Page 40 of Sticks and Stones
“Hey, Corby,” Ethan said, softly. “It’s EJ.”
Immediately, the man began shaking, and Ethan could hear the soft sobs from under the blankets. Listening to him sob was devastating.
Ethan went into protection mode.
“I’m here now, Corby,” he offered, not touching him because he wasn’t sure what that contact would do in this situation.
They’d dealt with rape victims before when they worked in vice, and for a man…
This was damn difficult.
Even though Corbin was gay, this was a violation of his body. They’d have to tread lightly and let him set the pace when it came to contact.
Ethan crouched down, and kept his voice low.
“We heard what happened, Corby. Tell me how I can help you, and I will. Tell me what I can do to protect you, and I’ll make sure that happens.”
There was nothing, and Ethan really believed he wasn’t going to talk to him.
Then, it happened.
Slowly, his hand slid out from under the blanket, and Ethan got it. Corbin was going to give them the chance to fight for him.
Without a word, Ethan took his hand, and Corbin held it. He clung to him, and Ethan didn’t mind the least. In fact, he wanted him to.
They’d protect him now.
“It’s going to be okay, Corbin. I swear it is. Gene and I are here. He’ll be right in.”
Corbin had no intention of letting anyone see him like this, but the second he heard Ethan’s voice, he knew he had to trust someone.
He was putting his faith in the two men who had never let him down.
Still holding his hand, he reached for a chair not far away, and pulled it closer so he could be at eye level with Corbin if he came out of his tent of blankets.
Blackhawk could see the dried blood on his hands, and he was scared shitless to see Corbin.
Why?
Because he knew what rage lived in him on a good day, and this would really piss him off.
On a bad day…
He could be a dick. Whoever did this to Corbin wasn’t getting away with it.
“I don’t know how to process this,” Corbin whispered. “I don’t know how they knew I was a cop,” he added, not shocked that they’d gotten around the doctors and nurses.
Honestly, he had hope they’d come. At that moment, Corbin needed them.
To reassure the man, Ethan squeezed his hand.
“Do you think someone made you, or do you think someone burned your cover?” he asked, since Corbin brought it up.
Honestly, Corbin didn’t know.
So, he didn’t answer.
Ethan ran his thumb over Corbin’s pulse, as he sat beside the bed. It was erratic, and he understood why.
