Chapter Seventeen
Tara paled. Then she lunged, enraged, at me. Taken by surprise, I fell and tried to scramble back up, but Tara kicked me. I was trying to remember my self-defense moves that Burton had taught me some time ago, but was so taken off guard that I ran behind the counter since Tara was between me and the door. Tara followed me and as I desperately looked for something to use as a weapon, she swung a heavy blender at me. I ducked at the last second, then, belatedly, remembered my pepper spray. I pulled it from my pocket and held my arm out straight, emptying out a steady stream of fluid that hit her square in the eyes.
Tara let out a roar and grabbed at her face. I didn’t wait around to see what happened next—I took off running to the door and out toward my car, dialing Burto
