I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the agony.
But it never hit me.
I blinked my eyes open. Dave was down on the floor.
Leo was here! He'd made it!
As the two of them wrestled, I scrambled for the knife, trying to saw through the ropes binding me.
But the knots were too damn tight.
Dave was swinging wildly—even with the blade, he was slowing down, wearing out.
Then, with a raw scream, he lunged straight at me.
Blood sprayed across my face. Leo had thrown himself in the way—he took the hit for me.
Another blow. Then another.
Dave had completely lost it.
"Leo, run!" I screamed.
Somehow I struggled to my feet and threw myself between them—and that's when, thank God, the police burst in.
The moment I saw them hauling Dave away, everything went black.