5
I catch one of them in the chest with a swift kick, propelling him into an empty table. Glasses smash over the floor. I taste blood when a fist from nowhere smacks me in the mouth. Turning, with both hands protecting my jaw, I manage to avoid the second punch with a quick duck, and then I punch him in the gut. I see Ginge pinned to the floor by a guy twice his size. Racing over to them, I slam my right fist into the guy’s temple, knocking him clean out. I yank Ginge up. No time for praise—he can thank me later. I spot Hoppy, kneeling over someone, pounding his giant knuckles into the guy’s face. A bottle of beer comes hurtling towards my head. I lift my arm; it bounces painfully off my wrist and smashes on the hard floor. I get to the culprit in a split second, grabbing him by his Cardi
