Page 51 of Sling’s Awakening

They’re growing closer and closer.

Shit.

Someone called the fucking cops.

I scramble to my feet. “Sling! Mountain! You guys need to get inside, now!”

Mountain lets out a pained grunt. “That was my dick, shithead. It’s on now.”

Panic is starting to set in. I don’t know what to do. Neither one of them are listening. I don’t know any of the other guys who are in his club. I mean, I saw them when they came into the club, but I don’t know them.

Red and blue lights flash as a cop car turns down my street with another one following right behind.

Goddamn it. Everyone knows it’s not a good sign when two show up.

“Hello!” I scream so loud my throat feels like shards of glass are running down it, slicing it wide open. “You two need to cut it the fuck out!”

I hold my breath, hoping the cop cars will drive right on by but that doesn’t happen.

They park along the curb, one in front of the other. Right on cue, the old lady from down the street is walking out her front door and heading this way.

Like she had been waiting for them to show up.

Fucking bitch.

“The cops are here,” I say, lowering my voice and wincing at how scratchy it sounds as the cops exit their vehicles.

If the cops weren’t here and shit wasn’t about to get more real than ever, I would have laughed at how Sling and Mountain froze at hearing what I just said like their mom just threatened to whoop their asses.

“Can I help you, officers?” I ask as they approach.

Sling and Mountain get to their feet as they brush clumps of fresh-cut grass off their clothes.

“We got a call about a domestic disturbance. The caller said two males were beating each other up and she feared for her safety. Are you okay?” one of the cops asks as he looks me over, obviously checking for any visible bruises or wounds.

“There’s no disturbance, officers. Everyone is fine. You can be on your way,” Sling butts in.

The officers stand up a little straighter as they keep their eyes locked on me. They know he’s bullshitting them.

“I’m fine,” I answer, trying my best not to sound rushed and make them think I’m hiding something as I keep my eyes on them, feeling Sling move to stand next to me. “Who called you guys?”

“I did,” the old lady from down the street pipes up as she slowly waddles over to us. “I was scared for my life.” I roll my eyes as she clutches her shaking hands to her chest. “And for this young lady. I saw her try to break up the fight, and I prayed.” She squeezes her eyes shut and she looks up to the sky. “I prayed they wouldn’t hit her.”

Oh, she’s laying it on real thick.

“Did they hit you?” the officer asks me.

“No,” I exclaim as I scrunch my face up at the stupid question at the same time Sling and Mountain growl, “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Did they really just ask me that?

“Do we look like we hit women to you?” Sling asks, his voice laced with anger as he takes a step forward.

The second officer looks him up and down before doing the same with Mountain. His jaw is already starting to swell and turn an ugly shade of purple.

Great.

This just looks fucking great.