Fight for Me by Jessica Linden Read Free Book Online Page A

was
my
fight, but you didn’t stay away. I’m not leaving you.”
    Her expression must have convinced him of her conviction, or maybe they’d run out of time. Either way, he didn’t argue with her.
    He pushed aside the dresser that was blocking the door, then quickly pulled out a drawer. He broke the flimsy wood over his knee, and it splintered into pieces. He picked up the longest and strongest of the shards and handed it to her. “Know how to swing a bat?”
    “It’s been a while, but I think I can manage.”
    He nodded, then opened the door a crack. He motioned for her to go.
    She slipped out the door, walking quickly along the sidewalk.
Don’t look back.
She trusted Knox, but she wanted to scope out the situation for herself. Was he behind her? That man moved like a ninja, so she couldn’t tell. Surely she would be able to
feel
his presence though.
    She glanced over her shoulder, just in time to see Knox fly out the door and tackle a man. They hit the ground. He was smaller than Knox, not nearly the behemoth they’d fought last night. In a fair fight, Knox would easily be able to take him. He was already injured, though.
    And size didn’t matter when there were bullets involved.
    Natalie hesitated, watching the fray unfold. Knox punched the guy, and it seemed like he had the upper hand. When the man fumbled around his waistband, though, she saw a flash of silver.
    “Gun!” she yelled. “He’s got a gun!”
    She wouldn’t have even known if Knox had heard her except he grabbed the man’s hand and before she could blink, she heard a distinct crack. The man screamed, holding his mangled hand.
    Knox grabbed the gun and stood, pressing his foot on the guy’s windpipe. “Are you alone?”
    The man clamped his mouth shut, but his eyes darted around like he was looking for someone. Natalie instinctively stepped closer to Knox.
    Suddenly, the man let out a high-pitched whistle, and Knox stomped on his windpipe. He groaned and rolled to his side in the fetal position.
    Knox grabbed Natalie’s arm and pulled her behind him just in time to confront another attacker who had come from the opposite direction. In the skirmish, Natalie stumbled and fell next to the guy with the crushed windpipe, who was reaching out for Knox’s leg.
    Natalie rose to her knees and swung the makeshift bat down on his arm as hard as she could. He howled in pain and retracted his arm. She tried to get to her feet, but he kicked out, catching her around the ankles. She hit the pavement hard, momentarily stunned, but was jolted back to reality when he wrapped the fleshy fingers of his good hand around her wrist.
    She jerked her arm, trying to break free of his hold and failing. His grip was too tight, his fingers digging into the sensitive tendons on the underside of her wrist.
    She stretched out with her other arm toward her weapon she’d dropped as she fell. She was too close to him to get a proper swing in, so she jabbed the splintered end of the wood into his cheek.
    She’d been aiming for his eye, but she achieved her goal of forcing him to release her wrist. She jumped to her feet, weapon in hand.
    Knox? Is he okay?
She had been so busy with her own fight that she hadn’t seen what happened. She whirled around.
Where is he?
    Her sudden motion must have broken Knox’s opponent’s concentration because as soon as his eyes landed on Natalie, he stopped momentarily, surprise registering in his eyes.
    “You’re that Farrington Kent bitch,” he said. Then he laughed. Stupid move.
    That cost him the fight as Knox slammed his fist into his temple one final time. The man dropped to the pavement.
    Knox wiped a streak of blood off his chin with the back of his hand. “Are you okay?”
    Natalie nodded.
    The guy on the ground clutched at his wrist and laughed. “Knox, you’re stupider than you look. Once X learns you’re shacking up with this princess—”
    Knox kicked him in the temple, silencing whatever information he was about to