Page 18 of Fighting for Lucy

The sounds of someone running behind her.

Not just someone.Multiplesomeones if she was correct.

A whimper slipped out as she continued to drag in rough breaths. The stitch in her side kept her slightly hunched over, and her ribs protested every ragged breath she was able to draw into her lungs. Her broken arm was pure agony, and keeping it tucked against her stomach did little to protect it from jostling with each step she took.

She wouldn’t be able to go on much longer.

The thought was terrifying, and images of Scarlett’s injuries superimposed themselves in her mind over the image of Zander’s big body lying so still. So much death and pain and suffering, and Lucy knew she could be seconds away from enduring her own hell on earth.

Turned out she was indeed seconds away from capture.

Because less than a minute later, she was knocked to the ground.

Heavy weight pressed her down into the ground, her broken arm crushed between it and both their bodies sending pain shafting through it. A cry fell from her lips, and she thrashed about, trying to throw her attacker off.

If any of the guys from Prey, who had spent hours drilling her in self-defense could see her now, they’d be so disappointed. Her movements had no technique, just plain old panic and fear.

It was one thing to practice in the safety of the gym, it was quite another to have to do those same moves when you were actually fighting for your life.

All at once, the pressure on her body was gone. Meaty hands wrapped around her biceps, pulling her up until she was standing.

Six men stood around her, one leering at her as his grip on her arm tightened. Despite the terror pounding her chest, Lucy glared at them. Just because she was afraid didn't mean she intended to back down from these men.

They were bullies, plain and simple.

Over the years, she’d had plenty of practice dealing with bullies.

Kids could be cruel, and when you had something that made you different, they latched onto it. Didn't help that her epilepsy hadn't been very well under control back then and she’d had several seizures at school. While she’d never seen herself having a seizure, Lucy knew it could be scary for those watching, and it was no wonder the other kids had treated her as a freak after that.

But she’d never cowered before them.

Not once.

Her parents had drilled into her that she had nothing to be ashamed of, she just had a medical condition, she was no freak. They might have coddled her and worried over her, but they had always told her that just because she had epilepsy, she could still get out and live her life, doing whatever she wanted. They’d just prefer that the things she wanted to do weren't so dangerous.

Drawing on that strength now, honed since childhood, Lucy yanked her arm free and squared her shoulders. Just because she couldn’t fight her way out of this didn't mean she had to fall at their feet and shake in fear.

“Leave me alone,” she snarled, shooting daggers at them with her eyes and wishing she had a real weapon on her. Wouldn’t do much good against half a dozen armed men, but she was not going to go down without a fight.

That wasn’t her style.

“You are scientist girl,” one of them said, his lecherous gaze roaming her body, making her feel dirty.

By scientist girl, she assumed he meant one of Athena Team, a safe assumption she was sure. That meant they weren't just cartel members who happened to be out here, they had to have tracked her and Zander from the plane. While she was sure hewouldn’t have left much of a trail, she’d been hurt, exhausted, and plotting to get away from him the whole time. She would have pretty much left arrows pointing to the direction she’d walked in.

If these were Raul Castillo’s men, they weren't leaving here without her.

“You’ll come with us,” the same man said, his voice confident.

While she would love nothing more than to refuse, that would be stupid. They were armed, they were bigger than her, and they weren't injured. If they wanted to take her with them, they could and they would.

“Come with you where?” she asked, wanting confirmation so she could make a plan.

“Boss wants to talk to you,” one of the other men said.

“Boss?”

“Mr. Castillo,” another man replied.