Page 5 of The Death
Which also meant she could have a decision to make. Should she take off at a run and try to make it to the subway, where she knew there would probably be a crowd? Or would it be better to go back to the studio where she knew Barnaby, the security guard, would be at the door as usual. That might be best. Even though Barnaby was only a security guard, the sight of a man in uniform could sometimes intimidate people who mistook them for regular police. She took another quick glance behind her. Now the man’s demeanor had suddenly changed. He was walking steadily, purposefully, almost stalking her.
She didn’t like it.
And he was speeding up now, and his gaze appeared to be focused on her. She was beginning to feel threatened. Had the creep finally made his decision? It appeared so, she thought impatiently.
Well, so had she. She whirled to face him.
He continued to come toward her. “Don’t run away from me, pretty lady,” he called out mockingly. “I just want to talk to you.”
“And I don’t want to talk to you,” she said curtly. “Get lost.”
“I can’t do that. I have my orders.” His hand fell on her shoulder. “Now just calm down and we’ll get along fine.”
She stiffened. “Don’t touch me.”
His hand pressed down on her shoulder. “I’m trying not to hurt you. I just need you to come with me and—”
She lowered her head and threw all of her weight into a rolling clinch, a move she’d mastered long ago. She’d started Muay Thai classes as a way to relieve stress in her undergrad days, but she’d never used it in self-defense.
Until now.
Her attacker staggered back, then hurtled toward her. She stood her ground and swung her right leg in a high roundhouse kick, hitting him squarely in the throat. He wheezed as he tried to pull oxygen past his crushed windpipe. He fell to his knees.
It couldn’t be that easy, she thought.
It wasn’t.
Another man stepped from the shadows. He was taller and more imposing than the first guy, and his bearing suggested a steely confidence. “Impressive,” he said as he gestured toward the man writhing on the sidewalk. “But I’m afraid you’ll still have to come with me, Celine. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’ll do it, missy.”
“Missy?” Celine moved her feet apart in the classic Muay Thai fighting stance. “Are you trying to piss me off?”
The man smiled. “Far be it from me.”
Celine nodded down to the first attacker, who was still gasping for air. “I’m pretty sure that your buddy here will survive, but he’s in bad shape unless he gets help. Why don’t we end this right here? I’m a physician. I can help him.”
The man shook his head as he uncapped a syringe. “A generous offer, but he’s on his own now. You’re the only one I care about.”
She lightly bounced back on her heels. “Wow. With friends like these…”
The man rushed toward her and jabbed at her with the syringe.
Oh, hell no…
Celine performed a series of matrix dodges to avoid each jab, anticipating his thrusts and countering with perfect ducks and weaves. But she had to do more than just avoid his attacks; she had to parry.
She ax-kicked his forearm and sent the syringe flying. She jumped forward.
What was it that her old master used to say?
Oh, yeah.Unleash hell.
She cut loose with a series of elbow strikes to his kidneys and midsection in a targeted barrage that made her realize that her medical training was as important as her exercise routine right now.
The man doubled over and grunted in pain. Before he could recover, Celine grabbed his wrist and flipped him over to the ground. She pressed her knee onto his throat and bore down with her entire weight.
She leaned down and stuck her fingers in his eyes and he screamed with pain, reaching out with his fist to strike blindly at her midsection. Time to get away before he fully recovered and decided to go after her again.
She jumped to her feet and ran back toward the art studio.
