A Bit of Me Read Free Page A

shocked by the serious tone that delivered those words. He shook his head, thinking his alcohol-saturated brain cells must have imagined Billy using that tone.
    And besides, Billy was the one who needed a keeper, someone with enough patience
    not to crush that vibrant spirit which irritated the hell out of Xavier sometimes. Not a Dom, since Billy was not, as he’d say, ‘into that freaky stuff’.
    “Coffee’s ready,” Billy hollered from the other room. He sounded like his normal perky self again.
    Xavier sighed and pressed a hand to his stomach. He had things to do, a brother to
    check on, and an office to refurnish—eventually. It was time to face up to the repercussions of last night’s stupidity.
     
    www.total-e-bound.com
     
    A BIT OF ME
    Bailey Bradford
    14

Chapter Two
    “Looks like Dr Nichols is going to sign your release forms today,” Josh said as he came into the room. Chase looked at the man—his friend, he supposed, although he wasn’t really sure. He got the impression he made Josh nervous, which was proof the guy was smart as well as attractive. Chase knew he was a little…off. A couple of cards short of a deck, only had one oar in the water, a brick shy of a full load…
    “So, where are you going after this?” Josh asked, fussing over him. Chase wanted to
    shrug off the stupid blood pressure cuff, but he’d learned quickly that Josh was as tenacious as a mama bear guarding her cubs when it came to his patients. And about as gentle. More than once Chase’d had his knuckles rapped for trying to stick his hand where it didn’t belong. It was part of the reason he kind of liked Josh; he didn’t put up with any of Chase’s crap, even if, at times, Chase was certain Josh would screech if he yelled ‘Boo!’. He shrugged, which earned him a glare.
    “Keep still,” Josh ordered.
    “Then don’t ask me questions,” Chase grumbled right back as he closed his eyes.
    “Otherwise I’m gonna think you’re doing it just so you can smack me around after.”
    “I didn’t smack you around this time.”
    Chase tried really hard not to grin as he opened his eyes just enough to see Josh’s pout.
    Josh was too easy to get riled up sometimes. It was fun. “‘This time’ is right. Don’t know what you’re gonna do once I’m gone. You’ll have to find a new patient to take out your anger issues on.” Three, two, one—
    Josh’s pout morphed to indignation instantaneously. “I do not have anger issues! I’ll have you know, I’m a happy guy, and—”
    Chase turned his head to look out the window as he tuned out Josh’s rant. At least it’d diverted him away from questioning Chase. The truth was, he didn’t know where he would go or what he’d do. Everything he’d had, the one friend he trusted, was gone. He was in an untenable situation, his pride more battered than his body. Hell, he even had to apply for the www.total-e-bound.com
     
    A BIT OF ME
    Bailey Bradford
    15
     
    Indigent Care programme at the hospital because he couldn’t afford his medical bills. If that got turned down, he didn’t know what he was going to do, but taking charity like that about killed him, but he didn’t have any other choice.
    And why? Because James Stratton, the one man Chase trusted, had asked for his help in bringing down a rapist. They had succeeded with a little extra help from an acquaintance, Adam Masterson. In return, their lives had been shattered. In James’ case, maybe even ended, and God, it hurt to think that, but James was still missing, had been for weeks.
    Chase needed to find him. He owed James, it was as simple as that. It’d be easier to do if Rollins hadn’t managed to empty out and close Chase’s bank account, and strip him of everything he had, including his confidence. Still, he’d figure something out. If James was alive, he might be holed up somewhere and unaware of Rollins Sr’s death.
    And if he was dead… Well, if James was dead, Chase would find a way to make