Read Online Sin City Uniform 02 - Copping an Attitude by Morticia Knight - Free Book Online Page B

typical for them to get together with Darren and his latest girlfriend at least once for either dinner or a movie. Parker had begged off without giving a reason, and he was truthfully shocked that Darren hadn’t already grilled him on what was up.
    But Parker wasn’t thinking of Brett when he responded to Darren.
    “It can be.”
    Darren’s joking tone ceased. “Hey, what’s up? Did you and Brett get in a fight or something?”
    “Uh, sort of. We won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
    “Holy shit. That sounds like more than a ‘sort of’ fight to me. Are you okay?”
    Parker considered it. Was he? “Yeah, I am. I’m actually more concerned about Brett.” He frowned to himself. “And other things.”
    He turned right onto Paradise Road. They pulled into the lot and he guided the vehicle at a slow pace toward the garage. He’d already switched on the cruiser’s spotlight, both him and Darren checking the surroundings for anything out of place. Parker continued their exploration as he drove to the site that he surmised would be the approximate location of the reported activity.
    Once he’d made it all the way to the other side and rounded the corner where the service entrances were, he slammed on the brakes. Two large men were beating someone crouched on the ground. Whoever was being attacked was not fighting back, only protecting themselves—their body curled up and arms raised in a defensive posture. Parker and Darren leaped from the car, weapons drawn.
    “Las Vegas Police! Stop! ”
    The assailants fired three shots at them in rapid succession and they both hit the ground. They fired answering rounds, but the men had seemed more intent on getting away than engaging them in a gun battle.
    Parker lay next to Darren on the asphalt. “You hit?”
    Darren lifted himself on his elbows then rolled to the side. “Nah, I’m good. You?”
    “Fine.”
    They worked in perfect synchronicity. Darren immediately called in for backup and medical services, and Parker ran over to check on the victim. His stomach lurched and his heart seemed to lodge itself in his throat when he recognized the distinctive tight pants and shaggy dark hair of the battered and bloodied man. It was the exact thing he’d tried to prevent.
    Dropping to his knees, he fought back tears as he checked for a pulse. It was thready, but still there. If Slade was going to die in that alley, Parker wouldn’t allow his death to be cold and alone. Slade was still in a fetal position and Parker wasn’t even sure he was conscious. He crouched lower to whisper in his ear.
    “Slade, honey, can you hear me? It’s Parker. Everything’s going to be okay, help is on the way. Hang on, honey, don’t give up.”
    Slade’s body faced him, and he gently took one of Slade’s hands that had been curled into a tight fist. Parker registered a barely perceptible squeeze.
    “That’s it, honey, you hang on. I won’t leave you. I’m staying right here.”
    A small sob came out of Slade, but his swollen eyes remained shut.
    “Shh. Stay still. Hear those sirens? They’re coming for you.”
    Parker was suddenly aware of Darren’s presence as he stood over them.
    “Is that the kid from the other night who got away?”
    Darren sounded harmlessly curious, but Parker felt Slade’s hand tense.
    “Darren, hold on a minute.” He leaned closer to Slade again. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right. I promise you.”
    Slade’s hand tightened again as if in response to Parker, but he worried that Slade was still in fear of being in trouble somehow. The clatter of a stretcher and the conversing of the medics behind him signaled that he would have to let Slade go. It was crazy how much he still wanted to hold onto him.
    “The paramedics are here to help you Slade, so I have to let them do their job. All that matters is that you get better. I’ll see you later at the hospital, so promise you’ll fight to hang on.”
    Slade gave him one more soft