Page 39 of Inferno

She kept her phone in one hand, her gun in the other, taking measured steps. Her heart pounding in her ears, her eyes scanning the streets, buildings, and anywhere she could see. Everything in her was hyperaware of what was happening around her.

Which meant she heard the shuffle as soon as it happened.

Samantha spun back, rotating on the ball of her foot so that her shoe scraped gravel as she turned. He grabbed for the gun.She tightened her grip, punching forward with her phone hand to slam into the guy’s sternum.

Breath expelled from his lips, hot and sour.

She pulled back far enough to lift her foot and kicked at him. His grip on her gun didn’t loosen, dragging her as he stumbled back a couple of steps. She planted her feet, but he pulled her over and rolled, coming up on top of her. The gun skittered out of reach.

Samantha only had her phone, which she slammed up toward the guy’s face. It smashed into his cheek and nose, and she heard the satisfying crack of cartilage.

He cried out, and blood sprayed her shoulder.

She gritted her teeth.

His hands grasped at her neck, banding around her throat where he started to squeeze. Blood stained his teeth, and he breathed hard. Not quite panic but certainly amped up because she had proven more formidable than he expected.

Black spots flickered at the edges of her vision.

She grabbed at his hands around her throat, trying to pry them away from the death grip that felt as if it were crushing her windpipe.

She batted at his arms and pushed at his shoulders. But no matter what she tried, there was no way to push him off her.

Lord, help me.

Her strength began to wane. She could feel the energy she had as if it seeped from her into the ground underneath her. She wanted to study his features to memorize them. But if she was about to lose her life here and now, what would be the point?

He knew she had seen his face. Now, she was going to die.

With her last morsel of strength, Samantha pushed at him. She kicked her legs, but couldn’t dislodge him.

A thunder of steps crested the edge of her awareness, growing in volume. “Sammy!”

That was when she knew she was going to die. The only time Julio ever called her that was in the worst moments. The times when it was nearly over.

Julio slammed into the man, tackling him to the side.

Samantha tried to breathe. She fought to inhale, managing only a tiny bit of air.

What was he…

How were they…

She turned her head far enough she could see what was going on.

Julio punched the man in the face, whipping his head to the side. The guy cried out, and Julio flipped him onto his stomach. “I need something to secure him with!”

Samantha had cuffs on the back of her belt.

She closed her eyes and slowly inhaled through her nose, drawing in as much clean air as possible. She lifted her hip just enough to slide her hand to the small of her back and tugged out the cuffs, sending them skittering across the ground.

Which was when she remembered her gun had done the same thing.

Where was it now?

She heard the clink of metal as Julio secured the man, then the thunderous sound of him yelling into his phone. Calling for the police and an ambulance.

And then everything went black.

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