“Stop,” I called. Everyone immediately stopped.
“Two opponents,” I said, looking at the three in the middle. “That’s all it took to get to you. You need to call out what’s happening.” I pointed to Emmitt and Jim. “Michelle, they were in your direct line of sight. This is what you should have said, ‘Two coming at Emmitt.’ Then, when Grey drew Emmitt out, you should have yelled that the circle had been broken. We should have then tightened up and closed the gap. Together. Jim, rushing to help your brother will get us all killed. If he’s dumb enough to break the circle, don’t be dumb enough to follow.”
Anger swamped me. I turned on Emmitt.
“I hope that’s self-directed. Don’t break the circle. Ever. I don’t want to watch anyone else fall.”
A hand settled onto my shoulder, and I shrugged it off.
“This isn’t a game, so I won’t be nice. You want to live? We need to work together. Now, back in place and do it again.”
We practiced for another fifteen minutes. Sam and Grey always managed to break the circle, and I tended to piss off the defending men with my criticism. None of the women harbored any hint of anger toward me. They listened. However, Bethi radiated frustration. I wondered if it was because of the group’s lack of skills or because Sam and Grey were mostly attacking the side away from her. I didn’t care. I did care that with each attempt, the two always managed to get to one of us.
“Time’s up,” Gabby said.
“Good.” Jim scratched his stomach. “I’m getting hungry.”
I marched back to the car. Idiots. They weren’t taking this seriously. If Blake’s men found us again...I slammed the door shut and curled up in a ball on the front seat. Carlos didn’t say anything when he got in and started the car. As soon as we were moving, I closed my eyes. I didn’t sleep, though. I couldn’t. Images of the fight and of Ethan’s bloody stomach haunted me.
When we next stopped, it was for fast food and a bathroom break.
Without much of a choice, I went inside the diner with the rest. Before I could step away to use the restroom, Carlos caught my hand.
“What can I order for you?”
“I’m not hungry,” I said, tugging my hand from his. Even when I turned my back on him, I could feel the weight of his disappointed gaze.
The bathroom didn’t provide any escape from censure because Bethi was waiting for me.
“You have to eat.”
“No kidding. Good thing you’re here to tell me that.”
I stepped into a stall and closed the door on her.
“I get that you’re broken. I know broken.”
“I’m peeing. Stop talking. It’s weird.”
She sighed then left me alone. I took my time to leave the bathroom. When I stepped out, only Carlos waited inside. He had a bag of food in one hand and a drink carrier in the other.
“Thirsty?” I said, eyeing the four drinks.
He shrugged and moved to the exit, standing in the doorway to hold the door open for me. It was a tight squeeze past him.
He beat me to the car and set the drinks on the roof to open the door for me, again. The guy had a thing for doors. Once I was inside, he passed me the drinks and the food. I glanced at the chocolate shake as he walked around to the driver’s seat.
“I got it for you,” he said as he slid behind the wheel.
“Thanks.” I set the food on the floor and put the chocolate shake in my cup holder.
“Which one do you want first? Soda, water, or vanilla shake?”
“The shake.” He started the car and pulled out to follow Winifred.
I put his drink in his cup holder then leaned over to put the drink carrier on the floor behind the driver’s seat.
“Want your food?” I asked as I straightened.
“Not yet. Help yourself.”
I hadn’t been lying. I wasn’t hungry. Even a few sips of the chocolate milkshake turned my stomach. Setting the cup aside, I curled up and watched out the window. My mind remained blank as the towns slipped by.
Hours later, Carlos once again pulled off to the side of the road. I opened my eyes, not remembering closing them. By my feet, the bag of food remained untouched.
Behind us, I heard a door slam and turned to see everyone exiting their vehicles. I knew we needed to practice, but I didn’t want to do it. Still, I opened my door and joined them. I didn’t need to tell them to form up or to give direction to Sam and Grey.
Like earlier in the day, they broke through each time, teaming up to find or make a weak link.
“Stop,” I called after the third attempt. “If the ring collapses, Clay, Emmitt, and Thomas should fall back to protect the center three. Jim should pair with Grey, Winifred with Sam, and Carlos with me, and Bethi with Luke. Pair off and spend some time fighting back to back.”
When everyone grouped into fours, attackers versus defenders, I rolled my shoulders and turned to go back to the car.
“Shouldn’t we practice?” Carlos asked, following me.
“Not now. Not today. I’m tired of fighting.”
He kept quiet as I shut myself into the car again.