Hot Pursuit

Hot Pursuit by Jo Davis

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Authors: Jo Davis
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his side, Taylor saw the boy’s bloodied face and a slow burn of anger flared in his chest.
    â€œWho did this?” He already guessed, but wanted to see if the boy would tell the truth.
    â€œTwo big motherfuckers,” Blake wheezed. “Looked like Hells Angels.”
    â€œEver see them here before?”
    A pause. “No.”
    â€œDon’t lie to me, kid,” he said in a low voice, tearing off a wad of toilet tissue. He helped Blake press it to his nose. “What did they want?”
    â€œTo remind me what happens to police informants. Guess they didn’t quite believe I’m retired.”
    â€œSo it wasn’t a bashing?”
    â€œNot really,” he said quietly. “They weren’t here to beat me up for being gay. That was just a bonus.”
    Taylor wanted to crack both of their skulls. Over the past few months he’d become protective of Blake and worried about him plenty. Maybe it was because he’d never had kids of his own, but this one got to him. Blake reminded Taylor of himself at that age. Alone and vulnerable. Smaller than the average kid and a perfect target. He had nobody around who cared.
    Until one day someone did. And made all the difference.
    â€œCome on. Let’s get you washed off,” he said gruffly, hauling the boy to his feet. Blake was holding his side. “They hurt your ribs?”
    â€œI took a shot or two. But I’m tougher than I look.”
    Taylor almost smiled at the younger man’s fierce scowl, but refrained. As he helped Blake to the sink, the boy shook him off and insisted he could handle washing his own face. Taylor stood by, lost in thought, and jumped when someone pounded on the bathroom door.
    â€œBlake? Honey, are you in there?”
    â€œCara,” Blake said, groaning. “I’ve already fucked up on my first night. She’ll probably fire me.”
    â€œNo, she won’t.” Crossing to the door, Taylor opened it and took in her surprised face. “Blake had a mishap. He’ll be right out.”
    If he thought that was going to put her off, he was mistaken.
    â€œGet out of my way,” she growled and marched right past him. “What happ— Oh, my God! Who did this?”
    The boy turned and gave her a wan smile as he used wet paper towels to wipe the last of the blood from his swelling nose. “My face ran into some dude’s fist. I’m good.”
    â€œYou are not
good
. Not even a little bit.” She rounded on Taylor. “Did you do this? Because if you did—”
    â€œWhoa there, boss lady,” Blake said, intervening. “Taylor’s cool. He came in after those big assholes left. The cop here always helps me, even when I don’t want him to.”
    As she glared at Taylor, he could see her working that out in her head. He also detected a faint look of disbelief, quickly masked, before she spoke.
    â€œYou’re Tate!”
    â€œSay what?”
    â€œJess told me some detective had taken an interest in Blake’s well-being, but he thought his name was Tate or something. But he meant
Taylor
,” she said almost to herself. She was staring at him in shock. “That’s you.”
    â€œUm, yeah . . .” He exchanged a puzzled look with Blake, who shrugged as if to say he had no idea, either, why she was so hung up on that fact. Almost amazed. “Am I missing something here?”
    She recovered quickly. “No. I’m just surprised to meet the guy Blake speaks so highly of—that’s all.”
    The young man blushed. Not meeting Taylor’s gaze, he tossed his paper towels in the trash. “We need to get going or you’re gonna be late for your set.”
    â€œThe band can wait. I think you should get to the hospital, get checked out,” she said, frowning in concern. “And you need to file a police report.”
    â€œNo way. I’m totally fine.” Blake’s lips pressed

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