Page 6 (1/2)

In the distance, instead of two dark forht, there are three--and the first one doesn’t have a decent head start I jump into my Escalade and tear off after thes puraffiti on the concrete walls of the freeway viaduct blend into a colored blur I’o, I could have outrun theainst the blacktop and the sound echoes in the tunnel The stench of mold and decay fills my nose

There’s a splash as someone stoainst the street My breath coasps and I will my muscles to ht and ins to run I don’t want the with htens around Dad’s medication I don’t want to lose it The answer is to be faster, but, if they catch ht

Their footsteps ring closer infloods into my brain I need to turn, face theround by hts from behind create a beacon of hope My pursuers’ footfalls continue in their hunt but fall off near the walls of the tunnel, out of sight of the approaching car I put on a burst of speed Two more blocks and I’ll be inside Safe from this

Brakes squeal and a door snaps open Voices Shouting The sound of a fist s, I peek over my shoulder and air slams out of me when I notice the Escalade

No

Please, God, no

My body rocks forward asplaza He’s fighting theht of arht, but I knohich one’s hioing to lose

Two against one

My chest rises and falls and I glance down the street, toward my uncle’s house, toward relative safety I’ot uy behind--it’s not hoas raised

Knowing this has the potential to end extreht

Chapter 6

West

Son of a bitch

My head turns as the bastard with the black hoodie sucker punches nore it and the pain as I raoes down, but it’s not him that has me worried

I spin to the left, but I’uy who’s schooled on how to fight, he’s back on his feet after I busted hirins as he nears me He rubs a spot on his forehead and widens his stance, just like I’ve seen pay-per-view fighters do in the ring