Page 3 of Righteous Enforcer
He twists, slamming me against the door frame. Pain explodes across my back, but I ignore it, pushing off and going at him again.
The man's fingers catch in my hair, yanking my head back.
I drive my elbow into his wounded side, feeling the knife shift deeper. His howl reverberates through the apartment as he stumbles back.
"Who sent you?" I demand.
Blood bubbles from his lips. "You know who."
I slam my palm into his throat, thinking of Adriano teaching me this move years ago.
"The Russians or the Dantes?"
His answer is a gurgling laugh that spatters my face with crimson.
I see my opening.
Lunging forward, I grasp the knife handle and twist. His eyes bulge. Victory surges through me as he falls against the wall.
For a moment, I feel triumphant, but I can’t revel in it. I have to save Mirabella and run again.
His hand shoots out, grabbing my throat and squeezing until I’m afraid he’ll rip my head off.
I underestimated his strength, his determination. Black spots dance across my vision as his fingers tighten.
"Mama!" Mirabella's voice cuts through the chaos, and panic fills me as I realize she’s still here, not at the fire escape where she should be.
My heart seizes.Run, baby. Run.
The man's lips curl into a bloody smile. He knows he's won. Even as he bleeds out, he's accomplished his mission. He’s killing me too.
With desperate strength, I slam the heel of my palm into his face.
Cartilage crunches beneath the impact.
His grip loosens just enough for me to wrench free, gasping as air floods my throat.
"Mirabella, run! Sunshine!" I choke out, "Sunshine, Mirabella!"
I move toward her, but his foot kicks out, tripping me. I crash down, chin striking the floor and splitting my skin.
The taste of blood fills my mouth.
My daughter stands frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with terror.
"Sunshine. Sunshine, Mirabella!"
Recognition flashes across her face.
Our escape signal. She turns and disappears into the dark hallway, her footsteps pattering toward the back stairs.
Relief crashes through me even as the man drags me by my ankle backward. At least she's running. At least she knows to find Mrs. Petrescu downstairs, who will hide her until I come or find her a safe home if I don’t.
Tonight, I might lose this fight.
This might be where I die.
After all these years of running, of fighting, of protecting her, this might be the moment Mirabella becomes truly alone.
