Broken Bad Boy novel Chapter 3

PERCIE

The last time I saw a house like this was when I was with her. Just that memory alone felt like I'd been stabbed in my heart over and over again. 

“Son, let me ask you one thing. Why did you risk yourself punching your boss when you saw him hitting his wife?” 

My eyes narrowed at his intrusion.

“Is it a defense mechanism? Or because you didn’t like him abusing his wife in front of everyone?” 

I opened the door and got out silently. He didn’t want to go there. 

He leaned his arms against the roof of his car and said, “I don’t wanna know, son, but whatever it is, I know it’s hard for you, and it may take some time. But you will get there.

My nose flared in anger and in pain. I pressed my lips together to stop from blurting out something he wasn't ready to hear. 

I just punched someone a few hours ago. I couldn’t punch him, and besides, he was a police officer. He had no bad intentions. All he was trying was to give some advice to someone who was a lost cause like me. 

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. 

“Let’s get over this with so that I can go home.” 

He smiled, and it irritated me. “Trying to get rid of me soon, Percival? Well, if you keep your knuckles in your pocket, you won’t see me sooner.”

I groaned and raked my fingers into my tousled brown hair. “You have no idea, officer. I don’t know why you are doing this? This isn’t a part of your job helping the offender by driving him home, feeding him dinner, and also not in a job description of a police officer to be a shrink.” 

He patted my back. “Let’s get inside, Percie.” 

I followed him into the house. He dropped the keys in a small bowl, then hang his coat on the rack. Then he led the way to their living room. There was a brown couch with a small glass coffee table and one snow globe on top. 

“That’s my daughter’s. Her grandma gave that to her. Make yourself at home, Percie. I’ll be right back.” 

I nodded. 

How could this man read every thought I had? First, the strawberry air freshener. Now the snow globe. He was lucky he had a normal family, unlike mine, a very dysfunctional one. Since that accident, my family had never been like before, and it would never be back to normal. 

Mom and Dad blamed me for that accident. They wished I died there. They even disowned me. I couldn’t blame them, though. I wished I did die that night because until now, I was constantly blaming myself too. I was more like a walking dead without emotions, no soul, and no heart. I died that night as well.

I heard footsteps and whispers coming from upstairs. Judging by those voices, that must be Keith and his wife. I rose from my seat and faced them as soon as they climbed downstairs. Keith was already in a white shirt and blue jeans while his wife was wearing a loose shirt and yoga pants. 

“Percie, I’d like you to meet my wife, Lillian. Lillian, this is Percival.” 

I shook the hand she offered and gave her a smile that I’d never done for months. “Nice to meet you, Lillian. Your husband here just brought an offender to your lovely home.” 

She shook and squeezed my hand before releasing it. “Keith would never bring here an offender like you, Percival. He has a good judge of character. He may find you charming, and I can see you’re a handsome young man.” 

My face heated. I looked down. 

“Oh, honey, stop making him blush. Let’s prepare the dinner before Percie plans on running away.” He kissed her on her cheek.

“Have a seat, Percival. I’ll just set the table. I'm done cooking before you arrived.” 

I smiled. “Thank you for having me, Lillian. It’s been a long time since I had dinner with a family.” 

She gasped. Sadness crossed her beautiful face.

I regretted it right away. I wished I could just keep my mouth shut.