Page 37 of Pocketful of You

"Bullet?" I frowned and shook my head. "Thehellare you talking about…" Without permission, my hand moved to my chest to soothe the tightening sensation and I stilled when I felt the bandage.

Like a goddamn wrecking ball, my memories came flooding back with a vengeance.

"Pull that trigger and all hell will break loose…"

"You'll start a war you can't win…"

"I'm already at war…"

He shot me.

Years of threats and Cal Dillon actually fucking shot me.

With a loaded gun.

What. A. Dick.

"That motherfucker!" Teeth clenched together, I dragged myself into a sitting position, breathing hard and labored. "Goddammit to hell!" Pain was scorching me and I felt as weak as a child. Fighting through the grogginess, I dragged in a mouthful of air and threw the blanket draped over my body away.

Great.

I was in a goddamn gown.

"Whoa, maybe you should lie back down, miracle man," Presley suggested, tone laced with concern. "You were loaded with lead just a few short weeks ago."

"Presley," I growled, sliding my feet over the side of the bar. "Are you telling me that I've been out forweeks?" Barefoot, I attempted to climb down but ended up toppling onto my knees.

"Sketch, you really should lie back down –"

"Where is she?" I sounded feral, even to my own ears, as I dragged myself to my feet. "With that pyscho freak?" Bare-assed for the world to see and breathing through the pain, I staggered straight for the curly-haired fucker. "Tell me you got her out of there!"

"She's gone, dude," Presley blurted out, backing away from me.

"Gone?" I continued to stumble after him, ignoring the pain in my chest. "Gone where?"

Fluttering around like a damn butterfly, he kept backing up. "Her, ah, psycho father took her?" he offered before diving behind a pool table.

"What thefuckdo you mean hetookher, Presley?" Adrenalin coursed through my veins and I balled my hands into fists. "Took her goddamn where!"

"Funny story." Chuckling nervously, Pres reached for a pool cue and wielded it in front of his body like a weapon. "Mind if I tell it from another room, or state…or heck, maybe another continent?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Presley."

"Go back, beast."

"Did you justswingthat thing at me?"

"Maybe?"

"I'm gonna fuck you up."

"The power of Christ compels you!"

"You littlebastard."

"Quit coming at me!"

"Quit swinging that damn thing at me."

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