Chapter 42
Ashton’s POV
Pain dragged me back into consciousness.
My head throbbed in slow, brutal pulses. My mouth tasted like blood and dust.
For a second, I didn’t know where I was.
Then I heard Moana’s scream again.
Everything snapped into focus.
I pushed myself up with a groan, my vision becoming clear, my ears ringing. My body protested immediately with my ribs aching, my shoulder screaming, my jaw stiffened but there was no time to listen. Survival mode kicked in.
There was nothing left to think about.
Only fight.
One of them lunged at me, his my fist flying toward my face. I ducked on instinct, my body remembering what my mind didn’t need to process.
I drove my elbow into his ribs. He cried out, stumbling back.
Another came from the side.
I grabbed his wrist, twisted i
