Seconds after the nurse leaves, two police officers walk in. I recognize one of them as one of the officers who questioned me after everything with Luke happened. That seems like years ago, but it really couldn't have been more than a little over a month ago.
The officers scan the room, silently asking everybody but Holden to leave the room. They've already talked to me, but I was never properly questioned. They didn't see any reason for it, but it's because they don't know everything. They don't know I want to know where Eli is more than anybody.
Holden's grip tightens around my hand, "If I'm going to answer questions, she's going to be with me."
It's not a question, it's a statement. A demand.
"That's fine, Mr. Samuels." As he speaks, Holden's family quietly slips from the room, and I pull my shoulders back to sit up straighter when facing the officers. The one from before shoots me a small smile.
Holden's hand squeezes mine and he looks around the room, obviously not ready for the police to begin their questioning. "Baby, can you help me?"
I revert my attention to him, "I want to get out of this hospital gown. My mum said she brought clothes for me."
"H, you can't switch clothes with IVs sticking out of your arms."
Without another word, he presses a button on the side of his bed, calling for a nurse. I cross the room and sift through the bag his mother packed him, pulling out his usual attire of athletic shorts and a t-shirt. Before walking away, I grab a pair of boxers out of the bag and saunter back over to him, ignoring the other people in the room. When I get back to him, he's had his nurse remove all of the needles, and she patiently waits for me to help change him so she can get him back on the machines. He doesn't need them, but apparently he's being closely monitored, on doctor's orders.
I don't even think about it when I start to slip the boxers up his muscular legs, underneath both the white sheet and his itchy gown.
"Woah there, baby," he grins.
I roll my eyes, my cheeks lightly flushed as I do the same with his shorts. Holden takes the shirt from my hands, sliding it over his body after he unties the gown and throws it to the floor. When he's completely dressed, the nurse hooks him back up to the machines and he sits up as tall as he can, despite him looking exhausted.
"Alright," Holden says to the men. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, Mr. Samuels, you know that we're investigating Elliot Samson, correct?"
"What exactly for?"
I turn my head to face Holden, trying to understand what he's asking. His facial expression is blank, but I can feel his hand rubbing small circles on the back of my hand, calming me like nothing else can.
"We have reason to believe he's been partaking in illegal activity. Not just in his boxing. We believe he is involved in human trafficking." The police officer I don't know is focused on Holden, but the other one is watching me.
I feel my heart beat out of my chest.
"What does that have to do with me?" Holden's tone remains friendly, but I can see his jaw is tensed and I can only imagine he's grinding his teeth.
"Did Elliot Samson say anything suspicious before or during your fight, Mr. Samuels?"
Holden becomes defensive, "He talked shit, yeah. Like all boxers do. What does this have to do with me?"
YOU ARE READING
KNOCKOUT
Tienerfictie***SEQUEL to FIGHT*** The last word she said to him was "fight." And that's exactly what he did. Tatum and Holden seem to have faced more challenges than most. They've been through pretty much everything - abusive exes, terrible family members, dark...
