High Risk by G.K. Parks (books for 10th graders TXT) 📕

“He’s nothing but a selfish prick.” Brad fought to keep his rage in check, but sleep deprivation and a tense few days had decimated the more laidback qualities of his personality.

“He was scared.”

“I don’t give a shit.” He swallowed and held up his palms. “Whatever.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, Liv. I’m great. So fucking great.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “I’m just hungry and tired, probably the same as you. I’ll see what I can scrounge up for lunch. Emma said she brought food and groceries over last night in preparation for today.” He didn’t wait for me to say anything before walking out of the room. I’d seen my partner at his worst, but this was something else. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him like this. It scared me.

I was too nauseous to think about food. I could smell the hospital on me, specifically that disgusting stench that wafted up from the tray they’d left in my room. Eventually, Emma found someone to take it away, but the odor remained. And mixed with the lingering olfactory memory from all those broken liquor bottles, it was no wonder I didn’t have much of an appetite.

The only thing I wanted to do was shower and get into something comfortable. Every part of my body ached, though I wasn’t sure why. As soon as I entered the bathroom, I had my answer.

The sight of my reflection froze me in place. I hadn’t seen the extent of the damage until now. My face was bruised, and one of my eyes was black from where Gravelly Voice had hit me. His fingers left marks on my neck.

I turned away from the mirror and struggled to get my top off. My shoulder hurt, and I grunted. Finally, I pulled it over my head to find my right shoulder bandaged. I’d been so out of it these last two days, I barely remembered Emma and the hospital staff changing the dressing.

Reluctantly, I turned back to the mirror, twisting to see the extensive bandages that covered my shoulder and the side of my neck. I ran my fingers gently against them, recalling bits and pieces of what happened once Officer Roberts arrived.

I felt dizzy and gripped the vanity. My ribs on the left side were purple from where one of the bastards had kicked me. An unexpected sob escaped, and I clamped a hand over my mouth.

Brad’s footsteps sounded outside the door. “Liv, are you okay?”

“Uh-huh,” I managed, squeezing my eyes closed. I couldn’t lose it in front of him.

“Are you sure? Do you need help? I promise not to look.”

I almost laughed.

“I can call Emma,” he said.

“I’m okay.”

“All right.”

But I didn’t hear his footsteps retreat.

I finished undressing and looked down at the bandages covering my arms and hands. Since I couldn’t get most of them wet, showering was out of the question. Instead, I filled the sink and grabbed a washcloth. When I was as clean as I could get, I put on some yoga pants and a button-up shirt. Opening the door, I found Brad waiting on the other side.

“I’m heating soup. Do you want a salad or something else to go with it? I found a package of those wraps you like in the fridge.”

“Just soup for me.”

He looked like he wanted to argue. “Fine, but there are leftovers in the fridge in case you change your mind.”

I sat down on the couch while Brad puttered around the kitchen. In the hospital, he promised he wouldn’t leave me, and aside from the few times he’d been forced away by the hospital staff or police investigators, he had kept his word. Emma practically had to turn a fire hose on him to get him to go home and shower and change yesterday afternoon.

He finished in the kitchen and brought a tray out with my soup and a glass of water and placed it over my lap. Then he went back into the kitchen, grabbed a plate with several wraps, which he’d cut in half, and sat down beside me. When I finished the soup, he nudged one of the remaining wraps toward me.

I picked it up, too tired to argue. I got half of it down before my stomach protested, and I pushed it away. He moved the tray out of my way, but I couldn’t get comfortable on the couch.

“Do you want some pain meds?” Brad looked at the clock. “You’re about due.”

“No, Emma’s weird about that. She lost one parent to cancer and the other to an overdose right after that. I don’t want to cause her any more anxiety. I’ll be okay without them. They make me fuzzy anyway. I’m sure the department isn’t happy I’ve never been able to give them a sober statement.”

“First of all, you’re sober enough. I don’t care what anyone says. Second, Emma’s not here. And third, no one wants to see you in pain. So if you are, say something. You’ve been through enough. You don’t have to soldier through any more.”

“I’m okay for now.”

“I should have been there.”

“I know. It was stupid.”

“You’re damn right it was stupid. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if Roberts and Ainsley hadn’t arrived when they did. Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“I’d been there before. I didn’t think they’d go back. We didn’t think 24/7 Spirits was a target. We thought it was a distraction, remember? I just wanted to follow up with the owner. I hoped after what happened in the subway station he’d be more forthcoming. I just… I didn’t think it’d be dangerous.”

“But it was. These guys are psychotic. They want to kill. First it was guards, now it’s cops. We’re partners. Partners have each other’s back. Why didn’t you let me have your back? Huh?”