Free What Matters Most by Bailey Bradford

turned to study the cop. Stanton was huge, taller than Nick’s six-three and broader through the chest and shoulders. Nick wondered if the police department checked WHAT MATTERS MOST
    Bailey Bradford
    47
     
    their officers for steroid use, because surely this guy was too muscular for it to be natural.
    Maybe ‘roid rage would explain the hostility that seemed to be emanating from the man.
    And, maybe, Nick should have been afraid, or at least intimidated, but neither of those things were what was causing a trembling in Nick’s arms and legs. That came from clenching his muscles tight to keep from decking the cop, just slamming his bruised fist into the hard line of his square jaw and seeing if it shattered like glass.
    “Try it,” Stanton said softly, a slight smile curling one side of his mouth.
    Nick wanted to, God did he want to, but he wasn’t as dumb as the cop, and fighting hadn’t done anything for him tonight except slap down his hopes. He needed to use his head for something other than a punching bag. He took several deep breaths, his gaze never leaving Stanton’s. Once Nick felt the edges of his anger blur, he gave Stanton a half-smile of his own. He knew what he wanted, and getting it suddenly didn’t seem so impossible, not when he wanted it so bad. “I haven’t broken any laws.”
    Stanton blinked once before answering. “You were fighting with Justin—”
    Nick took his own step forward. “Who started it. I was defending myself, and I bet Josh would tell you the same, although asking him to testify against his brother would be a shitty thing to do, and you couldn’t very well arrest me without arresting Justin as well.
    Legally. ”
    Officer Stanton pressed his lips tightly together until only a thin seam showed. Nick nodded and took another step forward, placing himself within swinging distance of the man.
    “And you can’t make me leave town. Legally. Or follow me if I stay here. Legally. Because I could—and would—have my very competent attorney file police misconduct charges and a police harassment suit. All very legally. ” Nick took a final step closer, wishing he were a few inches taller as he glared into Stanton’s frigid eyes. “So why don’t you try it, officer?”
    They stood like that, neither of them relenting. Nick had a bizarre flashback to The Zax, a Dr. Seuss story his mother had read to him when he’d been four or five years old. He’d never understood why the northbound Zax and the southbound Zax had been so stubborn, neither budging as the world went on around them, but as a man, Nick fully understood now the need to stand one’s ground, at least when it was something important. And staying here suddenly seemed the most important thing in the world, or at least, in his world.
    Hopefully it wasn’t just his stupid pride that was telling him so.
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    Bailey Bradford
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    Officer Stanton finally nodding, grinding his jaw so loud Nick could hear it. The bigger man turned sharply and strode from the cell. Nick didn’t waste any time in following, his own footsteps echoing immediately after the police officer’s.
    Stanton grabbed a clear bag off his desk and handed it to Nick. “Your shit,” he said with ill-concealed anger. Nick took the bag and pulled out his wallet, cell phone, watch and keys. The plastic bag he handed back to Stanton, who took it reflexively then muttered as he tossed the bag in the trash.
    “See ya,” Nick told the glaring man, shooting him a grin when Stanton’s expression darkened with anger. “Although, not too much, I’d think.” He turned and walked out of the police station, Stanton’s curses making him laugh and feel lighter than he had in weeks. Even the prospect of the long walk back to the hospital to pick up his truck didn’t seem so bad, and Nick wondered, even as the thought amused him, if he hadn’t lost his marbles.
     

     
    Morning was not his friend, at least, not this morning. Josh’s head pounded,