Page 83 of Burn

Fucking. Fight.

I shift onto one leg, willing it to support me, and drive my other knee up, toward his groin. It’s weak and slow, but he’s not paying attention, and I connect with him. It’s not enough to stop him, but it’s enough to slow him, and he growls, clutching at himself. The dark desire in his eyes vanishes, replaced by rage. His hand shoots up, gripping my neck so tightly that it’s impossible to pull in any amount of air.

“You fucking bitch!”

I don’t see him draw his hand back. Not until stars explode through my vision, and a loud ringing blocks out every other sound, do I know he hit me. I clench my jaw, pressing my teeth together so tight that pain radiates through them. His fingers dig into my throat as he pushes me into the wall. My eyes dart wildly, searching for something to grab; ultimately, my attention lands on his other hand. It grips my hip, and it’s swollen and mangled-looking from Adrian crushing it earlier.

Something warm and wet runs over my lips, and I lift my arm, which feels like it weighs a thousand pounds, and drive my elbow toward his hand.

I miss completely.

A sound pierces the air. It sounds like a wild, feral animal, and it’s unexpected because I didn’t make contact with him, so he has no reason to react.

I think I’ve convinced myself we’re both about to be eaten by a bear, when Aaron is ripped away from me. He flies back, flailing like a rag doll and slamming into the pavement. My knees give out, and I fall, landing on the ground with my handsin front of me, propping myself up. If I felt like everything was in slow motion before, now, it feels like everything is sped up. The bodies before me blur into a jumbled pile of arms and legs.

And blood. There’s so much blood.

Each blow connects, echoing through the night with a dull, wet thud. It twists my stomach so much more than the drugs did. I blink hard, trying to focus my eyes, and slowly the blurred shapes come into sharper view. Adrian is over top of Aaron. I can’t see his face from here, but I can see how his back heaves with each blow. His white shirt is splattered with blood.

The door next to me flies open, and another body rushes out into the night, heading straight for Adrian and Aaron. I try to push myself to my feet, but my body is heavy, like sandbags, too heavy to lift, but barely holding it together. I make it halfway and fall forward onto my hands and knees. The rough ground bites into my flesh, and I push myself forward, ignoring the sting.

The third man grabs at the back of Adrian’s shirt, yelling, “Adrian! Stop!”

Adrian’s elbow flies back, knocking the guy a few steps back, but he rushes forward again, and I command my body forward, needing to help Adrian. He’s strong, but two against one?

This time, the guy uses two hands to grab Adrian by his shirt and yank him backward. Together, they stumble. Adrian pushes the guy, trying to get back to Aaron lying on the ground, but the guy spins and steps in front of Adrian; I realize who it is.

“Enough!” Jordan’s hands connect with Adrian’s chest, shoving him back hard. “He’s had enough. You’re done.”

Adrian’s chest heaves. His fists are soaked in deep, crimson blood. It drips from his knuckles onto the ground, and when he lifts a hand and drags it across his face, it leaves a smear across his jaw.

“He fucking touched her!” His voice is wild.

I inch forward, needing him.

Jordan slowly backs away from Adrian, his hands still held up. It takes him two steps to reach Aaron, and he drops to a crouch next to him. Aaron is groaning, and his face is already swelling. Without looking away from Aaron, Jordan says, “You need to call the cops.”

“No fuckin’ way,” Adrian grits out.

“You don’t call the cops; this guy doesn’t walk away from this.”

What?

Pebbles bite into my knees.

“Good,” Adrian huffs out a bitter laugh.

“No, Adrian.” Jordan spins to look at Adrian.

“I’ll fucking end him right now.”

“What good are you to her if you spend the rest of your life in jail?”

I’m so close, a couple of meters away.

“Call. The. Cops,” Jordan demands.

Something sharp slices into my knee, and I gasp, the sound a sharp cry against the tense silence between Adrian and Jordan. Adrian’s head spins toward me, like he just remembered I’m here, and I don’t even have a chance to call out for him. He closes the space between us in one long stride. He drops to his knees so hard that I flinch, but he doesn’t react. He pulls me into his arms; his familiar scent floods my senses, ushering in a feeling of calm. Safety.