Page 103 of Racing Hearts

“No.” Tommy climbs to his feet and searches for a weapon. Getting up, I rip off the rest of my torn shirt and wrap it around my knuckles, waving him on.

“Come on, you bastard.” I move to the side, turning us around so Alek and Tommy have a clear shot at the door. “You’re right, you know. I want Alice. She’s so sweet. You should see her in the morning in these little shorts?—”

He lunges at me with a roar.

Ducking under his rapid swings, I bring my knee up, and he stumbles back. “I’m not an easy kill, you sicko.” I grin. “And you fucked with the wrong family. She’s ours. You can’t have her, but I’ll give her your head as a present.”

He leaps at me again. He’s strong and fast, but he isn’t as trained as I am and is clumsily relying on his weapon. I duck under his swing again, sliding to the side, and bring my leg up in a brutal kick. He hits the notice board, the glass cracking, and then spins to me, swinging. I jump back, but he cuts my side. Hissing, I ignore the blood I feel running from the wound and focus on the blade as he comes at me again.

I avoid it as much as I can, but he lands another blow across my cheek, opening it. I want to fight back, but all I can do is avoid his blows. I can’t even afford to look away for a second, but Alek calls my name, a groan, pained sound, and I can’t help myself—I turn to look at Alek, and it’s the opening Mr. Ford needs.

I hear the blade heading my way, and when I jerk my head back, I know it’s too late to avoid it. It is coming right for me—a killing blow.

“Evan!” The terrified bellow stops my heart. I hate that he’ll see this, that Alek will be brokenhearted again, losing another person he loves.

He’ll blame himself. This is all I can think about as the blade heads for me.

Suddenly, a body appears between me and the blade, and when it makes contact, we fall back into the wall. I catch Tommy as he gasps, my eyes wide as I stare down at him to see a huge, gaping wound in his chest. His eyes meet mine as we slide down the wall, his weight dragging us to the floor. “I’ve got your back,” he whispers, his face pale as he blinks in shock.

“Tommy.” I slide out from behind him and sit him up as best as I can, my hands covering the wound as he blinks at me, blood bubbling from his lips.

I hunch my back to protect him as a kick hits my side. Grunting, I stay in place, holding the wound. We need to keep the blood in. We need to staunch it. He’ll be okay. The police will be here soon. My side is hit again and again. Mr. Ford is just beating me, punishing me, but I don’t care.

My eyes are on Tommy as he blinks. “Sorry, Evvie,” he rasps. “I should have been faster.”

“Shh.” I lean over him. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay, I promise. You’ll be okay.”

“I love you, Evvie,” he whispers. “Thank you for being my family when no one else wanted to be.” His words are too calm, and blood pumps through my fingers, too much to stop.

Tears flow from my eyes as I stare at Tommy. His head is propped against the wall, his neck at a weird angle, and his wound is still bleeding, yet he smiles at me. “We’re brothers, right?”

“Brothers.” I nod, pressing my forehead to his. “Always.”

Another kick hits me, and Alek calls my name. I lift my head to see him barreling our way.

Alek hits him with a roar, the force sending them down the hall as I sob, my hands over Tommy’s wound. “Evan, go!” he roars, looking back at me.

I look at Tommy, but his eyes are staring past me. “Tommy,” I call, shaking him with my hands on his chest. “Just hold on, okay? They’ll be here, then when you’re better, we’ll go skate at that park you mentioned. I’ll be your wingman. We’ll go to your favorite BBQ place. Just hold on.”

He doesn’t respond, and something inside me cracks.

“Evan, go!” Alek roars from my right, grunting as he struggles with Ford.

“Tommy,” I plead through my sobs. “Tommy, wake up.” Blood coats my hands, still pumping despite him being motionless. “Wake up! Stop joking. Wake up!”

He doesn’t.

He doesn’t move, and the pool of blood circling us gets bigger. Tommy’s eyes are open and unseeing, and his lips are covered in spit and blood.

“I love you. I love you, brother. I’m right here. You’re not alone. I’m right here. It’s going to be okay.” The words tumble from my lips as I press firmly against the wound, as if that can save him.

Sirens fill the air, the bright lights flashing around us. There are shouts, and Alek is at my side, but I don’t look away, even as police drop beside me and others race down the hall after Ford.

My eyes are on Tommy’s open, unseeing gaze.

“Tommy,” I croak, shaking him. “Stop it, wake up.”

“Evan—” Alek reaches for me, but I push him away.

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