Tarek
Some days,it didn’t pay to get out of bed.
Though going into my line of work had always been dangerous, I never woke up any day thinkingwell, time to get shot at.
But twice this week, I narrowly escaped with my life. The latest mishap left me in pain and just over the bullshit.
After a briefing with our captain, I lumbered out of the room holding my breath. Breathing was like getting punched in the ribs—repeatedly. I didn’t want my guys worrying. I didn’t want to hear the same old song and dance anymore—
You have money, why are you even working?
If I had your money, I’d be in Tahiti right now.
They didn’t understand.
All my life, I’d have to work for everything. Life was hard but I had my family. Then we lost everything, and I almost died. My father and mother, unbeknownst to each other, bought two different lottery tickets—big winners.
Still, my brothers and I worked hard in school, graduating at the tops of our classes. Jessy was still going through university, but Malik was now a brand-new doctor. I had served my country and came home to be pulled into the US Marshals.
In my family, we had never been the kind to sit around doing nothing.
I gripped my side and fell onto the seat in front of my locker and grunted. Moving made the spot where the bullet was stopped by my vest hurt like a motherfucker.
Holding my breath, I reached across my body and peeled off my Kevlar vest and dropped it on the bench beside me.
Getting undressed was like being punched in the stomach repeatedly. I had to grit my teeth through the pain. When I looked down at my left side, the spot where I was hit was red, turning purple. The vest had done its job and I was still standing—but each time I inhaled too deeply, I wondered how lucky I really had been.
I dragged a palm over it and winced.
It angered me.
Instead of merely going to prison, the perp had to make a pitstop at the hospital. He tried taking me out, but I was a faster draw. I then tackled his ass to the ground and shoved my knee into the wound. Hearing him scream, gave me great satisfaction. I wanted every time he thought of it, it hurt like hell.
Though I was pissed off, I didn’t want him dead. The only reason he was still breathing was because I had positioned myself between my team and him.
“You can’t ever do that again,” Grim said. “We could have shot you.”
I turned to look at him. A monster of a man wrapped around the heart of a teddy bear and the loyalty of saint. “But you didn’t.”
“Not the point, Cobra.” He yanked open his locker. “The others are pissed, but I told them I’d bring it up.”
“I understand.” I winced and reached for a new shirt.
“What were you thinking? Cobra, you may not think you are worth anything, but we love you.”
“I was thinking we’ve had enough deaths.” I grunted.
Grim shoved my hands away and helped me with closing my shirt then went back to what he had been doing.
“I was thinking a little girl is dead.” I managed. “And that bastard needed to hear the pain he’s caused and get his ass kicked for what he’s done. They are angry, Grim. And they need this. I wasn’t about to allow him to be selfish and die leaving these people are stuck with that darkness. They need a place to put it and he’s going to learn, there are worse things than death.”
He sat beside me but said nothing.
“I’m sorry I scared you, brother.”
“Just don’t do it again.” Grim turned his back to me. “The others are angry, but they can never understand how terrified I was seeing you fall like that.”
“I’m—”
