Obeying the Russian Mafia Boss: A Mob Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

for accepting a liver is to find one that matches six codes in both livers. After the tissue typing, the donor will test for cross-matching and do an antibody screen. If both tests are negative, there’s an excellent chance that your mother will accept the liver.”
    Some of that made sense to her. When she’d discovered that she couldn’t be a donor, she looked into as much research as possible. A liver could be transplanted from a living donor, but only if a donor stepped forward.
    With the word surgery bouncing around in her head, reality hit. “Oh God.” How was she going to pay for it?
    “Ella?” The nurse frowned.
    Panicked, she looked up and tore her grasp from Erik. Wild-eyed, she grabbed the nurse. “You have to do the surgery, right? You don’t expect payment up front?”
    “We will do the surgery, my dear. Worry about your mother, and then you can worry about the money.” The nurse smile and squeezed her hand. “I’m going to go check on her. I’ll let you know when you can go back and see her.”
    She left Ella in the waiting room, and Ella suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t even remember that Erik was behind her until she turned around and walked right into him.
    “I’ve got you.” His low voice comforted her, and she steadied herself. Gently taking her by the elbow, he led her to the chairs. “Sit down.”
    Following his command, Ella dropped into the chair and started to twist her fingers around each other. “I know you think I’m crazy. I am happy about my mother’s surgery, but I make ten dollars an hour. I’ll never be able to pay for it.”
    “I absolutely understand your concerns. Your health care system is horrible, and I’m sure many Americans bow under the weight of medical debt. But your mother’s life should be your primary concern. You heard the nurse. You’re over the first and biggest hurdle. They’re going to do the surgery anyway. You don’t have to worry about money until after your mother is home and healthy again.”
    She nodded. “You’re right. I need to focus on the positive. I used to be so good at that, but good things don’t seem to happen to me anymore. Her move on the transplant list is amazing, but I can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen next. I hate living like this. I hate wondering when the next shoe is going to drop.” Not that she wanted to voice her concerns out loud, but losing her hours at Supermart was disastrous. What if something worse happened now?
    “Ella, I’d like to help you,” Erik murmured. “Would you like that?”
    “How can you help me?” she asked dully. Unless the man was a multi-millionaire who wanted to throw money her way, there wasn’t a whole lot that he could do.
    “I’d like to offer you a job.”
    Ella smiled. “For a stranger, you’re awfully sweet. As it so happens, I’m in the market for new employment. I don’t suppose your job is going to pay a hundred grand a year?” Immediately, she flushed. “I’m sorry. That’s a horrible thing to say. Here you are trying to help me, and I’m being cynical.”
    “The job won’t pay a hundred thousand a year,” Erik admitted. “It will probably be closer to four hundred thousand. For just one year.”
    What did he just say? “Excuse me?” Shocked, she stared at him. As she pressed her back to the chair, she slowly moved her hands away from him. Just who was this man? And just what kind of job was he offering her?
    “I’m very rich, Ella. I’d like to help you. I’ll pay for your mother’s surgery and any aftercare that she needs, and enough extra to give you a clean slate, if you have any debt. That kind of money is pocket change to me.”
    It seemed almost too good to be true, and her pride started raising red flags. She didn’t know anything about this man, and strangers didn’t throw money her way. “I’m not a charity case.”
    “And I’m not giving you the money freely. One year in my service. You’ll help me,