Solomon might want them dead after witnessing our deaths. Although, they weren't likely to talk, since they were about to commit murder. I reminded myself that hadn't saved Gina, but she was in it deeper than these two meatheads.
One of them grinned, showing a couple of missing teeth, and a few others broken. Either he used to play hockey, or he got into a lot of fights. Excuse me if I didn't care to ask which it was.
I took a couple of steps back, pushing Cass back behind me, but in the corner of my eye, I saw Solomon raise the blade to Archer's throat.
My heart broke.
CHAPTER 23
HARLOW
Solomon's blade was maybe an inch from Archer's throat, when Archer's hand snapped out. The blade in his own hand glittered in the light for a fraction of a second before he drove it straight into Solomon's groin.
Solomon cried out, his face a mask of shock and pain. His blade fell to the floor beside Gina's head with a clatter.
Jules threw himself at it, grabbing it up and holding it out in front of himself like he had a clue how to use it.
At the same time, Archer managed to yank his knife out of Solomon and leaned down to slice the zip ties that bound his ankles to the chair.
Boner gave a muffled cheer.
Archer pushed himself to his feet. He, together with Jules, approached the thugs. Blades in hands, vengeance on their faces.
Yeah, that was as hot as it sounded. They were about to fuck some shit up.
"I suggest you get the hell out of here," I told the thugs. "Unless you want to end up like your boss."
They exchanged glances, but did they do the sensible thing and turn and run?
No.
They didn't even do the sensible thing and turn and walk away.
Instead, one of them lunged at me.
I dropped into a crouch, forcing him to overstep and almost lose his balance. While his arms shot out to keep him on his feet, Jules threw himself at him, driving the knife into his chest.
"That's what you get for threatening my brother, motherfucker!" he growled.
At this point, I would have thought the other thug would definitely leave. His companion was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. His boss was doubled over, his hand on his groin. Fingers rapidly becoming slick with his own blood. And Gina was still very much dead.
If it was me, I would have put all of my energy into self-preservation.
This guy? I guess he had nothing to lose. If he ran away now, we could go after him, or give a detailed description to the police. That was a lot of thinking for someone who looked like he didn't do much of it.
Instead, he took a swing at Jules, landing his heavy fist into Jules' face. Jules was thrown back against the wall with a cry of pain.
"Julius!" Cass shouted. He grabbed up the chair Archer had released himself from, and swung it at the thug with a growl and a grunt of effort. The legs of the chair slammed into the thug's face. It struck hard, forcing him to stagger back a couple of steps.
That was all the distraction Archer needed. He leaped up behind him and drove the knife into the back of the thug's neck.
Said thug, eyes wide, started to fall to his knees, dragging Archer down with him. He scrabbled with his hands, trying to pull the knife out, but never getting a grip. With a groan, he fell face forward onto the floor, his nose taking the brunt of the fall.
Judging by the loud crack as it hit, it broke on impact.
I winced. That had to hurt.
He twitched a few times before lying perfectly still.
