It took a minute for me to register the sound of shattering glass all around me over my own guttural screaming. A black square appeared where my reflection had been and I belatedly realized I was seeing into one of the sitting rooms. A man stood panting, with something raised above his head.
“What the fuck?” Occum swore and thrust his knife forward.
“Ford,” I sobbed out.
Ford’s face was contorted in rage. He swung a crowbar down on the next window. I crawled to the back. My hands covered my head from the rain shower of broken glass.
Occum swore incomprehensibly and lunged at Ford. I huddled in the back, flinging glass shards off me. Occum and Ford fought for the crowbar. Occum's knife was on the floor a few feet away. They struggled. Occum grunted. Ford screamed a primal sound. I watched the scene play out like I wasn’t there, unsure of my role.
Ford was so strong; he fought so hard. Here he was again fighting for me. The surreal crunching of bones. Rapid punching. Kicking. Thrusts. Blood.
Occum brought his knee up and Ford crumbled forward. I thought I was powerless, but a scream ripped out of me as I moved into action. The knife was in my hand. I sliced it across Occum's calf.
Occum reared back for me.
I stabbed upwards, the knife hitting somewhere around his stomach. He fell forward, barely missing me.
Ford lunged, punching Occum's unconscious body. Eyes black, mouth dripping blood, he kept punching. The snaps and crunching of bone. He wasn’t going to stop. He was going to kill Occum.
I threw myself forward, grabbing his arms. He didn’t stop. He didn’t see me.
“Ford!” I yelled grabbing his face.
Finally, he registered me. He stopped his assault, looking first at me and then at his hands.
“You can’t go to jail for murder. People need you.”
He blinked. Blinked again. And stumbled backward. I was still naked and shivering. I let go because I couldn’t hold on any longer. I let go because I was done fighting.
Chapter 28
Clifford
Suzie wasn't talking. She was conscious. Mostly. But she wasn't talking. Her clothes were gone. Her hair was gone. She bled from a few spots. But what had me shaking with terror was that she refused to speak. Her eyes were open, but she wasn't responding.
I glanced to the unconscious man. He was passed out, not dead. I wanted him to be dead. But Suzie stopped me. Suzie. I blinked back into awareness. She needed me. She had saved me. Now I had to save her.
“Suzie, we’ve gotta go. Look at me. Are you okay?” I hugged her close to me. I rubbed her cheek. She blinked at me but said nothing.
I shrugged out of my tuxedo coat and wrapped her in it. Thankfully, I had known about this secret room from that initial inspection. I had left her and she hadn’t been okay. My Suzie. The driver who had taken us to the party had seen two men forcing her into a car and had just maneuvered the car out of the line when I came running out. We followed it to the G-Spot and called Jack to meet me there. I knew Occum had taken her. Especially after I refused Buffount.
Suzie was a sack of flour as I scooped her into my arms. I threw her arms around my neck and she made a sad attempt to wrap them tighter. I stood and followed the stairs to a hall and a series of back rooms and hallways that weren't on Occum’s blueprints. I had to get her out of here before Occum’s bar full of pissed-off bikers figured out what was going on.
I knew the man was planning something evil that first night I came. I knew it. I should have shut it down. Why didn’t I go to the police? I was stupid. Fucking stupid. To think I ever considered…
“I’ve got you.”
She held on tighter and my hope grew.
I found the secret back door and took her out, listening for yells or gunshots. Rage and murderous thoughts rang through me. I moved with purpose. I could burn this place to the ground once Suzie was safe.
Gretchen’s car came around the building. She and Jack jumped out.
“Oh my God.” Gretchen’s hands flew to her mouth.
“Be cool. Be cool. Get in the car.” My voice was a whisper. I wasn’t sure if I was talking to them or myself.
Jack was silent as he helped me get Suzie in the back.
