Page 72 of Wonder

Darkness slithers over his face. “Say whatever you want.”

He lunges for me; thick, meaty hands reaching out. There’s nothing but vile anticipation in his face, no thought that I’m not moving, not trying to run.

My guard is wide fucking open, and Bruce runs straight into it. My back hits the floor with a hard smack as he takes me down.

But he leaves his neck wide open.

His expression when I lift my legs and wrap them around his waist is gleeful. “I knew you’d come round.”

My ankles hook together in a tight grip. Bruce stiffens as I pull myself up and hook my arm around his neck. “What—,”

His words cut off in a choking sound as I tighten my grip, pushing against his windpipe.

If this were Chess, he could get out of this easily enough. But this nasty, vile, perverted little asshole is nothing close to Chess, inanyfucking way.

The average guillotine choke can render someone unconscious in less than ten seconds. I keep my grip tight, crushing, as Bruceflops around on top of me like a wet fucking fish, gurgling as his face turns purple.

When his body slumps, I shove him off in disgust. “Six seconds. Of course you’d be less than fucking average.”

I scramble to my feet, straightening my dress before I turn and kick him in the face. My foot slams down, a satisfying crunching noise coming from his nose.

I pull my foot back and kick him in the ribs this time. “Bet your dick is the size of amatchstick.”

Again. “And you probably call your own fucking name when you come.”

It’s possible that Imayhave some outstanding anger issues. I’ve been kicking him for a while when I become aware of eyes on me.

Kayden steps forward, his arms crossed. “I’d ask if you need a hand, but you clearly have this covered.”

His words are genial enough, but his face… if Bruce was awake right now, I’m fairly sure he’d have shit his pants at the expression Kayden is giving him.

Aiden grins beside him. “You’re rather savage. I like that.”

“Uh.” I lower my foot from mid-air. “Thanks?”

“Did he touch you?” Kayden’s voice is lethally quiet as he steps forward to stand beside me. His blue eyes are dark. “Hurt you?”

The smile disappears from Aiden’s face.

“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ as I glance down to his unconscious body. “He thought I’d be an easy target.”

Kayden surveys me. “He was wrong.”

I half-shrug. Before I can say anything else, Kayden turns to Bruce, lifting his own foot.

He slams it down on Bruce’s windpipe. Once. Twice.

Bruce’s breathing turns to heavy, choking gurgles.

“Good job.” I pat his arm. “I’d rate that an eight.”

Kayden looks affronted as he turns back to me. “Aneight?”

“Well,” I say, quite reasonably. “He’s not dead.”

“It’s actually incredibly difficult to kill someone through crushing their trachea,” Aiden points out drily. “Humans can sustain life breathing through a two-millimeter hole.”

“He’s not dead yet,” Kayden mutters. He still sounds irritated. “But he will be. Vagal inhibition.”