“Get him, guys.”
As they ambushed me, I heard Rae calling out. The crunch of dead grass could be heard, and I hoped she was climbing into that fucking tree, doing her best to get away from these assholes. They ripped me away from the guy I had pinned to the hood of the car, tossing me back to my bike. And as I fell to the concrete, I gazed up at my getaway, hoping with all my might they’d follow me and leave Rae alone.
Piss them off first. They’ll follow you then.
“That all you got?” I asked.
I leapt off the ground, poised for a fight as their main guy hunched over, grabbing his balls like a little bitch.
I grinned. “Because if that’s all you got, there’s no way in hell you’ll please a girl like Rae. She needs something a little… thicker.”
“Clint! Shut up and come on already!”
Her voice sounded far away, and I hoped that meant she was running. Another guy rushed toward me and I clotheslined him, preparing myself to throw another punch. The fight began and I hit them everywhere I could, making sure not to leave my bike. They kept coming at me with punches. With elbows. With snarky remarks about all the things they’d do to Rae once they got their hands on her.
I wasn’t having any of it.
I ran myself into one guy’s stomach, picking him up off the ground. I body-slammed him into the hood of the car, then moved just before another one kicked me. I heard the headlight shatter before the lighting dimmed around us. A yelp told me that glass had raked right across someone’s skin. I chuckled to myself as I whipped around, lifting my legs to donkey kick the asshole headed for me.
And since I couldn't see Rae, I took that as a good sign.
“You guys really are pathetic!” I grunted. “This is easier than last week!”
“You’re gonna die tonight, asshole.”
The growling voice told me it was time. I bolted for my bike, praying to any god that might be listening for help in abating Rae’s anger. Because I knew she’d be angry at me. Spitfire angry. But I had to get these assholes away from her. I had to keep her safe.
And whatever that took, I was willing to do it.
“Oh, no. You're not getting away. Get in the car, boys! We got ourselves an asshole to run down!”
“Clint!”
Her voice seemed so far away, but that was the point. Give her a chance to run before leading these guys off somewhere else. I threw my leg over my bike, not worrying about my helmet. I cranked up the engine and sped out of the parking lot, hearing my gear shifter groan and flailing my leg to get the kickstand up as I took off.
It worried me when I didn’t see that headlight turning toward me in the rearview mirror.
“No!”
Rae’s shriek told me everything I needed to know. I whipped around, revving my engine as I raced down the road. I saw the car hopping the curb, blowing past that fucking tree. I saw it racing up the street before the headlight illuminated Rae’s form on the side of the road. She was climbing the chain-link fence around the elementary school playground, hopping it before the boys even got out of their fucking car.
I grabbed my helmet off my handlebars and pulled up behind their car, whipping the helmet at their rear windshield and shattering it into a million pieces.
That got their attention.
“You son of a bitch!”
Rae yelled, “Clint!”
“Get him!”
“You’re dead tonight, fucker! I just replaced that damn thing!”
I laughed. “Gotta catch me first, assholes!”
Rae cupped her hands over her mouth. “Clint! Don’t do this!”
“Get yourself safe, Rae. For fuck’s sake, just stop fighting!”