“George here,” he said and stepped back, keeping an eye on Lina.
He was a good soldier. Lina glanced around for a brief second, then forward again. I saw the determination in her eyes. She was going to bust through this last obstacle. Going to class? I wanted to rush her and give her a big hug. I was so proud of her.
She turned down the next hallway toward the stairwell that would lead to her room. I should know, I’d just come from that area. Her class was in a big auditorium. I might be able to watch over her in there without her knowing.
And I would, too. Missing her wasn’t even close to the correct word to describe the void in my life these past two weeks. I’d been a pathetic excuse for a human without her.
But I deserved it. I’d screwed up beyond measure.
I glanced at George and waived him back. We’d have to go on the parallel hallway to beat her to the stairwell.
George’s eyes went wide, and my gut dropped. “What?”
“Shit.” George took off down the hallway. Gone was the stealth and at the front was worry. Wide-eyed and full-on worry.
I took off after him. “What’s happening?”
I glanced around searching for Lina. She was nearly to the first set of stairs on the stairwell leading to the second floor. She shot a look over her shoulder, then flinched. Three tall guys who looked like they should be on a division one basketball team stormed toward her.
She stopped, wither hands fisted at her side. She looked around, but then landed her focus on the guys. Always alert, aware, proactive, like I’d taught her.
I watched the guys advance on her as George and I stormed along the hallway. They wouldn’t do anything in broad daylight with all these students around, would they?
The guys were closer to her than us, and I opened my mouth to yell for her to run, but she took off up the stairs. She hoofed it two at a time, grabbing the railing. Yes, the top floor, that would be even more busy. Good thinking, Lina. Get to more people.
The three guys charged after her. “Hey!” I yelled. The last one glanced in my direction, but then turned and followed the rest of his goons up the stairs.
“Rick. James. Coming toward you. Three of them. Six eight, two hundred pounds. Armed at the left hips. Hunter and I are tailing them up.”
Armed? I hadn’t noticed that.Shit. I turned on the speed and reached the last thug before he got a good start up the stairs. I fisted my hand in the shoulder of his jacket and yanked him back. George went up the stairs for the next one.
I spun and kicked my guy in the gut. His back rammed into the showcase of art awards, and glass shattered everywhere. Screams erupted and people started running in every direction. My guy rolled and hopped to his feet.
He must have been about six foot four and tipping the scales at over two hundred pounds, and he was sporting a snake tattoo up his left arm.
I lunged and grabbed for his throat, red tinting my vision. Rage pounded through my veins so loud it sounded like a raging river in my skull.
Snake Boy deflected my advance and punched my chin. I spun but slammed my hand to his throat as I did. He leaned forward, and I hiked my knee to his nose, shattering it with one hit.
Chopping the back of his neck, I helped his fall forward accelerate. He planted his hand on the slick floor and pushed himself to the side as he kicked up. His foot hit my side, but I grabbed his leg and punched his groin.
I collared his neck, then hoisted him up and pinned him to the brick wall. “Who are you?”
He went to punch me, but I slapped his fist and head butted him. More screams followed, and I knew this wasn’t the place to do this, but I had to get some answers. Was he connected to my dad or was he some random dude wanting to hurt my Lina? This didn’t make sense.
“Screw you.”
I rammed his head against the wall, and he melted to the ground, unconscious. I took off up the stairs. I had to get to Lina. There’d been two more guys. What if—
I rounded the corner to find Lina facing off with one guy. Her legs were bent and her fists tight at her side. George was lying on the floor on his back, totally motionless, but the other guy was right there with him in unconsciousness.
The bald guy advanced on Lina, but she ducked to the side as she punched his stomach. It didn’t stop him, and he wrapped his hands around the back of her neck and pushed her forward.
“Let’s go!” he yelled.
Red claimed my vision quicker and faster than it ever had. My heart exploded as I burst toward them. No one touched my Lina. This asshole wouldn’t be taking her anywhere. No way. No how.
I tackled the jerk around the legs. Lina, the guy, and I were on the floor in the next breath. Lina yelped and kicked out, her heel colliding with Baldy’s cheek. I grabbed his pants at the belt and yanked him away from Lina.