Read Online Flawed (Blaze of Glory #2) by Cherry Shephard - Free Book Online
Authors: Cherry Shephard
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sitting in a corner of the room, a wild look in her eyes. I take a step toward her, and that’s when I see it. The blood.
Cursing savagely, I rush to her side and gently pry the razor blade out of her hand. Where the hell did she get it from? Her luggage? Anger and protectiveness swells inside me like a balloon ready to explode, and I reach up to the desk to grab the box of tissues that always sits on the edge. Pressing a few against the wound, I use my other hand to bring her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.
“Why?” I whisper harshly, mentally berating myself when she flinches. I know the mental anguish of self-harm all too well. “Wait here,” I command, stepping back and leaving the room. I scour the bar, finally spotting Lance chatting up a busty, giggling blonde and her friend. An unexpected rage fills me, fuels me, and pushes me up to his side. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around to face me. He stumbles and grabs onto the bar for support, his eyes wide in shock. “What the fuck, Keets?” he gasps, groaning when the two girls walk away. “Aw man, I could’ve tapped that tonight. What do you want?”
“I’m paying you to serve drinks, not pick up ass,” I snarl, but take a step back so that I’m no longer crowding his personal space. “Actually, Shannon pays me,” he grins, adjusting the white sunglasses that are perched on top of his head. “You’re no better than me in this dump.”
I snarl again, shoving his shoulder hard. “This dump as you call it, belonged to a damn good man, so have some fucking respect or I swear to God I’ll make sure Shannon throws your ass out of here the second she walks back through that door.” A couple sitting at the bar stand up and make a hasty exit, and I belatedly realize we’re not alone. “Shit, Keets, I’m sorry man,” Lance says. “You’re really messed up about something, aren’t you? I hope you know I didn’t mean nothin’ by it. I appreciate Shan giving me a shot. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. What do you need?”
“I need you to lock up tonight,” I tell him, sighing as I adjust my glasses and run a hand over my head. “There’s something I’ve got to take care of in the office.”
“Sure man,” Lance says, looking concerned. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“Just make sure I’m not disturbed.”
“You got it.”
I clap him on the shoulder in solidarity before turning and hurrying back into the office. My heart stops for a second when I see Natalie is no longer in the corner. I take a cursory glance around the room, relief flooding through me when I see her back in the bed. I try to ignore the tug on my heartstrings as she looks warily at me when the mattress dips beneath my weight. “It’s okay,” I say softly, pulling the blanket down just enough to survey the damage she’s done to herself. My heart skips a beat when I see the small row of scars on the soft flesh under her arm, each about two inches long, some more jagged and raised than others. The newest one is thankfully a superficial cut and won’t require any stitches; it’s already stopped bleeding. It will, however, add another scar to her collection. My eyes move back to hers, and my chest lurches when I see the desperation written all over her face. “Why did you do this?” I whisper. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head, tears falling down her pale cheeks. I tighten my grip on her arm and she cries out softly, her eyes flying open to look at me. “Why?” I ask again.
“You wouldn’t understand,” her raspy voice chokes out, taking me aback with its quiet intensity. I decide not to push it tonight. I’ve only just met her, but she clearly needs my help. Pushing her too far, too fast, will only result in her pulling back and running away. Pulling my tank top over my head, I almost chuckle when her eyes widen in fright. “Wh-what are you doing?”
Cursing savagely, I rush to her side and gently pry the razor blade out of her hand. Where the hell did she get it from? Her luggage? Anger and protectiveness swells inside me like a balloon ready to explode, and I reach up to the desk to grab the box of tissues that always sits on the edge. Pressing a few against the wound, I use my other hand to bring her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.
“Why?” I whisper harshly, mentally berating myself when she flinches. I know the mental anguish of self-harm all too well. “Wait here,” I command, stepping back and leaving the room. I scour the bar, finally spotting Lance chatting up a busty, giggling blonde and her friend. An unexpected rage fills me, fuels me, and pushes me up to his side. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around to face me. He stumbles and grabs onto the bar for support, his eyes wide in shock. “What the fuck, Keets?” he gasps, groaning when the two girls walk away. “Aw man, I could’ve tapped that tonight. What do you want?”
“I’m paying you to serve drinks, not pick up ass,” I snarl, but take a step back so that I’m no longer crowding his personal space. “Actually, Shannon pays me,” he grins, adjusting the white sunglasses that are perched on top of his head. “You’re no better than me in this dump.”
I snarl again, shoving his shoulder hard. “This dump as you call it, belonged to a damn good man, so have some fucking respect or I swear to God I’ll make sure Shannon throws your ass out of here the second she walks back through that door.” A couple sitting at the bar stand up and make a hasty exit, and I belatedly realize we’re not alone. “Shit, Keets, I’m sorry man,” Lance says. “You’re really messed up about something, aren’t you? I hope you know I didn’t mean nothin’ by it. I appreciate Shan giving me a shot. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. What do you need?”
“I need you to lock up tonight,” I tell him, sighing as I adjust my glasses and run a hand over my head. “There’s something I’ve got to take care of in the office.”
“Sure man,” Lance says, looking concerned. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“Just make sure I’m not disturbed.”
“You got it.”
I clap him on the shoulder in solidarity before turning and hurrying back into the office. My heart stops for a second when I see Natalie is no longer in the corner. I take a cursory glance around the room, relief flooding through me when I see her back in the bed. I try to ignore the tug on my heartstrings as she looks warily at me when the mattress dips beneath my weight. “It’s okay,” I say softly, pulling the blanket down just enough to survey the damage she’s done to herself. My heart skips a beat when I see the small row of scars on the soft flesh under her arm, each about two inches long, some more jagged and raised than others. The newest one is thankfully a superficial cut and won’t require any stitches; it’s already stopped bleeding. It will, however, add another scar to her collection. My eyes move back to hers, and my chest lurches when I see the desperation written all over her face. “Why did you do this?” I whisper. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head, tears falling down her pale cheeks. I tighten my grip on her arm and she cries out softly, her eyes flying open to look at me. “Why?” I ask again.
“You wouldn’t understand,” her raspy voice chokes out, taking me aback with its quiet intensity. I decide not to push it tonight. I’ve only just met her, but she clearly needs my help. Pushing her too far, too fast, will only result in her pulling back and running away. Pulling my tank top over my head, I almost chuckle when her eyes widen in fright. “Wh-what are you doing?”
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