The street veered off, and I could see her. One man was rifling through her laptop bag, and the other held her tightly against the smooth wall of the building behind her.
“Let her go,” I said. This time my voice echoed out, strong and defiant.
I could see the shock on her face, the relieved expression as they all turned to stare. The two thugs, whoever they were, had on ski masks and were dressed in plain black. One of them had a shining silver watch on one wrist. I could see it winking at me as he pressed her there.
The one holding the laptop bag dropped the case, holding the slender tablet in one hand as he approached me. “Get out of here, old man,” he said, his head tilting as he got closer.
I’m not an old man, I thought internally, right before I slowly raised my fists. “Let her go and drop the computer.”
The man closest to me laughed.
And something rose inside of me, sure and confident. “Last chance,” I offered quietly. The woman whimpered a little, and then the second man shoved her hard against the wall before approaching me as well.
“You should’ve kept walking.”
I wasn’t about to walk away. The woman had slid to the cement but appeared well enough. Her wide eyes were on me as she scrambled for the bag he’d thrown to the side. I hoped she’d whip out that fancy phone and call for backup. Because as much confidence as I had in my technique, there was no stamina to back me up.
Not anymore. Fuck.
My mind homed in on the first to reach me. He’d been the aggressive one, the one who’d been holding on to the woman.
“You first,” I said softly, surprised at the words but no less sure of them. The man was bigger than his friend, but he was slow. I could see it in the drag of his feet, the ham-sized fist that he’d cocked.
“Your funeral,” he said, stepping forward and throwing the first punch.
I dodged it easily, my legs bending and shifting with years of muscle memory. I shouldered into him, dropping him off balance before turning to his friend as he stumbled forward.
“Now you,” I said again.
The man must’ve sensed something, or perhaps he wasn’t the fighter of the two, because he immediately began to back away when I advanced. I lunged forward, grabbing his shirt easily, the first hook landing my fist into his jawline with a satisfying crunch. When he stumbled, I moved with him, bringing my kneeup hard into his diagram, using my height as an advantage to send him toppling to the ground.
A higher, sharper voice rang out, “Behind you!”
I swiveled, my hand rising to block my face as I attempted to meet the larger man once again. He got in a small punch to my shoulder that knocked some wind from me before I regained my footing and blocked the next volley of hits.
He was sluggish though, and it was easy to find the timing of his hits, slipping my body into his and throwing him over my thigh. When his back hit the ground, he grunted and followed up that noise with a hard right hook.
His body locked up and then went still, his breath still rancid against my nose, even as I recognized that I’d knocked him out.
Standing slowly, I moved across the cement towards where the woman still sat, her eyes wide, legs scrambling to stand as I approached. I held my hands up. “Easy. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Who are they?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I heard you scream and came to help.”
She nodded, her vibrant blue eyes still wide with shock. “Thank you.” She swallowed, curling her legs towards her body. “Thank you so much. I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
My lips curled in a small smile, the movement unfamiliar to me now. I wondered if she noticed. “I’m glad I could help.”
Her pretty face changed in a breath, brows lowering for a moment. “Do I know you? You look so familiar.”
White-hot fear slashed through me. I was too close—too close. I needed to get away as quickly as possible. I had been stupid thinking I could speak to her. Settling my heart, I pushed a calm look to my features as I shook my head lightly. My beard, overlong and itchy after the heat of the fight, itched faintly. Irubbed a hand up over it and my lips, using the motion to hide any lingering anxieties. “I don’t think so, ma’am.”
She nodded, but I could see the response was born of someone offering polite latitudes, not so much that she believed me. That brain… It was beautiful as the rest of her. I should go now, while she was trying to get up. I could hear the police sirens in the background and subconsciously knew they were coming here. My eyes flickered to her watch. It made sense they were coming. A woman like her wouldn't be far from the resource to call for help.
Maybe I wasn't even needed, a sick, thin voice echoed in my head. Shaking myself, I ignored it and reached a hand down to help her to her feet. She took my assistance gracefully, even as I gritted my teeth against the lovely soft skin of her palms. My hands would get her pretty skin dirty, but that couldn’t be helped. Not when I couldn't stand another moment of her sitting in the gutter like that. She was so close to me when she stood up, the sweet smell of her perfume settling over my nose as she smiled up at me. God, she was stunning.
Walk away.
