76

Contd

Ariel Beckham.

“Noah, don’t!”

He lets go of my hand and steps forward, revealing himself to Darnez. I panic and run after him.

I’m in front of Noah just as the bat comes swinging.

The sound is sickening—a heavy whoosh followed by the brutal crack of wood against my head. Pain explodes in my skull like a firework, blinding and immediate. I gasp as the air leaves my lungs, my knees buckles. The ground feels miles away until I hit it, hard.

Everything is spinning! My vision flashes in and out like a broken film reel. But through the haze, I catch a glimpse of movement—Ramirez storming in, his eyes wild, his body like a force of consequences. I see him slam Darnez into the stairs, throwing him like he’s nothing.

And then…he’s there. Right in front of me.

Ramirez kneels, cradling my hea……