For a Hero Read Online Free Page B

life and youth and vigor. How did they get that way? Hank wouldn’t mind connecting to someone like that. Scott was a nice kid, maybe he could hang out with him. He knew David had few friends but great ones. Hank had a million friends but none of them quite so great.
    With a Fireman’s Four blonde ale turned up to his lips, Hank proclaimed, “No worries, Boss. It’ll be delicious. Lighten up! We heard you were going to be in the Fantasy Date and all your profits are coming to us! We should celebrate!”
    David appreciated the zeal, but resented the reference. “I wish I could escape from that for just one night.”
    “Why, Boss? You’re going to be a star!” Hank threw an arm around David’s neck.
    “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Hank.” A slithery voice hissed from the dining area. Alex stepped out toward the pair and David winced. He knew what was coming.
    “Hi, David.” The temptress revealed herself next to Alex. Veronica, the bitch, cocked one hip to the side and judgment and hatred seeped through her gaze.
    Hank had seen a lot of women in his day. He had become acquainted with quite a few, and they were all capable of spitting some poison. However, he had never seen someone seethe with disdain like Veronica did. It was somewhere between arrogance, malice and ignorance. Why on earth would she wish David ill? He was basically the best guy ever. As far as Hank knew, David didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, didn’t lie, hell, he didn’t even curse often. What could he possibly have done to warrant hatred?
    “Alex,” David never stopped tending to the brisket. “Just wait at the dinner table with the fellas. I think the rolls are already done; go grab some. I’ll bring you some meat. We don’t have to cause a big scene here.”
    “We’re off-duty, Conlon. I don’t have to follow your orders right now. Besides, I’m not going to cause a big scene. I just wanted to make sure that your little pal understands that you are not going to be such a big star tonight.”
    “That’s fine, Alex. I don’t even want to go. It wouldn’t surprise me if nobody bids and I just go home. It would suit me just fine.”
    Hank’s jaw dropped. Why is he just taking this? Is it because of the girl?
    Veronica draped herself across Alex’s chest. “That’s right, Pervert. It wouldn’t surprise me either. I happen to know first-hand that you are nothing special. Just a big freak.” She grabbed Alex by the jaw and exchanged a long, gross, nasty, noisy French kiss with him.
    David winced. His eyes closed. His lips pursed. He hurt. Hank could see it. Alex and Veronica couldn’t though. Thank God. Hank needed to do something.
    “What the hell is your problem, Hooker? What did the Chief ever do to you?” After the words escaped his mouth, the thought crossed Hank’s mind that it might be the beer talking, and it might not have been such a great idea.
    David turned and put a hand on Hank’s chest. “No, please. Just let it go”
    Veronica slinked off of Alex. She put her index finger in Hank’s face and began waving it around in a little Z shape. “That man is a freak of nature. He tried to hurt me. I let him take me home out of the goodness of my heart, and that pervert tried to tear me in half. He is not normal. Not a man. He is some kind of monster.”
    David hung his head and turned back to the meat. He tended to it as if nothing else mattered.
    Hank took a sip of his beer and proclaimed, “Wow, Bitch. It sounds to me like you couldn’t handle his giant dick. Maybe that’s why you settled for “Below Average Alex” as the football team used to call him after seeing him in the locker room.”
    David whipped around, knowing that Alex would try to escalate the conflict. He grabbed Hank by the shoulders, lifted him up and behind him. David caught a punch thrown by Alex and simply turned him the other direction. “Guys, the alcohol is getting you all worked up. Let’s just enjoy the BBQ and not worry about this