Page 227 of Sticks and Stones
“I doubt that the bikers who hurt Corbin trolled college campuses. They might only be transporting and using the goods,” he said, not wanting to upset Corbin.
Only, he wasn’t an idiot.
“You can say it,” he stated. “The bikers who raped me didn’t likely troll the college campuses,” he said, being to the point. “Sugarcoating it doesn’t change it,” he admitted. “I have to adjust to hearing it.”
The tone in his voice told Gene it hurt him, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. So, he put his big hand on the back of Corbin’s head and made him stare into his eyes. They were the window to the soul.
“If you’re okay with us being direct, we’ll be direct. Our job is to protect you. Set the boundaries for us, so we can be what you need.”
He nodded.
“You can say it. I’m not going to have a breakdown whenever you use the‘R’word,” he admitted.
Well, then, they’d use it.
Ethan changed the subject because while he believed Corbin didn’t care if they used that word, he knew it still hurt him.
“So tomorrow, we’re going to have to talk to the professor, the people who knew the victims, and also the family who gave each one of them merit scholarships.”
It was officially on their agenda.
After they handled whatever Gabe had planned for them tonight.
“You found some good leads,” Gene admitted, giving his partner a fist bump.
Corbin sighed.
“I missed those. It never occurred to me to dig there and go outside the box. I jumped the gun, and it made a mess,” he admitted.
Ethan reassured him.
They weren’t going to rub salt in the wound. Instead, they were going to hold his hand until he could learn.
“Corby, you’ll learn,” Ethan admitted.
Gene agreed.
“And we’ll teach you,” he said. “Because I’m not leaving this city until you’re no longer green. I need you to be able to think for yourself.”
Normally, Corbin would be angry and insist he was a good cop, but after what happened…
He needed to check his ego.
Here.
And.
Now.
It was crystal clear that he was a menace to his own well-being, and there needed to be an intervention if he was going to go back to work as a detective.
“Please teach me,” he said. “If I go back, I need to know how to do this. I want to be safe.”
Oh, they would do just that.
Bet.
On.
