Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (short story to read .txt) 📗

round two, Emmie.” We both looked over at my physical therapist. Or Satan as I now called her.

“Computer says no, Amy.”

“Computer says get your arse up and keep going.” She turned away to assist another client.

I poked my tongue out.

“I saw that,” she called over her shoulder.

Recovering from a bullet wound hurt. It hurt so bad. It hurt and took forever. Every little movement sent pain shooting up and down my thigh; it all hurt. Sometimes it even hurt to breathe.

The muscles on the left side of my body screamed in protest as my leg trembled. Despite my joy at today’s achievement, I felt helpless, weak, frustrated, angry, and depressed.

Two weeks post-hospital and I’d finally started shuffle-walking during physiotherapy. And, glory be, I could stand for a whole three minutes unassisted.

Not good enough. You’re vulnerable. You need to−

“Ten minutes are done. Round two, Ding!” Luc pretended to hit a gong. “Begin.”

I groaned, struggling to push off the chair. My fingers death gripped the arm rests.

“If you make it ten minutes – just ten, Emmie– then I’ll buy you some chocolate.” Luc dangled that delicious temptation in front of me.

Gritting my teeth, I shuffle-walked those ten minutes, using the balance bars to stubbornly hold myself up as I paced on the treadmill.

One, two, five, eight, ten! Thank God!

Grunting in frustration and pain, Luc caught me as I dropped back into the wheelchair. Tears burned, threatening to overflow as he pulled my head against his stomach and rubbed my back soothingly.

“White, dark, or milk?”

“Frozen bananas rolled in dark chocolate with nuts,” I muttered fighting for control.

“There’s always money in the banana stand.”

I huffed out a tired but surprised laugh. “I didn’t know you watched Arrested Development.” His hand slipped under my jaw, tilting my head back.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Our eyes held. Luc opened his mouth about to speak when Amy interrupted.

“Time for round three, Emmie!”

I swore softly as Luc chuckled.

“What do I get this time?” I asked as I slowly braced myself, readying to stand.

“I’ll break you out of this heap next Saturday and take you to karaoke.”

“Not exactly a bribe.”

“Let me finish.” He tapped my nose with his finger in admonishment. “And I’ll sing any song you want.”

“I pick One Direction.” I flashed a smile as I struggled to push myself up off the wheelchair.

“The fuck you do!” Luc stepped back as I took a step forward, my hands braced in a death lock on the beams.

“Never thought I’d say this, but fail. Just give up!”

I wanted to laugh but could barely breathe as I panted through the pain and exhaustion. I stumbled forward, taking two steps as the treadmill slowly rolled under my feet. I gasped, bracing as my leg muscles began to spasm.

“Come on, Emmie!” I glanced over to see Addie, Kel, and Jetta all standing at the door to the gym, cheering. Luc straightened from his crouch before me and glared at them. “Don’t encourage her!”

“If you’re trying to sabotage her, it must be good!” Kel laughed, punching a fist in the air. “You go girl!”

I took another step, pushing through the pain.

Four minutes down, six to go.

“For the love of the Rolling Stones, don’t do this to me!” Luc begged as I hit five minutes.

Half way.

Pleas for mercy, cheers from the girls, and my own determination to see Luc suffer pushed me over the threshold. As I slumped into his arms, gasping for breath, I grinned up at him.

“Damn, Keys.” He smiled down at me, blue eyes twinkling. “Guess I better brush off my boy band moves.”

I huffed out a quiet chuckle, feeling hands on me. The girls were right there, helping Luc rearrange my body into the wheelchair.

“She done?” Jetta asked.

Amy came over, hands moving to her hips. “Em?”

I sighed, closing my eyes, knowing this was her way of asking me to push my limits.

“One more. Then stretches.”

Amy nodded, grinning in approval. “Good girl. Finish on a high note.”

My final attempt took me twice as long, the treadmill slow. My leg shook uncontrollably, my body felt a limp noodle while my hip burned. I fought the pain, gritting my teeth as I finally reached the end.

Thank you, God.

I lay on the mats, Amy stretching out my joints, listening to her and Luc banter, too tired and broken to make small talk. I wanted a bottle of painkillers and silence. I wanted my bed.

“You’re good.” Amy stood, holding a hand out to help me to a sitting position. “Shower, then rest. Take two painkillers, no more. I want to see how you go after. Make sure you stand and do those stretches tonight. Tomorrow we’ll get you into the pool.”

I nodded, no energy left.

“She’s all yours. Put her in the chair to get back. She’s not going to make it on the walker.” Amy slapped a hand on my shoulder, squeezing, before turning to another patient.

He helped me up and began to wheel me towards the bathroom area. A nurse stood waiting.

“Good workout?”

I nodded too exhausted to speak.

“She’s wrecked. Doubt she’ll be able to stand today.” This came from Luc.

“Don’t worry,” the nurse said cheerfully, “We’ll get her cleaned up.”

Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed in stretchy pyjamas, my wheelchair handed off to Luc with a happy goodbye from the nurse.

Back in the apartment, the girls bustled about, dropping grocery bags and setting about cooking dinner. Addie ordered me to take a nap while they entertained themselves. I let Luc wheel me down the corridor and into the bedroom.

“Do you need a hand?”

I shook my head, bracing. It took me an agonizingly long time to stand, turn, then sit on the bed. I slowly swung my legs up and in, reaching for the blanket. Once settled, I looked up at Luc. In the time it had taken for me to get into bed, he’d returned with water and pills.

We didn’t speak as I reached for them. Tossing my head back I swallowed with a gulp of water. He whisked the glass from