Behind the Tears (Behind the Lives #2) by Marita A. Hansen

Author:Marita A. Hansen [Hansen, Marita A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Behind the Lives
Amazon: B00ASDCY58
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

20

Corey

Corey lay on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, pretending to sleep. The other patients in the room chatted to their friends or family, comfortable in their familiarity. But all he felt was discomfort, and not only from his badly bruised ribs and sore gut, but from Sledge sitting behind him for the past hour; occasionally prodding his back and asking if he was awake. Corey wished he could talk to him, but couldn’t make himself. He felt humiliated, and worse, scared that Sledge would look at him with disgust.

Sledge prodded his back again. Corey tensed, his nerves raw.

“I saw that,” Sledge said. “You’re awake, aren’t cha?”

Corey remained silent.

“Are you too chicken shit to look at me?”

Yes.

“Well, I ain’t leaving until you do.”

Just go away...

“There’s no use ignoring me, cos this chair is real comfy, I could stay here forever.”

...go away...

“Or are you crying like a li’l girl again?”

“Go away!”

Sledge went silent, then his voice hardened. “Nice, real nice. You ignore your best mate for over an hour cos you’re too much of a pussy to face him.”

Corey fisted the bed-sheet. “You beat up Tyler when he did nuthin’ wrong.”

Sledge sniffed. “Tyler breathing is wrong, and you’re not allowed to see him again.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” Corey turned over, quickly regretting it. Sledge looked more than pissed. Corey forced himself to continue, “Tyler had nuthin’ to do with what happened to your brothers, so you had no right to hurt him. And what he did with me wuz my idea.” A lie, but Sledge didn’t need any more encouragement to hurt Tyler.

“I had every right!” Sledge shouted.

Corey cringed as the room went silent. “Just go away.”

Sledge leaned forward, his expression vicious. Although Sledge looked nothing like Ash, it was the first time Corey could see the family resemblance—violence their common parent. He’d always known Sledge had a volatile side, but it had never been directed at him before. Not able to handle it, Corey closed his eyes.

“What?” Sledge said. “You can’t even look at me now?”

“Why won’t you go away?”

“I will after you look at me, and tell me why the fuck you went with that worthless piece of shit.”

“No, it’s got nuthin’ to do with you, and stop insulting him.”

“It is when you use my sister, then go off with Tyler to spite me.”

Corey’s eyes shot open. “Why would I go with Tyler to spite you? I told ja he’s got nuthin’ to do with you.” Corey froze as Sledge moved his face within a whisper of his. Sledge’s features softened, his eyes fixated on Corey’s as though he was going to kiss him. Corey held his breath, willing it, then the visage was shattered, Sledge’s features returning to vicious once more.

“If you go near Tyler again, I’ll rip that butt-fucker apart piece by piece. You won’t even recognise him once I’ve finished.”

“You keep away from him, Tyler’s not like his father or uncle.”

“They’re all the same: Pākehā scum.”

“Don’t say that word! And Tyler didn’t use me, he wuz really nice.

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