“What the fuck?” I said to myself as her place came into view. Just outside, my eyes locked on the old weather beaten buick sitting under the yellow haze of a streetlight.
The car from the alley.
I didn’t understand and I didn’t need to. My body flexed and raged as I slammed on the brakes, throwing the door open without even taking the time to put it in park. My legs pumped against the asphalt as I made my way up to her open door.
Bria’s voice came sharply from the opening. “Please Kevin! Don’t do this!”
I was a wrecking ball. I was death and destruction. I threw myself straight through the opening and flew past the plants lining the entrance. My fighters instincts were carrying me as I hit the living room running, but Kevin wasn’t the one standing in my way. All I could see was the asshole I’d pulled off Bria the night my whole world changed.
“GET OFF HER!”
Bria’s eyes went wide as I ploughed a fist into the big man, tearing him away and swinging him straight to the ground. Bria stumbled to the side screaming as I brought a knee down against his exposed arm, the bones breaking like twigs. Every ounce of training I’d ever received was being put to use as I pummeled his face into sweet fucking oblivion. I was so set on my task that I almost didn’t notice the searing pain that flashed in my thigh, or the explosion that rocked my eardrums.
I turned my head in shock and saw Bria lunge forward. Rolling off the filthy man on the floor I could see the blood pouring from my leg before I could even recognize what had happened. I swept my eyes back up to see Bria struggling with her ex-boyfriend. Another explosion hit my ears and I was showered in bits of popcorn ceiling.
He has a gun…
Bria was outmatched but she fought like a tiger. Time seemed to stand still as she clawed at Kevin’s face and fought to keep his gun hand pointed away from me. Pain wracked my body as I forced myself to my feet. Another bullet lodged itself into the wall, missing me by inches.
I was on the move again, all focus on the gun as I reached out and gripped the barrel, twisting it from his grasp. Bria was a woman possessed, flailing against Kevin even as I pulled her away. With one hard swing, I brought the butt of the gun up against Kevin’s head and sent him tumbling to the floor.
I could hear Bria shouting something as I followed Kevin down, my knee buckling beneath me. A feeling of helplessness rolled out from my core as I rolled over, looking up at her beautiful eyes, and then everything went black.
35
Luke
Light…
My eyes burned as I blinked, trying to get my bearings. I had to stop Kevin… I had to save Bria…
“Take it easy,” a man’s voice said quietly.
I tried to move, but I could feel the thick straps holding my wrists. I opened my eyes again, squinting against the light as I screamed, pulling at the ties that bound me.
“Luke… Please. I’m here. It’s okay.”
I knew that voice. It was the voice of an angel… My angel.
I turned my head, forcing my eyes open and focusing on the figure bathed in light from the window.
“Bria…”
“Luke.”
She moved toward me, the lines of her face coming clear as she pulled in close, throwing her arm across my chest.
“I thought I lost you,” she whispered, close enough that I could feel her breath against my cheek.
“You’re in the hospital, Luke,” the man’s voice said, cutting off our moment. I rolled my head and stared quietly at the man in the white coat. “The bullet severed your femoral artery. It was a clean cut, and you’re lucky to be alive.”
I lifted my head off the pillow, looking down across the hospital gown toward my legs as a feeling of dread rolled through me.
“My leg…”
I could see the bandages wound tight around my thigh, just above where my knee would have been… If it wasn’t missing… Along with the rest of my leg.
“What happened to my leg!”
“The damage was too extensive. We had no choice…” The doctor replied. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Luke,” Bria whispered. “You saved me.”
36
Bria
I like running when it’s dark…
My legs pumped, muscle burning and crying for relief.
Here comes the climb…
I hit the thirty-degree angle, my heart racing as I drove myself hard against the cool evening breeze.
The last six months had gone by so quickly. Kevin’s trial was almost over and it was obvious that he was going to prison for a very long time.
And Rick had fared even worse… Turns out my captor from the Alley was on probation for assault and battery. Kevin had helped him beat a harder sentence, and he’d drawn him into his twisted plan as a means of repayment.