Page 54 of Chasing Sarah

One with a ragged black hoodie and jeans, littered with holes, turns to face me. His hood is up, covering his face in shadow.

I square my shoulders. There is no way I can fight them off on my own, but if I can get the kid away, I think I can handle a few bumps and bruises.

I stand a few inches taller than the guy who stalks toward me. As he gets closer, his face becomes visible. Scars and scabs mar his skin, his eyes bloodshot.

The scent of rancid cigarettes and sweat fills my nose when he stands just a breath away. I don’t bother to mask the disgust that appears on my face.

His gaze trails down my body, pulling a growl from my lips. When his eyes rise back to mine, he smiles.

He’s missing a few teeth.

“Aren’t you a pretty one?” he purrs.

I relax my hands at my side, adrenaline flowing through my veins, defensive moves flash through my mind.

The other three men step away from the kid who continues to cower on the ground and move to surround me.

Each of them is similar in appearance to the first one.

Clearly, they use drugs and seem to be high off their rocker at the moment.

I flick my eyes to the boy who scrambles to his feet and flees from the alley.

“Looks like you’re all alone,” one teases.

“I bet you have a pretty pussy,” another whispers in my ear.

“Too bad you’re not gonna see it,” I snap, venom seeping from my voice.

“We’ll see about that.”

A hand is wrapped around my arm, crushing my bicep. I kick the man in front of me in the chest, knocking him back, and jab the heel of my palm into the nose of another. I feel the crunch on impact, and a wave of satisfaction pulses through me.

“Fucking bitch!”

My head whips to the side when he back hands me. Blood fills my mouth. I spit in the face of the guy holding my arm. He lets go, swiping at the blood.

The click of a gun being cocked causes everyone to pause. The boy stands next to Rhys who has a pistol pointed at the men.

“I suggest you step away from my woman,” he says in a menacingly calm voice.

They move away from me at rapid speed, holding their hands up in surrender.

“Sarah.” Rhys’ stoic face meets mine; his gun remains trained on the men who now stand behind me.

I use the back of my hand to wipe my busted lip then whirl around. “Fucking pigs.” I spit on the ground at the men’s feet before striding toward Rhys.

He reaches out, pausing my pursuit out of the alley. Wrath explodes in his irises as he takes in my disheveled appearance.

“Get in the car,” he orders, letting me go and gesturing over his shoulder with his chin.

“What about him?” I ask, my eyes flicking to the boy for a second.

“He’ll be cared for.” I see the promise in his eyes.

Satisfied, I nod and exit the alley.

Two vehicles are parked on the curb. A huge guy stands next to one and opens the door for me.

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