Chapter Nine‘Hit me harder.’
Jeb hesitated. She slapped him.
‘Hit me harder. Make me bleed.’
Jeb tightened his fist and hit her flush in the mouth. His tacky skull-ring opened a gash under her lip and she tasted blood. Her breath became ragged.
‘Harder!’
This time his fist caught Cydney high on the temple and she staggered. He saved her from falling by grabbing her upper arm. She brushed his hand away. Again she slapped him; trying to provoke a violent response. It worked. He backhanded her across her left cheek and, once again, his ring opened a gash. He followed up with an immediate right hook that dropped her to the ground.
She fell on her back. He bent to help her up.
‘Leave me,’ she ordered.
Jeb watched Cydney with caution. She rubbed the back of her hand across her bloodied m
