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“It’s your fault!” Tears rushed down Beverly’s face. “For years, I was beaten, and then I found a way to make sure I never endured that pain again. I did whatever they asked. I spoke softly. I never got in their way. I kept the house spotless! I cooked dinner! I kept my grades above average! It was good enough to escape this pain for eight whole months.” She pointed her gun at Carla.

“Then you…” Her bottom lip trembled. “You just couldn’t give me another chance. So, I’m going to tell you what’s about to happen now. First, I’m going to kill you, then I’m going to…” She grabbed a handful of Carrie’s hair and jerked her up on her feet. “I’m going to kill Carrie. Then I’m going to kill myself.”

Out of sight, Jacob leaned forward, looking into the classroom. The first thing he saw was Carla. Beautiful and horrified, doing her best to keep it together. His gaze dropped to her hands. They trembled, and his gut churned, hating to see her body respond to the fear she felt.

Taking the risk to look deeper, he saw Beverly, whose eyes were currently on Carrie. Then, the boys, Jared and Omega in the back of the class. He could read their language. They were about to make a move, even though Carla was subtly signaling them not to.

He waited, watching the boys, then…they moved, and Jacob ran into the room at the same time that they jumped Beverly.

The gun went off twice when Beverly was tackled.

Bang! Bang!

Screams filled the class, and Carla fell to the floor as Jacob covered her body and took her down.

“Get off of me!” Beverly screamed, but the boys pushed the gun away and forced her hands behind her back, holding her there.

“Oh, my God!”

Everyone turned to Carla and Jacob. Blood was spilling between them, and Carla’s hands shook as both she and Jacob checked her chest, her stomach, her legs.

“It’s not me!” Her eyes widened, and she frantically checked Jacob. “You’re hit!”

“Ugh!” he groaned.

“What the hell are you even doing here!?” Tears clouded her eyes. “No, no, no!”

“It’s okay. It’s all right.”

“How can you even say that! You’re not supposed to…” she hyperventilated. “You’re not supposed to be here!”

“Bellissima. Look at me.”

“I am looking at you!”

He lifted her eyes to his gaze. “I’m going to be all right. I’m made of steel, woman.” He smiled, then groaned, and Carla sobbed as police filed into the room.

“We need a paramedic!”

As a precaution, EMTs were already on the scene. A group of the medics sprinted into the room; all of them immediately began working on Jacob.

* * *

Three days later

“Didn’tI tell you I was made of steel?” Jacob grinned at Carla as she opened the passenger door of her Infiniti and helped him inside.

“Ha, ha, that’s not funny.”

“Eh,” he handed over his crutches. “I considered it a light joke.”

Carla twisted her lips.

“No?”

“No.”

“A brotha can try, right?”