Sighing, she moved at a snail’s pace around to the side.
I ducked to the front. As I braced my hands to push, I sensed a disturbance behind me.
I spun and cursed. Oh hell. We were in trouble.
Three men stood in the alley entrance, blocking the exit.
Dark-blue facial tattoos were evident against their light skin. Tribal in design, the minor members’ were simple, the higher ups more intricate, identifying them as Brawler Gangers.
“Abby,” Lucy whined from behind the dumpster. “Are you helping? What the hell? Ouch! Broke a nail ... I’m okay. Don’t panic.”
Her attitude would be funny if we both weren’t about to die.
“Uh, Luce, you might want to step out here.”
She appeared next to me, cradling her right hand. Noticing the looming men, she sighed. “This is bad, right?”
The shortest of the three stepped forward: someone of such average appearance he’d go unnoticed in regular society. Dirty blond hair, weedy build, small angry eyes. Before the war he’d definitely have been part of the stimulating field of accountancy. It’s always the ones with short-man syndrome.
“Look what we have here, brothers, two delicious morsels ducking into this little out-of-the-way alley.” He had a distinctive New York accent, clipping off the ends of the words.
The man on his right was darker and more solidly built. His tattoos less prominent, he sat somewhere in the middle of the gang totem pole.
“Ya, Jass, they have conveniently wandered themselves into our territory. Now, what should we do with them?”
“Is it our territory? Wasn’t youse just saying yesterday that the Kleps had this one?” With biceps the size of mini trucks, the third was the epitome of brawn over brains.
“Shut it,” Jass spat.
They fell silent.
“So, Abbs, I’m starting to think there’s an excellent chance these are the last faces we’ll ever see?” Lucy and I were creeping back. We had about ten feet to the wall.
“Fate could not be that cruel. Shouldn’t it be beauty at the end, not ‘thing one, two and three’?” I said.
Judging by the drawn eyebrows and blank stares, my words confused them. Guess Dr Seuss wasn’t on their reading list at gang school.
“We’re going to fight, right, Abby?” Lucy said breathlessly.
I nodded. “Hell yeah! I’m going all eye-of-the-tiger, pose-like-a-crane on their asses.” I smiled – never let them see you sweat – it’s the principle.
“Crane? Seriously? You should at least choose dragon or spider, you know, something that might actually scare them.” She flexed her hands, tightening them into fists before releasing again.
The men continued to advance toward us, their expressions smug and satisfied.
“I’m pretty sure they’ve been studying menacing behavior in A Morons’ Guide to Gang Member.” Lucy had decided taunting them into submission was the way to go. She shook her head. “Stop me, Abbs. You know when I’m nervous my mouth runs away.”
“Jass, did you hears what the short one said? Jass? She called us morons. Let me have her. C’mon, Jass.”
Jass didn’t even glance his way. His fist simply swung out and smashed straight into Stupid’s face. Which barely moved.
Great – his face is made of rock.
“There goes our hope they’d beat each other to death,” I snorted at Lucy. Focus, Abby.
Stretching my wrists, I stepped back to settle into my favorite fighting stance.
Lucy met my gaze her smile widening. “Calling ‘plastic surgeon’ to the ring.” She turned to the men. “Hope you aren’t planning on keeping your noses in their current shape.” She shrugged. “I guess anything would be an improvement.”
Despite her continued taunting, I knew Lucy was ready too. She was bouncing lightly and her eyes were focused.
A cruel smile crossed Jass’s face. His anger filled the space like thunder rolling in over the plains. I knew then he would not be taking me alive. Rape and torture awaited us at his hands.
“We’ll teach you respect before this day is done. Trust me on that.” Jass low voice spoke for all three gangers.
Lucy’s word-vomit continued. “Okay, I’m about ready to panic now.”
In that moment, a flash of green clothing crossed my peripheral vision.
I ducked.
My training kicked in and I threw a right hook before diving out of the way.
“Oh, for the love of Klaus.”
I heard cursing. I’d connected solidly.
A shadow towered over me and strong hands gripped my arms.
“Aribella! Hasn’t anyone told you not to attack people here to help?”
The moment his accent registered, I stopped struggling. I locked onto a pair of brilliant blue eyes. “Ralph? Where did you come from?”
He looked confused. But Lucy knew immediately who was standing between us. She engulfed him in a huge hug. Well, the best she could, only coming up to his waist. He froze, glancing down in confusion.
“Thank God you’re here, Ralph. I thought we were goners.” She pulled back. “Damn, you’re tall.”