“What a fucking pussy.”
Asshole tilts his head, looking at me. I can read in his eyes that he knows exactly what I was doing earlier, and realizing that he has no fucking clue who he’s dealing with.
But he should have.
That’s what they all get for thinking I’m naive.
“What?” I laugh out loud. “You realize your way in over your fucking head?”
“Realizing you’re batshit crazy, yeah, but I have a way to deal with that.”
“How?” I laugh again.
“I’m gonna enjoy this,” he tells me as he steps closer.
“Wha —”
* * *
I’m groggy as the back of the van opens. Flashes as I’m hoisted out. Men in black hoodies, black ski masks, and boots, doors opening and closing. Screaming out as I’m tossed oversomeone’s shoulder, my ribs making contact and causing my eyes to roll back into my head again.
No, stop. Stay awake.
Keeping my eyes closed, I wait as my consciousness becomes more reliable.
There’s footsteps echoing around me, but I’m unsure of how many men are here.
Maybe I should take that as a good sign.
Counting the stairs as we round each set of them.
Once we’re on the third floor, we leave the stairwell. Peeking my eyes open, I try to take in as much as I can. I see shoes behind me, maybe two. I’m sure there’s at least 2 in front. The man carrying me has a gun holstered at his side.
Moron.
Knowing I have to take my moment even if nothing comes of it. Slamming my knee into the man’s chest, hitting bone, hoping I’m breaking his ribs just as they did mine. In the same motion, I grab hold of the gun, lifting it up and aiming at one ski mask.
The gunfire masks the sound of my chauffeur’s scream.
Grabbing me by the back of my shirt and slamming me hard onto the ground, I gasp as all the air knocks out of me.
“Goddamnit,” someone shouts ahead of us. “It’s a fucking girl. She’s what? A foot shorter than you are and weighs at least half.”
“It’s like she’s fucking feral!”
If I could get any air into my lungs, I’d laugh at that and thank him.
Calm down.
I hear my mother’s voice again.
Breathe. You’re okay. Just breathe.
Screaming out as soon as I regain the ability to, as the stinging on my head starts again and I’m being pulled backwards.
I’m flung into a room as the man continues into the middle. “See, you’re not gonna cause trouble, are you?”
“Fuck off.” I grumble out still just now being able to form words.
