The insult caused my head to swivel, the heat behind my eyes enough to bore through metal. Something shifted on Clyde’s face as he slunk back, as if genuinely surprised at my reply. “Try me, you illiterate, unimaginative meathead. I’ll be sure you do drills for hours after that little quip.”

The pair of guys looked equally surprised.

“What, did you think your petty little stunt scared me away?” I scoffed, hands settling on my hips as I mustered whatever strength I had left into my ...