Page 110 of Greed
“Get back, Lilo.” Griffin pushed her away. “Get to safety.”
Griffin wasn’t sure if it was pride or stupidity, but Parker charged at Doppenger first.
“Pin him down like you did with those guys in the alley,” Lilo said to Griffin. “Then all you need to do is wait until the serum wears off.”
“Good idea,” he said and scoured the area for something suitable. He was still searching when he noticed Lilo hadn’t moved.
“Go!”
She got two steps, but hesitated and turned back. “I won’t go far. I have to be close so I can report the truth.”
She must have seen the fear in his eyes. What if he blacked out? What if he killed everyone, including her? He was running perilously close to the bottom of his reserves, and he didn’t want to know what he’d do if he was pushed to the limits, but it might take a monster to beat a monster.
“You need to be as far away from me as you can,” he ground out. “I can’t have you hurt. Parker and Evan won’t hold him for long.”
“Griff.” She saw right through him. “Don’t hold back. You got this.”
He shook his head, denying it.
She limped back to him, gripped the base of his neck and forced him to look at her. She took his bare fingers, letting her touch soak into him.
“I know you’re holding back. You’re afraid I’ll get hurt. You’re afraid of losing control. But you need to do this, Griffin. I trust you. You have to give it your all. He could hurt everyone here, not just me.” She touched her forehead to his, her silent proclamation of solidarity, and two-seconds later, she was gone, back to a group of bystanders under the butcher shop awning, asking around for a camera phone.
Give it your all.
Her words rang in his ears and he knew she was right. He wasn’t the same man he was back then. He’d trained, he’d taught himself to manage his sin, and now thanks to her, he was balanced. She just gave him an extra boost with her touch. It was time.
Griffin turned back to his brothers and assessed. Parker had just been hit and stumbled. Evan whipped out his Katanas, now going for the deadly option. He rotated them by his side as he studied the beast, circling him.
Pushing off with burning thighs, Griffin bolted forward. As he got within a few meters, he used his staff to vault feet first at Doppenger’s chest—kicking him in the center. The ground quaked as the beast crash landed, sliding backward until he hit the box-curb on the other side of the street.
“Envy, pin him,” Griffin ordered. “I’ll help.”
“With pleasure.” Evan stabbed through Doppenger’s shoulders with his swords, driving through with all his might until the metal went through soft skin, flesh and maybe bone. Griffin used his power to continue the Katanas’ momentum and slammed them through to the asphalt, embedding them deep. When Evan let go, the blades were almost buried to the hilts.
Doppenger’s whine of pain shook the sky, and he thrashed about on the ground, back arching ineffectively. Froth foamed at his mouth. Griffin clenched his teeth as he held on with his power. “Pride and Envy, reinforce the Katanas. I’ll find something else to pin him with.”
For once, Parker took the order and joined his brother in holding a fist to each Katana handle, keeping the beast pinned like a mounted scientific specimen. Griffin dropped his bo-staff, and with his power, ripped a gutter pipe from a side building. Water sprayed, dripping as the metal pipe levitated closer. Griffin slammed it lengthwise over Doppenger’s thick legs, stapling him into the asphalt, locking his ankles in place.
“Get another two for his wrists,” Parker added.
When he had done the same for Doppenger’s hands, they all stood back, gingerly taking their hands from the beast’s body.
Heedless of the swords in his shoulders, Doppenger writhed and snarled, gnashing his teeth, spitting foam. “She’s mine!” he kept repeating.
“She’s not yours.” Griffin's words solidified something he’d been contemplating. He wanted Lilo to be his. Committed forever.
He shot a look in her direction and found her filming the entire thing. Tension loosened his shoulders. She was safe. The police were coming. It was over.
A thousand voices in his head screamed for him to stay put, but he needed to be with her. He took a few steps. Lilo lowered her camera, their eyes met, perhaps thinking the same thing. She stepped away from her group, and into the street, hesitant. It was as though his magnetic power pulled her straight to him. She took another step.
A steady grip landed on Griffin’s shoulder.
“Not now. People are watching.” Parker’s gruff computerized voice rumbled. “You can’t be associated like that. You’ve already shown her too much attention. More will put her in danger.”
Damn him.He was right. Evan had already skated up the damaged gutter pipe brackets and headed for the rooftop like a shadow’s afterthought. Headed home.
The police arrived, getting out of their vehicles further down the road blocked with traffic. Red and blue lights flashed, reflecting off the city buildings.
