“What map?”I repeated.Hands spread to indicate I wasn’t a threat, I backed farther into the kitchen.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My gaze bounced around the room and between the two men as I sought a way out.They didn’t seem inclined to negotiate and I couldn’t take them in a fight.
Run it was.
Another couple steps put me even with the table which held my tool bag and the utensil cup.
My run options were limited.The only way to the door was past them.I might be able to dodge one, but both?I bit my lip.Not great odds.My stomach churned, more nauseated than hungry now.
The kitchen window behind me was the only other potential exit.Not ideal from the fourth floor, but it was the best of my bad options.
Another wave of nausea rolled over me.
“I don’t know anything about a map.”I had to keep them distracted while I cobbled together my plan.Chopsticks might not do any damage, but the few kitchen knives I owned were in the utensil cup too.“Maybe you’ve got the wrong address?”
I took a half step to my left.Then another when neither man noticed.
“We traced the data broker to this station.To you.Give us the map, bitch!”
Crap.They were angry instead of distracted.Inhaling deeply, I rolled onto the balls of my feet and forced my shoulders to relax.I’d only get one shot.
I visualized my movements.Then, with another deep breath, I lunged for the table.
My fingers curled around the tool bag’s strap before either of them could react.Muscle memory drew it over my head, while my other hand reached blindly for a knife.The utensils rattled, but I never took my gaze off the bad guys.
My fingers curled around a wooden handle just as the bad guys lunged.
Bob pushed to his knees with a groan and lurched into the path of the man on the right.He shoved Bob into a chair, which slammed into the table.Silverware clattered with the impact.Neighborliness demanded I check on him, but my instincts screamed to take advantage of his assistance.
Distracted by the sound, the man on the left looked away from me.Exploiting his moment of inattention, I threw the knife at him.It hit him in the shoulder with a squishy thud.
“Fuck!”
He staggered, then groaned as he pulled the knife out.
That bought me a couple more seconds.Would it be enough?
I darted to the table long enough to grab another knife, then backed toward the window.Brandishing the weapon in front of me, I stepped backward until I pressed up against the plasglass.
Both men advanced on me, a bit slower than before.Maybe it was because I’d fought back, maybe they thought I was trapped, since they remained between me and the door.
“You can’t get away,” the one on the right said.“Give us what we want and we’ll let you go.”
Liar!
Shoulder Guy glared at his partner.“Bullshit.She stabbed me.She pays.”
“I don’t think so.”In one move, I threw the knife at the uninjured guy’s stomach then pivoted toward the window.I wrapped my arms around my bag, tucked my shoulder, and launched my body at the plasglass window.
Shouts echoed behind me as the entire window broke free of the frame.“You bitch!”
I tucked my body into a ball as I launched through the window.
Fuck.This was going to hurt.
4
Lacy
