I felt the rush of blood, tasted it slipping in between my lips.
But the pain was just fuel.
I pulled the rebar up between us, slamming it into his throat, the force making him choke.
His hands flew to his throat as he gasped for air.
I slid out and away, getting back to my feet.
But as I raised the rebar to finally bring it down on his head with full force, he turned and fucking ran.
I followed for a moment.
But as he made his way out of the building, I paused.
I’d left Stephanie alone once before and look what happened. I couldn’t abandon her again.
With that in mind, I ran back toward that cinderblock room, rapping my hand against the door.
“Babe, it’s me. Open up. Quick.”
“Venezio?” she called, and I heard slamming and crashing sounds inside before, finally, the door opened.
And there she was.
With watery eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
But okay.
She was okay.
“He was shooting at me,” she sniffled as I reached for her, pulling her against my chest for one quick moment, needing to feel her against me to know she was genuinely alright. “I thought that maybe the cinderblocks were safe.”
“Safer than being out in the open, that’s for sure.”
“I barred the door. But he shot in. The cinderblocks were crumbling.”
“Yeah, they aren’t the rebar-enforced ones. But he wasn’t smart enough to know to keep shooting through the same hole.”
“Well, it’s good that… you’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine, but we gotta move,” I said, offering my hand to her once again.
“You see another piece of rebar or pipe as we go, grab it.”
“Where’s your gun?”
“At the fucking safe house,” I admitted.
I considered circling back.
But it was too risky.
“Where did he go?”
“Probably somewhere to try to catch his breath. Caught him in the throat with the bar. He’ll recover. Unfortunately. And he’ll be madder than ever. We gotta get moving.”
“Where?” she asked as we moved outside, going hesitantly at first as I glanced around.
