For her.
I caught my second wind, a sudden burst of energy numbing the ache in my bones and spurring me on. I managed to turn the tide with a swift punch to the man’s throat. He recoiled, gasping for air. It gave me just enough time to kick him in the chest. He went flying, hitting his head against the wall next to us. It left a dent in the drywall. This time, he was knocked unconscious.
I dragged myself onto my feet, bones creaking. The assailant with the gun was already standing, dashing toward me. He punched me in the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. I was dizzy, the taste of iron that coated my tongue making me nauseated. I wasn’t out of the woods yet. My concentration was slipping, my hits weren’t connecting.
The attacker managed to get behind me, locking my head in a chokehold. He squeezed hard, crushing my windpipe. There was a sudden pressure behind my eyes, in my skull. I couldn’t see straight.
The sound of something cracking reached my ears. The man released me, and I could suddenly breathe again, gasping for air. I turned to find him unconscious, flat on his face. Above him was Vivian, toilet tank cover —the half that hadn’t broken off— still in hand.
“Holy shit,” she breathed, rushing to me. “Holy shit, are you alright? Your nose is bleeding. Here, tilt your chin up.” She cupped my face and wiped at my nose with the sleeve of her sweater.
“I told you to run,” I said, voice hoarse and barely recognizable in my own ears.
“I wasn’t leaving you behind.”
“I gave you an order.”
Vivian rolled her eyes, but her shaky hands gave away her composure. “You can be angry at me about it later.” Her fingers grazed my cheek as she inspected me. The cool touch of her skin was a greater relief to me than an ice pack. “Good. I don’t think your nose is broken. Quit squirming, you’re going to ruin your shirt.”
I grasped her hands. “Why didn’t you listen to me? You should have at least stayed in the bathroom.”
“You’d be dead if it weren’t for me.”
“I would have been fine.”
“Oh, yeah,” she quipped dryly. “Fine and blue in the face.”
“This isn’t up for debate. You said you’d obey my orders.”
“Jesus, would it kill you to say thank you?”
“I’m not going thank you for being reckless.”
“Reckless? You’re telling me that taking on three gang members all by yourself isn’t reckless?”
“I told you already. It’s my job.”
Vivian’s nostrils flared. “I was just trying to help.”
She was probably trying to come across as serious and angry, but I got more of a pouting puppy impression. She was just so small and beautiful and wide-eyed that I wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Still, there was no missing the way her eyes grew glassy and red at the corners, tears of frustration welling up.
I swallowed, ignoring the urge to dry her tears. “Thank you,” I mumbled.
Vivian sighed. “Was that so hard?”
“Yes.”
“Shush. Let me get you a cloth for your nose.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Bleeding’s stopped, I think.”
“We should get you to a hospital. What if you broke something?”
“Trust me, I would know if something were broken.” I grunted as I got up. I was going to feel it in the morning.
“Jesse, you really should—”
The gang member that Vivian nailed across the back of the head with the toilet tank cover groaned. He stirred, about to come to.