Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Nineteen: Raphael Flores

As soon as we've descended from the ring, a group of men armed with semi-automatic rifles surround us. The dickhead businessman taking the head of the pack. Saviour sighs in exasperation and we face out with our backs to each other. 

"You take the ones on the left and I take the ones on the right?" I ask hesitantly, my eyes flicking over the strange group of people. They don't look particularly threatening but guns tend to give the impression that they are against negotiations at this point.

We can only assume that they either want to take me alive and recruit me or kill me for refusing them. Either way, it's not happening. "You sure we can't talk this out, boss man?" Sav tries to take the diplomatic route but the anger that creases the businessman's face only illustrates how much he wants this over and done with. 

One of the men inches towards a Saviour with a blade pointed at her but she just rolls her eyes, "I'm trying to be polite here but if you get any closer I will kick your ass so hard your vertebrae will pop out of your mouth one by one like a Pez dispenser."

Mama bear has arisen and she's taking no prisoners. "So, how long are you guys gonna stand around like a bunch of creepers?" I prompt, both of us settling into defensive positions, quickly weaponing up. Normally we'd do this hand to hand but we need to keep them as far away from Sav as possible.

The businessman fades back into the crowd who are watching with wide eyes, their cameras following us as we roll our necks and warm our shoulders. "We're gonna make it." Saviour reassures me with malicious intent in her eyes, she's excited for this fight and I can tell she feels guilty because of it.

"I think you overestimate my abilities..."

"And I think you underestimate mine."

"We're literally surrounded." I whisper back, circling slightly to find a better vantage point.

"Great, means we can attack in any direction. Let's go, ladies! I haven't got all day!" Saviour provokes them and four of them descend at once. I try and ignore what Saviour's doing to concentrate on the guys that have chosen me as their target. One lands a healthy hit to the side of my face that has me spinning slightly, his friend wielding a silver dagger and aiming it towards my leg.

He doesn't want to kill me, he wants to make sure I can't escape. I can't say the same for Sav though, they have no reason to keep her alive. I hear three bullets fire and I quickly look over my shoulder to see three dead bodies at her feet, one of them being one of mine. I grin at her before knocking this guy out with a solid punch to the nose. "Murder isn't always the answer." I state, knocking another guy out while she shoots them.

"Nope, sometimes murder is the question and the answer is yes." She grins again and drives a longer blade through a man without even flinching. I roll my eyes and press my back against hers again as they pull back to recover. This time they send in the big guys. Two men built bigger than Breaker and I can see Saviour's eyes widen as she accepts the challenge.

I panic on the inside, I haven't even succeeded taking down our very own Breaker let alone men bigger than him. "Yeah, Sav, I don't think we can take them."

"If you say shit like that again I'm gonna kick you somewhere you're not gonna enjoy. I've taught you enough, Runner, use your bloody instincts already." Okay, keep hands close to face to protect from head wound, head wound will put you on your ass quicker than any other wound.

If they're bigger than you aim for spots like the throat, kidneys, knees and groin. I power forward and drive three sharp punches to his stomach, forcing the air from his system as he rolls backwards.

Successful attack number one.

When they're stronger than you and bigger than you, you need to rely on speed and skill. First, figure out their weaknesses and always agitate them at that point when you can. I study him closer as he sets up to move towards me again. I notice a slight limp in his left leg and a quick roll of that shoulder too. I kick forward into his left knee and as he collapses, I drag his left arm up and slam my knee into his armpit.

I back off and bring my fists back up. 

When they have a quicker recovery time than you try and remain on the defensive until you are able to exhaust them, find openings where you can. I remember that lesson because Saviour beat my ass black and blue that day, giggling the entire time between her lectures. 

He advances again and I can see that his left side is disabled, this time he swings and doesn't miss, his fist driving into my stomach hard enough for my eyes to almost pop out of my head and bile to crawl up my throat.

I look over at Saviour and groan, she's literally sat on her guy's shoulders and yanking at his ears with a malicious smirk on her face. "Why are you so much better at this than I am?" I shout, ducking under another punch before backhanding him viciously.

"Let's be real, I'm better than you at everything!"

"Point!" I reply and finally drive a punch into his mouth hard enough to knock some teeth out. Granted, it fucking hurt, my knuckles feel like they've been crushed but still, he sways on his feet looking extremely woozy.

"Finish it, you knucklehead!" Saviour's voice reaches me again as she lands on the floor, her bulldozer having already met his maker. I twirl around and land a harsh kick to his face, throwing him back against the concrete floor with a loud groan. The rest of the businessman's men flinch back and hide behind their master while Saviour steps forward so she's almost nose to nose with him.

"I will have him on my team, my love. You cannot stop me, I will bring bigger men and more guns and I will bring you to your knees begging me for death."

"Well aren't you just a lovely little lollipop triple-dipped in psycho." Her grin is terrifying because everyone here knows just what she is capable of. "You can bring your army and your guns but believe me when I say this, I will never beg you for anything."

"You are a crazy, ridiculous psycho bitch."

"You are a man," she pauses, dragging one of her blood covered fingers across his pristine suit, "an average, cowardly, woman-fearing man." She grips the suit tightly, creasing it and turning its light blue colour to a crimson red. She nails him hard enough in the balls that his eyes roll back and he drops to his knees, as she walks passed she shoves him over and he hits his head on the ground. "Get the fuck out of my way." She demands, passing through the crowd that splits the second she opens her mouth.

"You coming or what?" Her smile is softer now, more loving and I find myself relaxing. Mama bear has gone back into her cage and my sweet best friend has returned, her hand even outstretches to take mine as we walk out of the building and back into her car.

I'm surprised no back up was sent but I assume that's because we really can't have these people find out that we're Riders yet. "That was incredible!" I cheer and high five her, watching as she drives us home.

"I think we might go home to a civil war at this point."

"Lexie and Reign are gonna kill Bear for this." I agree and rest my head back, I don't think I can handle another fight. I'm feeling the affects of the head wound now that the adrenaline has worn off and I have a feeling that I have minor internal bleeding and maybe a few fractured ribs. Thankfully, Saviour doesn't have a mark on her and she doesn't seem to be tired or dizzy like she was before we found out that she's pregnant.

All in all, this was much more successful than we thought it would be.