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Toth curled his hands into fists. “Put that down and fight like a man.”
The guy holding the two-by-four smirked. “He’s pretty, ain’t he? I should knock out his front teeth.”
“Give it a try, punk.” Toth motioned for him to approach.
The man took a step forward and swung. Toth dodged to the side, grabbed the two-by-four, and shoved it backward, slamming the wood into the guy’s mouth.
Blood spurted out and teeth hit the cement with a tinkle.
“Fuck!”
Satisfaction arced through Toth despite the pulse of pain across his skull. He smiled at Mark. “You’re next, motherfucker.”
“Get him,” Mark commanded.
The three remaining men charged. The first man swung and Toth caught his fist in his palm and twisted it to the side. The man howled and his knees buckled as bone cracked. The next guy dove for Toth’s middle, but Toth didn’t go down. He brought his elbow down once, twice, three times on the back of the man’s head. His arms went slack and he crumpled to the ground.
Toth snorted at Mark as the man with the broken wrist toddled out of the room and the one with missing teeth staggered behind him. Only Mark and one other guy were left besides the dude unconscious at Toth’s feet. “That all you got?”
Mark grabbed something shiny clipped on his pants and flipped open a blade. The asshole next to him pulled out a gun. “No shots, Frank,” Mark said, keeping his eyes on Toth. “We need to make it look like he attacked us before we kill him.”
Toth laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“Don’t worry, the others are coming for her.”
Toth blinked as reality clicked into place. Mark wasn’t just after him. Mark wanted to take him out so he could get to Savannah.
“You go near her and I’ll break every bone in your fucking body.” The promise came out with such force it made his voice shake. The driving weight of panic made him want to storm into Danny’s office and get Sav the fuck out of there immediately.
Mark turned to Frank and nodded. Frank lunged for Toth and shoved him back two steps before Toth recalibrated, grabbed Frank by his neck, and lifted him off the ground. He slammed him against the wall and drove three punches into his face. Blood spattered on his knuckles.
“Motherfucker!” Mark said from behind him.
He wheeled around, but Mark slashed the knife through the air before Toth could block it. The blade licked through Toth’s skin, searing his nerve endings. Warm blood touched his forearm. Toth hissed and grabbed Mark’s good arm. “You must have a jonesing for plaster.” He bent Mark’s arm to the side.
A cry sounded from behind him as Frank latched himself onto Toth’s back, forcing his grip off Mark. Frank pulled his forearm against Toth’s throat, cutting off his air.
Fury expanded inside him. Toth barreled backward, slamming Frank’s back into the wall and pinning him there.
Mark scooped up the two-by-four and advanced. Toth’s face heated. All the blood was trapped above Frank’s grip. Oxygen leaked from his lungs. He pulled at Frank’s arms but the fucker had a death grip. Frank reared back and a guttural sound came from Toth’s throat as his need for air fought against his senses.
If he passed out, he’d be done.
Mark lifted the wood slab in his good hand and steadied it with his casted arm. He took a step forward. Toth kicked out, catching Mark in the knee. But the action took too much of his energy when his brain was already struggling without air. Mark growled and swung.
Wham!
Toth lifted his arm, blocking the blow. An ache exploded from his elbow to his neck.
“Fucking ox,” Mark said, with impatience and disdain. He lifted the wood again and swung. Toth lifted his arm once more but Mark’s swing went over it, striking Toth in the side of the head.
His vision wavered and pain buzzed in his ears. Mark struck again. Toth’s knees buckled, and the concrete floor rushed up to greet him.
***
Sounds from thewarehouse traveled to her father’s office. And for the second time, the noises made Savannah pause. Her dad’s confession had pacified some of her anxiety, but she still didn’t understand.
“Just three months ago you fronted him drugs. Why would you do that? He was Jace’s best friend. Did you really think he wouldn’t hold a grudge against you for killing him?”
