The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 363

"This is my sister... my sister... Suzie... you're not dead? You're really not dead?!"

As soon as the words left Stewart's mouth, a man with bleached blond hair lunged from the group, grabbed Mia's arm, and shoved her hard.

Mia stumbled back several steps, crashing heavily into the car door.

It all happened so fast that Suzie, who had been frantically trying to think of a way out, had no time to stop him.

On a bustling, crowded street, these thugs were incredibly brazen.

She hadn't dealt with a scene like this before, but she knew their type—they preyed on the weak and cowered before the strong.

Without a single thought for the danger or the consequences, Suzie raised her hand and slapped Blondie hard across the face.

That move completely enraged him.

Blondie whipped out a short dagger and pointed it straight at Suzie.

The rest of the men advanced on them, step by step. Suzie grabbed Mia and backed up until they were pinned against the car, nowhere left to run.

On the ground, Stewart dragged himself along, following Suzie's feet.

Just as Blondie was about to make a move on Suzie, the man leading the pack waved a heavy hand, signaling him to step back.

Blondie rubbed his cheek, his eyes practically burning with hatred. He ground his teeth and spat,

"Boss, let's just grab 'em both before the cops get here. This chick looks loaded. Check out the sports car, the clothes—I bet we could squeeze a fortune out of her."

He turned his venomous glare back to Suzie. "In a minute, I'm gonna show you exactly what happens when you lay a hand on me."

In an instant, the men swarmed them, grabbing Suzie and Mia by the arms and trying to drag them across the street.

Suzie and Mia fought back with everything they had, but Blondie's dagger was flashing right in front of their faces.

"Yeah, unbuttoning your cuffs and everything. You gonna take your shirt off next?"

"Ah!!!"

The thugs barely managed a few mocking remarks before screams of agony erupted from their own ranks.

"Run!"

Hearing Jamie's sharp command, Suzie's first instinct was to flee.

Taking advantage of the men's focus shifting entirely to Jamie, she swiftly broke free of their grip, grabbed Mia, and sprinted back toward her car.

Fearing they still weren't safe, she dragged Mia up the steps leading to the café.

Only when they were securely tucked among the crowd of onlookers "enjoying the show" on the steps did Suzie finally turn to look back at the street...