Free Rough Ride CV4 by Carol Lynne

the depth of his love for Wyn.
    “Not when you have a healthy relationship. That wasn’t the case with Richie and Paul.
    He used to beat Richie pretty regularly. Paul’s a player and a mean drunk. I stopped by one time and Richie was shining Paul’s boots so he could go out on a date.” Mark looked Ezra in the eyes. “With someone else.” Ezra’s brows rose. That didn’t sound like the Richard he knew. “So what finally broke them up?”

    ROUGH RIDE
    Carol Lynne
    56

    Mark stopped walking and put his hands on his hips. Looking down at the asphalt, he shook his head. “I did. I couldn’t watch my friend go through it again. I told him either dump Paul, or I wouldn’t hang around with him anymore.” Mark looked back up at Ezra. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I love Richie like a brother, but I’ve no doubt that Paul would’ve eventually beaten him to death.” Ezra knew how he felt when he found out Brian Doles had been beating Wyn. “You did the right thing,” he said putting a hand on Mark’s shoulder.
    “Over here,” Tiny yelled across the parking lot.
    They took off at a run to the side of the club. Tiny was bent over Richard talking on the phone. He looked up at Ezra and Mark and shook his head. Covering the mouthpiece, he whispered. “The ambulance is on its way.”
    Ezra stepped around Tiny to kneel beside Richard’s head. He felt his stomach roll at the condition his friend was left in by a man who had supposedly once loved him. He quickly unsnapped and took off his shirt and held it to the mass of cuts on Richard’s chest and abdomen.
    He pointed towards the wound on his friend’s leg. “Put pressure on that,” he told Mark.
    Mark immediately took off his shirt and held it to the stab wound on Richard’s thigh.
    Richard seemed to float in and out of consciousness until the ambulance arrived. The loud sirens brought out a flood of people from the club, including Scott and Wyn. They were all asked to step back as the medical technicians worked to get an IV in Richard.
    With Wyn safely tucked under his arm, Ezra watched as they loaded his friend into the back. With its lights flashing and siren blaring, the ambulance pulled out of the parking lot.
    Ezra turned to Scott. “Can we get a ride to the hospital? I don’t think the cops are going to hand over Richard’s truck keys.”
    “Sure,” Scott said, running his hands through his hair. “I’m gonna shut down the bar, send everyone home and then we’ll be ready.”
    Scott shook his head. “I can’t believe this. Nothing like this has ever happened here.” Mark must’ve heard the distress in his partner’s voice. He left Tiny and the policeman to walk over and wrap his arms around Scott. “It isn’t the bar, babe, it’s Paul. Tiny told me he’s been in a couple of times looking for Richie.” Scott buried his face in Mark’s neck. “We need to get to the hospital.” ROUGH RIDE
    Carol Lynne
    57

    “Yeah. I’ve already asked Tiny to have the bartenders help him close up. I’m finished with the police for now, so we’re free to go.”
    “Ezra and Wyn need a ride.”
    “Sure,” Mark said and placed a kiss on Scott’s forehead. “Richie’ll be okay.” ROUGH RIDE
    Carol Lynne
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Chapter Nine

    “So, how’s your friend?” Nate asked, lounging on one of the display cases.
    “Richard will be better once he gets through the trial. That ex of his really did a number on his mind as well as his body,” Wyn said, stocking new merchandise.
    “Well, if anyone would know what he’s going through, it would probably be you.”
    “Yeah. That’s part of the problem. Part of me feels bad for cutting out of there before the trial.” He and Ezra had stayed in Oklahoma an extra week until they knew for sure Richard would be okay, but he still felt guilty.
    “Richard promised Ezra he’d move to Cattle Valley once he was on his feet and finished with all the court stuff.” Wyn picked up the empty box and