Blood Red (5 page)

Vivi Anna

came up right into his face. She heard his nose break.

It had a distinctive crunching sound. He fell over, clutching his crushed nose, blood seeping through his chunky fingers.

Joe grabbed her around the neck. His beefy hand squeezed hard on her throat. He quickly backed her up into the wall. She punched at his thick head. But every blow seemed weak against the strength of his brutal hand at her throat.

He slammed her against the wall and raised her up. He was strong. Stronger than any man she had yet been up against.

“Let her go!” Jack launched at Joe, fists raised.

Joe backhanded him across the face and sent him reeling to the floor. He laughed and leaned in close to Red’s face. “I think I broke your little toy.”

His breath smelt like rotting meat. Red cringed, but couldn’t pull back. “Ever heard of dental hygiene?

You can buy a toothbrush now, you know,” she managed to squeak.

His smile faded. “You have a wicked tongue, girl.

But after tonight I’ll show you what your tongue is for.”

He smashed his mouth to hers. His tongue snaked through her swollen lips. He invaded her mouth with it.

Red nearly gagged from the taste of him. She could feel his slimy tongue probing inside her mouth. He tasted of stale beer, sour milk, and something foul she could not name.

She flailed her legs and arms, but to no avail. Her limbs were weakening due to the lack of air. Black 8

Blood Red

spots clouded her eyes. She would soon pass out. In a last-ditch effort, she brought her hands up to his face.

Her thumbs pressed into his eyes.

Joe started to squeal. He let her go and grabbed her arms, but it was too late. Red had already dug her thumbs deep into the soft gel of his eyes.

Red fell to the floor. She rubbed at her bruised neck as Joe stumbled around the bar his hands over his gouged eyes.

“Oh, my God! Someone help me! She blinded me! I can’t see. Please someone help me!”

Red stood up on shaky legs. She gripped the wall to steady herself. She walked over to where Joe stood babbling.

“Need some help?” She growled.

He put a bloody hand up in defense. “Stay away from me! You took my eyes! You took my eyes, you bitch!”

“You won’t need them where you’re going.”

Red reached around her sides and with uncanny speed unsheathed two long blades from her back leather straps. She crossed her arms in front of her swiftly and gracefully.

Joe gurgled and grabbed his throat. He fell to his knees. He reached up for an imaginary helping hand, then fell forward onto the scarred wooden floor.

Silence reverberated throughout the room. None of the patrons dared move. They stared wide-eyed at the carnage laid before them.

Red sheathed her knives. She sauntered over to where Jimmy still lay, hands cradling his nose. She stood over him menacingly.

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