Viktor moved faster than I thought possible. His arm wrapped around my throat, gun now pressed to my head, using me as a shield.
"Everyone back!" he shouted. "Back, or she dies!"
The officers froze, guns trained on Viktor but unable to shoot without hitting me.
"Let her go," Detective Park said calmly. "There's no way out of this."
"There's always a way out." Viktor was backing toward a rear exit, dragging me with him. His arm was crushing my windpipe, making it hard to breathe. "Tell them to lower their weapons, or I'll kill her right here."
"Viktor, don't " Kai started.
"Shut up!" Viktor's grip tightened, and black spots danced in my vision. "You did this. You brought her into this. Her blood is on your hands."
Through the haze of oxygen deprivation, I saw Kai's face. Saw the devastation, the guilt, the fear.
And I made a decision.
I'd taken a self-defense class freshman year. Aunt Maria had insisted. I'd thought it was pointless at the time.
Now, I used what I'd learned.
