He doesn’t offer a response, and I quickly close the door before stepping toward the back of the car.
The second I’m at the tailgate, his partner steps out of the police car. It’s the same one from that night, and I instinctively brace myself for a fight. We weren’t given any information about these officers or the outcome of our report, but I can’t imagine they would’ve been left on payroll.
What if their car wasn’t unmarked…
Fuck. Am I being set up?
“A code 6 was called out. Mentally unstable subject.”
The way my nose twitches, I think is the cause of the man tensing. “I’m fine. I’m just going home. I’d ask if you need to see my ID or driver’s license but, let’s be honest, you seem to already know who I am.”
His partner comes up beside him, one hand on his belt, the other lazily hanging at his side. “Just get into the back of the car.” He gestures over his shoulder. “Let’s not make this super difficult.”
“For what?” I bite out.
“Because you are a danger to yourself.” It’s clear by the way he speaks that it’s a lie. It might sound like a legitimate excuse, but I know it’s bullshit.
They were waiting for me. This is definitely a set up.
“You can call my therapist; she can run a psych evaluation right here in front of you. I’m fine.” I angle my shoulder, readying to get back into my truck. “How about I call her? Hmm?” My tone drips with anger.
“Fuck this shit.” The second officer pulls something out so fast, my immediate thought is a gun. Then something pops, electricity rings in my ears, and an intense, full-body pain shoots through me.
My muscles contract involuntarily, and I know exactly what it is. Before I can lose full control, I grab the wires and tear the barbed darts of the taser free.
“Motherfuckers,” I seethe through my teeth and charge.
Before the first asshole can react, I ram my shoulder into his chest, sending him a few feet back onto his ass. The second officer gets a face full of my fist. Blood spilling immediately. As he staggers, I move in for another hit—then pain hits again.
My spine stiffens as I yank the wires free from my hip. Wobbly, I step toward the officer on the ground, who fumbles with the spent cartridge, trying to reload.
Just as I’m about to stomp on him, a sharp sting hits the base of my spine and I go tumbling. All my muscles constrict, and I hit the ground so hard, not even the electrical shock coursing through me masks the pain.
“Fuck!” I scream through clenched teeth.
The second I regain feeling in my arm, a devastating blow slams into my face. The ache hits a moment later and my vision begins to go dark, a sudden sensation of floating takes over my head.
“Put him in the back. Fucking piece of shit broke my nose,” one of them says.
My eyes feel heavy, but I can hear everything. The echo of a metallic click, the crunching of boots on gravel.
“This all better be worth it,” the other says. “I’m sick of this small-ass town.”
I’m dragged across gravel by my bound wrists. Trying to move my fingers only triggers another violent electrocution to my neck. My body goes numb, and I lose any and all control over my muscles.
“Be careful. He can’t die like this. Gotta…”
Oh no… I’m losing consciousness.
“… appear to be suicide.”
I’m levitating in my own body, barely catching the voices. The last words make my heart stop:
“Just gotta get the other one, then our job’s done here.”
50
It’s eight in the morning, and Keoni still hasn’t returned home. His phone is off, and I’m a complete fucking mess. Thank god for the family we’ve made here. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be right now without them.
