For a split second, I thought I'd feel the full force of that punch to my face. But the blow never landed on me, after all.
Pete's fist veered off by a few inches. Colin had reacted with lightning speed, throwing his body around me to shield me once again.
The punch slammed into his shoulder with a dull thud, sending a violent jolt rippling through his chest, but he didn't even grunt.
For a beat, no one breathed. The whole world went dead quiet.
I gently pushed myself out of Colin's arms, stepped up to Pete, and stared at him with eyes blazing with raw resentment.
"Pete, I have zero respect for you."
In that split second, I saw it in his eyes: bottomless, splintered grief.
