Page 170 of The Forbidden Note

Hall collides into the thug.

I hear them both grunt in pain.

That’s right you ugly twat.

I’ve been in my share of fights. The girls who jump into my bed aren’t always single and there have been a few bar room brawls with jealous gym bros who couldn’t keep their anger in check.

I may not know how to fight like Finn does—with whatever secret ninja powers he’s been keeping under wraps—but I know how to give as good as I get.

With Hall down and embarrassed about it, I launch at him.

He raises the knife, but he doesn’t know how to thrust it. I grab his head, lift my knee up and slam him in the nose.

Blood spurts everywhere.

Gritting my teeth, I grab the hand holding the knife and try to get the weapon away from him.

I hear someone groan in pain behind me.

It’s Sol.

Panicked, I glance over at my best friend. His punches are losing steam. The thugs are getting too many hits in.

I need to get over there.

A thug comes charging at me before I can take a step. It’s too late to correct my stance. There’s no way I can dodge the bat that’s coming my way. It crashes into my back. There are nails at the end. I hear the rip of fabric and feel the hot stinging pain as the nails claw into my flesh.

Hall scrambles up again, holding a hand to his broken nose.

Another grunt comes from across the lawn. I turn in time to see Sol swaying back and forth like the ground can’t hold him anymore. With one last crushing blow from the thugs, he crumples to the ground. The thugs don’t stop. They deliver harsh punches to his stomach and back.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears.

My vision turns red.

I whirl around, noticing the idiot who hit me is cranking his arm back to let the bat loose again.

The world is spinning. I’m pretty sure blood is oozing down my neck, but I’m running on pure adrenaline and fury.

Roaring, I roll to the ground, pick up a rock and slam the thug in the face as hard as I can. He staggers back, but he’s so big that my hit didn’t knock him out. He regains his balance quickly, but I’m already on the move.

“Sol!” I yell, running over.

I ram into one of the guys who’s kicking my best friend. Moving like a wild thing, I kick another one in the knee cap. He goes flying to the ground.

I reach a hand out to Sol.

He grips my fingers, face a bloody mess.

The thugs surround us again.

Hall joins them.

Six against two.

Terrible odds.

I spit blood on the concrete, feeling woozy and fighting to stay in control.