Maggie held out her hand. Emily took it without question, and gasped when she spotted the problem.
Aleksandar and his men moved with a singular focus, their eyes trained on Emily.
“Come on,” Maggie said, leading Emily down the car.
They opened the doors and entered the next one, the Russian’s close behind them.
Drumming pounded in Maggie’s ears with each step. The train was in motion. They couldn’t get out. Not until the next stop, and by then it could be too late.
Emily stumbled forward, tripping over feet and shopping bags blocking their way. They carried on through to a third car, but they were out of options.
Maggie closed her eyes. “Shit.”
There were no other cars left. They were in the last one with nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
“Maggie,” Emily whimpered, as the car door opened and Aleksandar stepped inside with his goons.
There was nothing for it.
“Stand over in the corner and crouch behind the seats. Cover yourself as best you can and don’t move.” It was the best Maggie could do for now.
Emily complied and ran to the very back of the car. Maggie straightened her back and stared down her opponents.
The air changed, and the passengers seemed to sense something was wrong. They looked up from their phones and stopped talking to their partners, each searching for the cause of instinctual unease.
Aleksandar cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to bother you, but things are about to get very messy in here. It’s best that you find another car for the rest of your journey.”
New Yorkers didn’t need to be told twice. Trouble was coming, and no one wanted to be around to get caught in the crossfire.
A young man in Timberland boots and a hoodie stopped by Maggie as the others left. “Yo, ma’am, these guys don’t look so happy to see you. Do you need help?”
Maggie kept her attention on the Russians. “They’re the ones who’re going to need help.”
One of the goons lunged for her then, and the would-be-Samaritan sprung forward before Maggie could stop him. The goon dodged his uppercut with ease and took him down with a roundhouse kick that caught the young man’s temple.
Aleksandar’s laughter echoed through the empty car as the civilian crumpled to the floor. “All you’re doing is slowing us down.”
Maggie straightened and twirled the handle of the baton, keeping it loose in her dexterous hands. “If you want the girl, you’re going to have to go through me.”
Aleksandar arched an eyebrow. “As you wish.”
The three men moved as one, Aleksandar’s men stepping in front of him to head the charge.
Maggie waited until they were almost upon her. Jumping, she grabbed the metal bar above her and shot out a kick to one of the men’s chest.
The blow connected and sent him reeling back into his boss, knocking Aleksandar to the dirty floor with him.
As both the men untangled from each other, Maggie turned her attention to the third. He was ready for her as she landed back on his feet, sending a jab her way. It clipped Maggie square in the face, too late to raise her hands in defense.
A trickle fell from her nose and Maggie tasted blood on her lips.
Before her opponent could land another hit, Maggie ducked, dodging his second punch and swung her baton. The weapon caught the man at the side of his face with a satisfying crunch as spittle, blood, and teeth flew from his mouth and spattered across the glass window.
Aleksandar was on his feet again, and he and his remaining guard stepped over their fallen comrade.
The guard reached for the gun at his side and Maggie lashed out with her baton. It crashed against his arm and she felt the bone snap upon impact. A kick in the solar plexus sent him careening to the floor with his colleague, evening the playing field to one on one.
Hands grabbed Maggie’s hair and pulled her back with enough force to send her stumbling back. Strands ripped from her roots and she hissed in pain as Aleksandar manhandled her towards him.
She pivoted to try and free herself, but the man’s grip was unrelenting. Maggie kicked for his groin, but Aleksandar was ready for it and leaned away from the strike.
The back of his hand smacked against her jaw and sent her head spinning from the impact. He was strong. Much stronger than Maggie.
A fist caught her in the same spot, sending a second surge of pain to jolt through her jaw and rattle her teeth. Maggie bit her tongue and her mouth filled with a bitter copper tang.
One of the fallen guards was talking into his radio, calling for help. Maggie had no time to stop him, forced to counter a third attack from Aleksandar.
He aimed a brutal kick towards Maggie’s stomach and surge of maternal fear pulsed through her. She flung out her arm just in time with a block that hurt just as much as taking the hit.
Acute stabs of pain rang up her arm, causing her to drop her weapon, but the blow missed its target.
Maggie stepped back and eyed her enemy.
Aleksandar never spoke. No jibes, or pompous smack talk. No gloating.
He was all business, and he was winning.
Maggie couldn’t allow that. It wasn’t just her life at risk.
Her head ached and, from the throbbing in her gums, she was certain she was going to need some dental work. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Maggie centered herself and concentrated on the movements of the Russian.
Aleksandar thrust forward with a sickening blow. His fist connected yet again, the right hook sending Maggie reeling to the floor before she even realized the attack was coming. Adrenaline coursed through her, clogging her mind and leaving her gasping for air as the shock of the punch subsided and the pain registered.
Her eyes watered, Aleksandar a blurred specter as he loomed over her like a towering skyscraper, ready to finish her off with one final hit.
A high-pitched cry came from behind them and Maggie gasped as little Emily charged the Russian. She swung the dropped baton like a baseball bat and smashed it with all her might against the back of Aleksandar’s head.
Aleksandar swayed and placed a hand over the strike point, only for it to come back slick with blood. His faced hardened and knuckles cracked in his tight fists.
Maggie gaped at the head of security, amazed he was still standing.
“Maggie,” Emily cried, tossing the baton her way.
“Bitch,” Aleksandar swore. He turned towards Emily and sent a meaty right hook towards her.
Getting to her feet, Maggie moved, sidestepping up and over the seats and back down again so she was between the Russian and Emily. Aleksandar aimed another punch towards her, but where he had sheer strength, Maggie had speed.
The blow to the head made him sluggish. Maggie leaned back and felt a swoosh of air as Aleksandar’s fist missed her.
But she didn’t miss.
With one last assault, Maggie brought the baton upon Aleksandar with vicious finality. Aiming for the same spot Emily had softened, the baton connected with the man’s head and brought with it the sweet sound of Aleksandar collapsing to the ground with a thump.
“Are you okay?” Emily asked, running to Maggie.
“You shouldn’t have stepped in,” she chided.
“I got him good though,” replied Emily with a sheepish smile.
That she had.
Maggie laughed as she slumped down onto a seat and wiped the sweat from her brow. It was a close one, and her head spun from the dizzying blows sustained. “I don’t know much about baseball, but I’d say that was a home run.”
The train began to slow again, reaching its next stop. Maggie winced as she got up, using the handrail to keep her steady. One of the goons was still muttering into his radio on the floor, and Maggie volleyed him in the face.
Staying on the train was out of the question now. It was time for plan B.