Page 75 of Catcher

His fist slams into my mouth, then he jerks back for another swing, and the guy to my left steps closer. My hand moves fast. I roll to my side, ignoring the lightning bolt through my ribs, and draw my weapon from where my body shielded it. I fire once. He screams and drops as blood bursts from his thigh, spilling between his fingers when he grabs at the wound—femoral if he’s unlucky.

The other men scatter back half a step. I use it and start to push up, but my head swims, and the ground shifts under me. The scarred man curses, reaching under his shirt. I bring my gun up again, but my arm doesn’t move as clean as I need it to. Blood runs into my eye, and my ribs feel like broken glass.

Then something slams into the back of my head, and the ground tilts.

Ruby’s image flashes through me before anything else.

I try to lift the gun again, but my hand doesn’t listen.

The world narrows to nothing more than heat, asphalt, and the sound of someone shouting from far away.

Then everything goes black.

18

RUBY

Thankful the day is coming to an end, I exhale. Turning back into the classroom, I walk over to my desk and grab my things. My eyes do one last sweep of the room before turning the light off.

Out in the hall, I start toward the teacher’s lounge to pick up my lunch bag from the refrigerator, where I spot my lunch bag shoved behind a pint of vanilla coffee creamer.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I close the refrigerator door, loud in the quiet lounge. I pull it out and smile. Promise’s calls always brighten my day.

I answer on the second ring. “Hey.”

“Hey, Ruby. Been thinking of you. How are you holding up?”

I shift my lunch bag in my hand and lean my hip against the counter. My feet throb, and my lower back aches something furious. “I’m… making it,” I say, because that’s the most honest answer I can give at the moment. “Still at school.”

“Okay…” Promise pauses. “How are things with Catcher?”

“Still at my place,” I tell her. “The club hasn’t backed off the twenty-four-hour thing. He slept on my couch again last night.” I keep my voice low, not wanting lingering coworkers to hear. “It’s weird, Promise. It’s supposed to make me feel safer, and maybe it does, but mostly it just feels like I can’t breathe at home.”

Promise sighs. “I hate that for you. I hate that this is your normal right now.” She hesitates. “But I agree with Riggs’ decision to keep Catcher on you. Everyone just wants you safe.”

I swallow. “Yeah, I get it. That’s why I’m going with the flow.”

“So, how’d things go at your parents’?”

My fingers tighten around the strap of my lunch bag. “About how you’d expect. They’re worried for me and pissed at Robby.”

There’s a second of silence before Promise gently says, “Have you thought about how you’ll tell him about the baby?”

My hand goes to my stomach. “I’ve thought about it,” I say. “I just don’t know the right way. But…” I add, voice dropping, “… it has to be soon. I know that.”

Promise hums. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just tell the truth. You’re not alone. I’m here… London and Sadie too.”

I nod to myself. “Thank you. Seriously.”

“Call me when you get home,” Promise says. “Just so I know you’re okay.”

“I will.” I glance at the clock on the wall and push off the counter. “I’m about to head out now, actually. Catcher’s supposed to be waiting for me, and I don’t want to keep him out there any longer than he has to.”

“Okay,” she says. Her voice has a reluctant tone. “Be careful. And⁠—”

“I know,” I say. “I’ll call you tonight.”

“Love you,” Promise says.