Page 46 of For the Love of a Boy

“My name is Malcolm Nash and this is my home! These people broke in and attacked my boyfriend.”

One of the officers squatted next to him, an open pair of cuffs in his hand. “Do you have ID on you?”

“I have ID, but not on me. It’s in my jacket. I left in my black SUV parked out front.”

“Why didn’t you bring it inside if this is your home.”

Malcolm tempered his frustration the best he could. “I got a call warning me my boyfriend might be in danger, so I rushed over here and—” Malcolm let out an aggravated sigh. “Look, I don’t care about me. Seth is hurt.” His voice hitched. “The unconscious man. He needs medical attention, please.”

The policeman called out to another officer. “Rick, send for an EMT then check this guy’s truck.”

A man’s voice from behind Malcolm interjected, “I already called medical. They should be here any minute.”

Malcolm released a portion of his tension. “Thank God.”

The officer proceeded to cuff him. “Just until we verify your story, got it?”

Malcolm kept his gaze trained on Seth. Now that he knew the EMTs would be there soon, he didn’t give a shit about his own situation.

A few minutes later, the same officer came back. He squatted next to Malcolm again and undid the cuffs. “All right, Mr. Nash. How about you tell me what happened here?”

Malcolm rolled to his side then sat up, rubbing his wrists. “Gladly.” He crawled the few feet he needed to reach Seth. “But first this.”

He wouldn’t move Seth, in case it turned out to be dangerous for him, but he had to check his pulse. Had to know. Malcolm pressed two fingers to Seth’s throat and let out an audible groan, his relief dizzying.

Malcolm brushed damp strands of Seth’s hair off his forehead then glanced up at the cop.

“All right. Let’s talk.”

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