Page 14

Grab his shoulder. Spin him to face me.

His eyes go wide. Recognition. Then confusion.

"What the—"

I punch him in the jaw.

Hard. Efficient. The kind of hit I learned in boxing gyms across three states, perfected in bar fights where hesitation meant losing.

Cole's head snaps back. His legs buckle, and I hit him again before he can fall. Right in the stomach this time. Drives the air out of his lungs in one gasping wheeze.

He drops.

Doesn't get back up.

I stand over him for a second. Breathing hard. Hands still clenched into fists. Every instinct screaming to keep hitting until I'm sure he'll never touch her again.

But he's out cold. Unconscious on the pavement. Blood trickling from his split lip.

It's enough.

It has to be enough.

I turn to Paige. She's still on the ground where she fell, and staring up at me with wide gray eyes. Her cheek is already starting to swell. Red where his hand connected.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

Stupid question. She's not okay. Won't be okay for a long time. but it's the only thing I can think to say. Paige doesn't answer. Just keeps staring at me like I'm something impossible. Something that shouldn't exist.

"Paige." I crouch down next to her. "Talk to me."

"You knocked him out," she whispers.

"Yeah."

"You were watching."

Not a question. Just stating fact.

"Yeah," I admit.

She's quiet for a long moment. Looking at me. Then at Cole's unconscious body, and then back at me.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Paige's eyes fill with tears. She just sits there on the cold pavement with her cheek swelling, her hands shaking and tears streaming silently down her face.

"We need to leave," I say. "Before he wakes up. Before someone calls the cops."

"I can't… I don't—" Her voice breaks. "Where do I go?"

"With me." I stand. Offer her my hand. "If you want."

She looks at my hand. Then at Cole. Then back at me.

Takes my hand. I pull her to her feet, and she sways slightly. I steady her without thinking, hand on her elbow, and she doesn't pull away.

"My car," she says. "It's around back. My keys are—" She pats her pockets. Finds them. "I can drive."