Chapter Fifty-Five: A Pretty Decent Guy

Gabriel

My whole face hurt, like I had face-planted into a cement block. I peeled open my eyes and groaned as bright lights seared my brain. I turned my head slowly and took in my surroundings. Counter, sink, an IV pole and a monitor that was blipping away in time to my heart, which felt like it was beating too hard and too fast.

I was lying in a narrow gurney with the rails up. An IV was stuck in one arm and the other was wrapped in a blood pressure cuff.

I was in the hospital, but I had no idea how I had gotten there.

“Well, good morning, sunshine,” a male voice drawled. I lifted my aching head, pressing my chin against my chest and squinting to make out the stocky uniformed police officer sitting in the chair near the door.

I groaned and let my head drop back onto the plastic p……