Page 87 of Fractured Future

Brushing off my shoulder where the idiot shoved into me in his excitement, I peer through the crowd to make out the fight. I’ve investigated far too many of these seedy places to feel at ease.

A swinging, auburn ponytail causes alarm to slice into me. I hurriedly push through two more people, uncaring about subtlety. I’m too busy praying my eyes are playing tricks on me.

“Oh, fucking hell.”

“What?” Hyland yells in my ear. “What is it?”

No wonder I couldn’t find Ember in this turbulent crowd. She’s in the middle of the circle, bouncing around like a live wire against some gnarly-looking guy with no bloody shirt on.

“She’s fighting.”

“Tell me you’re kidding,” he huffs out.

“Wish I was.”

“What the actual fuck?”

My concern increases tenfold when the circling pair swap sides, both narrowly dodging the other. I get a glimpse of her opponent’s face. Blinking several times doesn’t reveal a different scene.

Blaine motherfucking Madden.

I must be tripping. Not only is that scheming snake in the country, and in my fucking city no less, but he’s eyeing my best friend’s little sister up like a meal he wants to devour.

“Madden is here.”

“Blaine Madden?” Hyland repeats. “How?”

“He’s up against Ember.”

Several seconds of astonished silence follow.

“You copy?” I check under my breath.

“Yeah. Copy.”

“There must be sixty odd people in here. Presumably some work for him.” I cough into my hand to cover my words. “Even if you joined me, we’d still be severely outnumbered.”

“Shit! Has she lost her mind?”

Unfortunately for us, Ember looks perfectly sane bouncing into Madden’s personal space to jab at his midsection. The asshole lets her take a shot, a grin slicked across his face.

With Ember’s strike levied, he shoves her left shoulder hard. She skates backwards, her running shoes scratching against blood-splattered concrete. It throws her off-balance.

“Come on, Em,” I plead.

“Tell me what’s happening.”

“He’s pushing her around.”

“I’ll kill him with my bare hands,” Hyland snarls in a menacing tone. “Fuck prison. He’ll be six feet under this time. Bones ripped apart and buried in pieces.”

“As much as I agree with you, we need to play this smart. Get her out of here then deal with Madden once and for all.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, though his tone drips with reluctance. “I suppose so.”

With Madden stalking towards her like a hungry lion set on devouring its prey, Ember seems to be outgunned. She’s fast, but he has brute strength on his side.

Yet as he nears with his fists raised and a warehouse full of supporters cheering him on, something visibly changes in Ember’s stance. Her back lengthens, red head thrown back and chin jerked upright in breathtaking defiance.