Pain exploded in Bastian's skull as one of the men backhanded him. It would only take a few more strikes like these, and he'd go down. He had been worried a confrontation like this would happen, but he'd gone on this fool's errand simply to spend more time with Jane.

One of the men lunged for him as two more circled, waiting like wolves. Bastian slid sideways to avoid the man that dove for them, his feet skidding along the concrete. The move cost him greatly as he stumbled and ...