying for a laugh that came out only half-convincing. "If anyone has a problem with it, I'll deal with it."
The elevator opened onto the twelfth floor — the long-term ICU, the place I'd come to know better than I ever wanted to — and we made our way down the hall to room 206. Karen was sitting up when I pulled back the curtain, looking pale and exhausted but very much herself.
"Where have you been," she said, the closest thing to a scolding she had energy for. "You said you'd be here this morning."
"Got called into work," I said, crossing to hug her gently. "You look better today."
"You're full of shit," she said, laughing weakly. "I look like death with good skin."
"Brought more money today," I said, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Thanks, brother," she said, something softer slipping into her voice. "I'm sorry you have to do all this."
"Before you two start," my mother said, settling into the chair beside the bed, "I'd like to know about this Markus situation."
"Markus?" Karen perked up immediately, the way she always did at the faintest hint of gossip. "Did big brother finally get a man? I'm so jealous right now."
"He's just a driver," I said, rolling my eyes. "Not mine. His employer told him to drive me around today."
"You have a personal driver?" Karen said, delighted. "Where did you find that kind of money?"
"Long story short," I said, settling into the lie I'd already half-built in the car, "I was at a café on my lunch break. Place was packed, I asked to share a table with this guy, and we ended up talking. Turned out he had somewhere to be with family, so he offered me his driver for the day since I mentioned I was headed here next."
"And?" Karen leaned forward like I was telling her the best story she'd heard in months. "Give me details. What's his name?"
"River," I admitted, watching her eyes light up. "Didn't get a last name."
"That's a hot name," Karen said, grinning.
"Mom thought I'd found a sugar daddy," I said, glancing at Beth, who at least had the grace to laugh at herself.
"Can you blame me for hoping," Beth said. "I thought maybe your life was about to get easier."
"If I ever find a sugar daddy," I said, "I promise you'll be the first to know. Until then, it's just Uncle Frank's club."
There was a knock at the door before anyone could say anything else, and all three of us turned toward it at once.