He’s strong. Way too strong. I think I only get him down because I caught him by surprise, but as we wrestle and shove and scratch—well, I scratch—he’s quickly getting the upper hand. The problem is I’ve never been in a tussle like this in my life, and now that we’re tussling, it’s not as easy as the movies would have you believe. I can barely see. Barely have time to process I’ve been punched before the next one flies at my face.

None of it hurts, so my adrenaline must be running deliciously high. I stop shielding my face, and before the guy on me knows what’s happening, I grab a fistful of hair and pull like I’ve never pulled in my life. Strands snap loose, and the more I pull and he pulls back, I feel the way it’s trying to tear from his fucking head.

Bile rises up at the feeling, but I don’t let go, not even when he aims a bruiser right at my cheekbone. I gag some more, but finally, his head jolts back in my hold, and I get enough space between us that I can bring my knee up hard and fast between his legs.

“Fuck!” he roars. The split-second distraction is enough to throw him off me and scramble back to my feet.

I don’t stop, don’t look around, don’t know where Luther or Arlie are or what they’re doing, but as I yank the door open, hands latch around my wrist.

Luther’s thrown himself across the room to get to me, and he snarls up through bloody teeth. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

I try to shake him off, but his grip gets painfully tight. I’ve already had to fight more than I have in my life, and as my ragged breathing gets my head all spinny, I’m acutely aware that this is my last chance to get free, and I gotta use it.

I twist and shake and yank in his hold, sure I’m destroying my shoulder more even though I can’t feel it … and then I remember my gun.

Motherfucker.

My hand closes over Judy, tucked in my waistband, and I bring her out and into contact with his forehead.

“Let me go!”

Luther laughs, eyes unnervingly locked on my face. “You’ve never shot anyone.”

You know what? I’m getting sick of being known for that.

With a flicker of something, I lose my goddamn cool.

Judy redirects to Luther’s arm, and I pull the fucking trigger. The gun is still shockingly loud, and I can’t stop my flinch as the bullet sinks into his arm and splatters me with blood.