Chapter 15
STEVE came to reluctantly; his every muscle and sinew aching, the base of his skull throbbing with pain. He stirred grudgingly, attempting to lift him-self off the asphalt pavement. It was too great a struggle. He started to work his fingers into motion, but his knuckles felt as though they had been run through a meat grinder. He attempted to pry his eyes open but one of themwhich one he couldn't determinewas puffy, cogged up tightly. Managing the good eye open, he was instantly blinded by Tommy Crandon's wide smile.
"Oh, no." Steve grimaced, hazily recalling the brief but brutal scrap.
"You got in the way of a right uppercut, of buddy," Tommy apologized.
Steve stirred again rolling lethargically away from Tommy. He winced painfully at the one-eyed vision of Nina angrily hov
