Free Truth Avenged (Green Division Series Book 1) by Ashley Monahan Page A

And they would worry if they knew under that tough impossible exterior, you were scared, alone, hurt.  Let someone help you.  You’re not alone.”
    “ I sure as hell feel it.”  Shit .  She’d done it now.  She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. 
    “ You’re not alone.”  Tuck pulled her into his arms.  “You’re safe.”  
    “ How do you know that?  He’s still out there.”
    “ We’ll find him.”
    “ Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” 
    “ You know I keep my promises.”  He had thus far.  “I won’t let him hurt you.”
    She settled into his chest and rested her head in the crook of his neck.  For the first time in a week she felt comforted and protected.  If only she could feel this content when she fought for sleep.
    The line his sergeant had warned about was G-O-N-E.  To quote the artists Big and Rich, it was: “Gone like a freight train, gone like yesterday, gone like a solider in the Civil War bang bang.”  One hundred percent dissolved.
    Wr apped in one another’s arms, they stood as dusk fully set and darkness surrounded them.  The tension in her body lifted.  Her weight fully rested against him.  She could stay wrapped in his arms all night.
    He pulled back slightly and she lifted her head fr om his shoulder.  “Are you done fighting with me about going to the ER?”
    “ It’s a losing battle.”  She conceded.
    “ Is Amy on her way over here?”  He knew the answer.
    Ummm.”
    “Come on.”
    He walked beside her and opened the door to his new Chevy pickup.  Why was it everyone had big damn trucks that were painful to step into?  The ride over was quiet, but not uncomfortable.  Country music broke the silence. 
    They arrived at the Band-Aid station forty minutes later.  The ER was quiet, only two other people in th e waiting room.
    “ Chance Phillips.”  The triage nurse walked into the waiting room.  Both Chance and Tuck stood. 
    “ Follow me.”  The nurse motioned.  Chance’s feet didn’t move.  God, she didn’t want to do this again.  “Miss Phillips?” 
    She reluctantly fol lowed leaving Tuck at the doorway of the waiting room.
     
    *****
     
    Tuck waited for the second time in a week in a dank hospital waiting room.  He would prefer not to occupy these seats again anytime in the foreseeable future.  He’d left his phone in the truck, or he would have entertained himself with that.  Instead he read a dated worn magazine on the table at the center of the room.  After forty minutes of waiting, a rough looking man walked to the opposite side of the room in dirty clothes with a woman who looked no better.
    “ Hey.”  The man called.  “You look familiar.  Do I know you?”
    He ’d dealt with him before in the past.  What was his name?
    “ I don’t believe so.”  Tuck responded.
    “ What’s your name?” 
    Tuck ignored the question and retrieved a Pepsi from th e vending machine.  He needed a charge of caffeine and didn’t want to make small talk with this dirt bag.  He sat back down and guzzled the soda.
    “ I said, what’s your name?”  The man leaned forward in his chair baring all two of his teeth.  He had pock marks of a meth user and the antsy behavior to match.
    “ I don’t know you.”  Tuck leaned back into the chair and crossed his legs.
    “ Then tell me your name, boy.”
    This man egged Tuck for problems.  He didn’t want to deal with it. 
    “ James Redding.”  He fed the man the first bullshit name that popped in his head.  “And what is yours, sir?”
    “ None of your concern.”  The man sized Tuck up.
    Tuck racked his bra in.  What the hell was his name?  Think, think, think . 
    Darren Caldwell .
    “ Why are you here?”  Darren’s small talk was accusatory, not friendly.
    “ The same reason anyone is.  Why are you here?”  He could tell it was because the large grease covered woman next to him had cut her hand, a dirty rag covered it.
    “ None of your concern