Fighting to Be Free (Fighting to Be Free 1)

Finally, I let him lift me to my feet but not before I shot out one last kick at Terry as he rolled over, my foot connecting with his lower back at the side where his kidneys were. He’d be thinking of me every time he took a piss for the next few days because of that.

I smiled and ran a hand through my hair, dimly aware that my hands were shaking from the adrenalin that was coursing through my system. I turned to look at Ray, smiling reassuringly that I was fine and in control of myself. He was frowning angrily, but that anger was clearly directed at Terry as he glared at him.

“So, are we ready to get this show on the road, or what?” I asked, choosing to ignore the past few minutes and move on. I had a job to do and the quicker I got it done, the quicker I could go home to bed. I didn’t look at Terry as he struggled to get to his feet.

Ray sighed and nodded, turning back to me again. “You okay, Kid?”

I nodded and shrugged, of course I was okay, I was always okay. “Yep. Where’s my pack?” I asked, looking around for the details of the boost tonight. Ray nodded over towards the brown envelope on the desk. As I headed over to get it something slammed into me from behind, making me crash against the hot little red sports car.

“No! Careful of the car!” Ray screamed like a little girl.

I didn’t have time to laugh like I wanted to; Terry was obviously back for more. He pinned me against the car so I threw my head back, connecting with his face. He grunted, his hold on me loosening so I shoved myself back throwing him off of me. My jaw tightened as I turned and looked at him warningly, he seriously didn’t know when to give up this guy.

His eyes flicked down to the floor off to my right. I followed his gaze and saw the handle of the knife on the floor just under the car about three feet away from me. I looked back at him and shook my head. I didn’t want to have to go that far but if he came at me with a knife again I wouldn’t be lenient. Before I could open my mouth to discourage him, he dived for the knife, his eyes a little crazy.

I stepped to the side and as his hand closed around it, I raised my foot and stamped on his hand as hard as I could. I heard the sickening crack of his fingers breaking just a split second before he let out an involuntary scream. He pushed himself back up using his elbow and looked at me angrily.

His eyes told me he still wasn’t ready to give up. I sighed as I raised my foot again and smashed it into his face making him fall onto his back. The room had gone quiet now; the only sounds were the ragged breathing of Terry as I stalked forwards towards him. I moved my hand and he flinched thinking I was going to hit him. Instead, I pulled open the door of the sports car, hearing Ray make a little whimper behind me because I was touching one of his babies; the guy had a mad obsession with cars.

I looked down at Terry who was painfully scooting backwards, trying to move away from me. I smiled wickedly. “Did you know that if you break the bones in your hand enough times, you’ll never be able to use that hand properly again?” I asked, keeping my tone light and friendly. He didn’t answer, he just sneered at me angrily, glaring through his rapidly swelling eyes. “So, for example, when I slam this car door on your hand repeatedly, you’ll probably never be able to wipe your own ass with that hand again,” I continued.

“Kid, don’t…..” I heard Ray say behind me.

I raised one eyebrow at Terry. “I did say that if you pulled a knife on me again that I’d kill you with it, but this tux is rented, if I get blood on it I won’t get my deposit back,” I mused, waving my free hand down at my white shirt and rented black pants.

He shook his head, gulping loudly.

I smiled and reached out, gripping his wrist moving it quickly towards the opening of the car door.

He started pleading then as he tried to wrench his hand from my grasp, struggling and thrashing but I pinned his body down with my knees as I smiled down at him.

“Jamie, please? Don’t, please!” he begged, shaking his head fiercely, his eyes pleading now, admitting defeat.

I laughed and shrugged, moving my other hand on the car door, swinging it inward. Terry’s deafening, high-pitched scream vibrated off of the walls as the door swung towards his hand that I was pinning against the metal where it would connect in less than a second or two.

I stopped it just a couple of inches before it made contact with his hand. I looked down at him to see he was laying there with his eyes squeezed shut, the scream still coming out of his mouth. I laughed and shook my head at the pathetic sight before me - and he accused me of talking a big game? “You scream like a bitch,” I said, pushing myself off of him, standing up, looking down at him. He slowly opened his eyes, the incessant scream stopping as he looked first at me, then at his hand that was untouched by the door. “Are we done?” I asked, raising one eyebrow at him. I had no problem going through with the plan if he was still insisting on trying to prove himself, but I didn’t think that was going to be necessary.

He took a couple of ragged breaths before he nodded. “Done,” he agreed.

I smiled and offered my hand to help him up. He looked at it hesitantly for a few seconds before putting his good hand in mine, whimpering as I pulled him to his feet. “Just so you know, next time I won’t stop,” I told him, cocking my head to the side, meeting his eyes so he’d know I was serious.

He shook his head. “No next time.”

I smiled and someone applauded from behind me. “Bravo, bravo, what an awesome show of dominance,” Brett mocked, putting on a fake smile. “But now I’m down one team member and I have an order to fill. If that’s late then I’m going to hold you personally responsible, Kid.”