Page 41 of Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
His companion stepped forward and I received another shock. Shorter than me, she wore her blond hair braided into a familiar coil on the back of her head. So shehadbeen following me the other day. Her movements were lithe and confident as she started toward us. In response, Eric stepped in front of me, squaring his shoulders and lifting his hands as if to ward her away.
Heart pounding, I said urgently, “Eric. Don’t.”
He didn’t reply. Instead, he told the woman, “You don’t want to do this.”
“You’re the one making things difficult,” she replied as she drew closer. Her hands came up as well, eyes reflecting the hazy glow of the nearest lamp. “Stand down.”
Instinctively, I retreated a couple of steps. Her gaze flicked past Eric to me, and then she darted forward, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. Eric moved to intercept her and threw a quick flurry of punches, hands moving faster than I could follow.Rather than fighting back, she dodged each blow and then stepped back, eyes narrowed above her mask.
“Eric!” I shouted, panicking now. I was terrified that our attackers would pull out knives or guns if he continued to resist. “Stop, please! They don’t want you!”
His head turned as he glanced over his shoulder at me. Hands still raised in front of himself, he returned his attention to the Firing Squad. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, “but if you touch him, I will end you both.”
My heart rate accelerated as the tall man started forward with a barely audible snarl. The woman looked at me again, then flung herself past Eric, ducking under his warning jab. He pivoted and lashed out with a kick that connected with her knee, and she hissed as her leg crumpled beneath her. Then the other assailant was there, looming over Eric as he shoved him aside, gaze fixed on me. Eric stumbled and almost fell as I backed away, but then he lunged forward and hooked a foot behind the man’s heavy boot, giving him a brutal shove that sent him toppling to the ground. The man’s glasses went flying onto the darkened pathway with a faint clatter.
Everything stopped for a moment. The woman in black stood several paces away, watching Eric warily, clearly unable to put her full weight on her injured knee. Eric remained where he was, breathing quickly but steadily, watching as the taller man rolled quickly to his feet, hooked his glasses back over his ears, and then settled into a relaxed stance.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” the man growled. “I’m going to—”
The wail of a siren cut him off. It was coming from Cabrini Boulevard, hidden by greenery but not far from where we stood. Its proximity made our two assailants look swiftly at each other. Thenthey started to back away, the woman limping heavily. Eric stayed where he was, and together we watched as the pair retreated until they disappeared around another bend.
“Jesus,” I muttered shakily. Stepping quickly to Eric’s side, I reached out and touched his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He waited for a few moments, gaze locked on the path ahead of us, before relaxing a little and turning to face me. “I’m fine. They didn’t hit me.”
“Where did you learn to fight like that?”
Lifting his shoulders in a shrug, he said, “I took martial arts as a kid. And I box.”
My fingers tightened on his shoulder. “They could have killed you.”
“I told you,” Eric said quietly, gazing into my eyes. “All I want is to keep you safe.”
“That’s very noble,” I said a little hoarsely, “but please try not to die, okay? I have an extensive list of things I want to do to you, and I would be devastated if I had to throw it away.”
He gave me a quick smile as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Hang tight, okay? I’m going to call the police.” At my nod, he walked a few paces away and stood in the middle of the darkened pathway, phone to his ear.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered in the chilly wind, eyeing the nearby greenery as if it might disgorge more assailants. The terror I’d felt moments ago was starting to crystallize into resignation, dark and heavy. Dark Enterprises had sent the Firing Squad after me, and Eric had almost become collateral damage. I couldn’t let that happen.
I knew what I had to do.
Something glittered on the ground, lying where Eric hadknocked down the other man. I stooped and picked up a circular pendant, its slim chain broken and trailing. It was made of silver, one side embossed with the raised image of an open hand surrounded by seven stars. I turned it over, angling it so it caught the light of the closest lamp, and spotted a series of tiny, unfamiliar markings.
“Okay,” Eric said, “the police are on their way.”
Closing my hand around the pendant, I gave him a shaky smile. “Great.”
He studied me as he drew closer. “Are you okay?”
“Honestly? No. I’m freaked out.”
Carefully, he wrapped me in a hug. “Me too. But as soon as we give our statements to the police, I’ll get you home. I don’t think I’ll stay for dinner, though. I’ve kind of lost my appetite.”
When they arrived, the police told us bluntly there was nothing they could do, which was less than encouraging. At least they promised to file a report. After we gave them our statements, Eric held my hand the whole ride back to Hamilton Heights and only released me once we were standing outside the door to my apartment building.
“I’m sorry things didn’t end well,” he murmured, a little ruefully.
“Me too,” I said quietly.
