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  “Looks like you’ve had a rough night, honey.”

  I tilted my head to look at her. “I’ve had worse.” That was the truth. This had been a light one. I’d been beaten much harder.

  “But you’re just a kid. Kids shouldn’t have rough nights.”

  She reached into her bag and took out a wad of cash, the roll half as thick as my hand. It was the most money I’d ever seen.

  “Take this.” She handed some of it to me. “Go get yourself some clean clothes and something warm to eat.”

  I stared at it while she held it between her fingers. I wasn’t sure what to do. No one had ever given me anything before, especially not money and definitely not kindness like this.

  “Take it,” she insisted.

  “Don’t you need it for yourself or your own kids or something?”

  “I made some extra tonight. The players were tipping real good, so don’t you worry about me and what I need. I want you to have it.” She dropped it in my hand and closed my fingers around it. The bus drove up before she pulled her hand away. “You take care of yourself, honey. Don’t stay out here too late, you hear?”

  I nodded and watched her get on the bus. She walked to a seat as the door closed, and she looked at me through the window as it drove away. The money was still in my hand, heavy like the wet socks weighing down my feet. I didn’t know how much was there, but I knew it was at least enough to get me a cheeseburger, a soda, alcohol, and Band-Aids so that I could wash out my cuts before they got infected. And maybe there would be some left over to get me somewhere good to sleep.

  A place without screaming and cursing.

  Without punching and kicking.

  A place where I would finally feel safe.

  Don’t forget to grab Wild Aces, which is available now!