Page 86 of Phoenix Falling
“Leave me alone,” I said again.
He grinned down at me, flashing a grill like it was still 2005. That time I couldn’t help the eye roll.
His expression turned dark. “You got a problem with me, bitch?”
“I have a problem with you getting in my way. Now let me by.”
Next thing I knew, he’d shoved me backward. Dude Number Three—or maybe it was Four; I wasn’t certain which—caught me on the way down and tossed me back like I was in a full-body game of keep away. Before I made it back to Dude Number One, the guy on the receiving end of my elbow stopped me with his body.
I brought my hands up, warding him off. “Don’t touch me.”
“Why not?” He leered down at me. “We’re just havin’ some fun.”
“Fun for who, dickhead?”
“Me, bitch.” He shoved me back. One of the dudes I couldn’t see kept the game up by pushing me forward again. This time Elbow Guy gripped my breast on my way past.
I swiped my nails across his face.
“Aah!”
Dude Number One had his hands up, grabbing for me, but reaching for his friend’s face had turned my body aside. When Elbow Guy retaliated by pushing me once more, there was no one there to catch me.
My tailbone did not appreciate the concrete. “Shit!”
“Ain’t that where you deserve to be, babe?” he sneered.
I’d love to tell you where you deserve to be.Unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to indulge that little wish. Scrambling to my feet, I tried to back away, but by now they’d closed in the circle again. More jostling commenced. I fought back, but it took a few turns before a gap appeared that I could bolt through.
Right out into the street. Without warning, something that felt like a brick wall slammed into my body.
Damn! Damn damn damn.
Even if I’d wanted to get up, my ass and spine and head said no way in hell. I didn’t attempt it. Being on the ground steadied me enough that it only took me a few minutes to figure out what had happened. In my disorientation I’d walked right in front of the arriving bus. Thank God it had been almost stopped. The four assholes had disappeared while the bus driver jumped out to see if I was okay. Banged up and bruised, but overall I was fine—and even if I wasn’t, I just wanted to be left alone to lick my wounds.
The kindly Mr. Henderson refused to take no for an answer, however, and with the cooperation of the other riders, he drove me straight to the ER before returning to his route.
When I was finally sitting in the ER waiting room, tucked into a corner as far from the other patients as I could get, I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket, saw the busted screen, and burst into tears.
This night had been a nightmare and a half and just kept right on giving, didn’t it?
“Miss?”
I looked up, swiping my sleeve along my nose. A young nurse in purple scrubs stood in front of me. “Yeah?”
She nodded at my hand where the broken phone rested. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
It was a kind offer on a night where kindness was desperately needed. The problem was, even if I had someone I could call, their numbers were in my broken phone.
And then I remembered. Nala had given me her phone number the last time she’d come into the coffee shop. I’d only spoken to her twice, but if anyone had resources and could help me find Risk, it would be the Archai, wouldn’t it? Risk said they were the good guys. If she’d been available, I would never go to someone else, but I desperately needed help to figure out what had happened to her.
And Nala had written her number on paper. Digging into my jacket pocket, I felt the tiny square crinkle between my fingers. Relief had me closing my eyes.
“Could you call this number?” I asked, holding it out to the nurse.
She glanced at the paper. “Sure. Nala?”
“Yes. Tell her Raine needs her, please.”
