Page 64 of Roaring Flames

“I don’t think?—”

I interrupt Blondie when I slam the back of my head against his face. Hard. He yelps and instinctively releases me. I take his momentary lapse of concentration to duck underneath Ginger’s arms and race down the alley.

I know when to fight and when to run. Right now, I’m outmuscled and outmanned. I’m not willing to take a risk in a fight that I’m not positive I can win.

My tennis shoes slap against the asphalt as I push myself faster and faster and faster. I can see the end of the alley, the promise of streetlights and people and stores?—

A figure moves in front of me—tall, broad, and covered in scars.

“Why are you running, sweetie?” he coos as he reaches for me.

I throw my fist back and punch Scar straight in the face. It takes him by surprise, and he immediately drops his arms, cupping his cheek.

“You bitch!”

Somebody grabs me from behind, and I kick my feet out desperately, willing them to hit something important. A scream bursts free, but a hand over my mouth immediately silences me.

“Shut up, bitch,” Blondie hisses.

I bite down on his hand, hard, digging my teeth into his flesh. He tastes absolutely vile, like dirty socks and rotten eggs.

“She’s fucking biting me!” Blondie screams, tightening his grip.

Scar moves until he’s directly in front of me. He grips my chin in a punishing grip and forces my face up to his.

“Don’t be a little brat. You should be grateful we’re giving you the attention.”

All three of them chuckle.

I narrow my eyes at him, even as terror floods my system.

I refuse to go down without a fight. Fucking refuse. If they want a docile female, then they chose the wrong one.

Scar’s gaze trails down my body and lands on my breasts. His hand leaves my chin and slowly trails downwards?—

Another shadow materializes directly behind him—an indistinct shape that I can’t quite make out. Dark fingers grab Scar by the ankle and pull.

Scar flies through the alley with a scream of terror.

“What the fuck?” Ginger exclaims.

Scar’s screams reach a crescendo, and I hear the sound of flesh tearing. Then there’s silence.

All I can hear is the pounding of my own heart trying to burst free of my chest.

“What the fuck?” Ginger repeats, venturing a tentative step forward.

Something grabs him and drags him around the corner of the building.

More screams.

More tearing of flesh.

Silence.

“Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.” Blondie releases me as if my skin burned him. He begins to step away. “Holy shit. Holy sh—” His words are cut off when someone grabs him from above and drags him into the air. I see his legs for a fraction of a second before they disappear on top of the roof. His screams are endless. They reverberate around me.

Something dark drips down the side of the building.

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