Page 107 of Outcast

“It’s alright, baby girl. It’s alright,” Kai’s familiar voice seeps into my ear, though it’s hard to hear with everything that is going on.

Kai lifts me off the ground, and I whip around, frantically looking for Dani.

She is standing to the side, shielded by Bo and Zach.

One thug is on the ground, crouching.

Two are running, being chased by our guys.

The one who held Dani holds a knife in front of him, but he is scared, backing away from our guys who step toward him.

And Ty—

He darts to the thug, swings a bat in his hand, and sends him down to the ground, then tosses the bat away, straddles the guy, and punches him.

Once.

Twice.

“Mo-ther-fuc-ker!” he roars, every syllable a punch, the guy’s face turning red as he tries to push Ty with his arms that are weak and useless.

Another punch.

Again.

Another roar as Ty mindlessly pounds the guy’s face, who is motionless on the ground and doesn’t respond anymore.

“Ty!” Owen shouts.

Bo, Owen, and two more guys run up to Ty and drag him off the guy as he keeps swinging, cursing and roaring.

“Leave it!” Bo barks. “Stop!” He shakes Ty.

Ty looks around like a madman, then sees Dani.

She stands with her arms wrapped around her and gapes at him, tears running down her face.

“Angel,” he whispers.

It’s as if a switch in him was flipped at the sight of her.

His hands are bloody. His long blond hair is whipped across his face. Shirtless, blood spattered across his chest, he flings himself at her and cups her face.

“Are you okay, angel?”

He presses his forehead to hers and strokes her hair.

“It’s okay, angel. It’s okay. I’m here. Yeah? I’m here.”

I don’t realize it, but tears start rolling down my cheeks as I turn to look at Kai.

He is silent. His gaze on me is unblinking.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.

I am trembling as I nod and look around at the other guys.

They stare at the body on the ground. It’s lifeless. Bo approaches it, drops down on one knee, and feels the pulse.