Ryan, enough. Ryan ignored him. Ahead. Naomi and Nia turned into the narrow service hall. The same corridor where the loading doors rattled in the storm.
The same corridor where 4 minutes later Naomi would say seven quiet words. Take your hand off my sister. And somewhere farther down that hall, Walter Hayes was pushing a maintenance cart toward them. Ryan still had Nia's wrist in his hand. The corridor was narrow enough that nobody had much room to move.
Fluorescent light washed the cinder block walls in a pale blue white glare. Behind the twins, rain slammed against the loading dock doors. Each gust making the metal panels tremble in their frames. Jake's phone remained raised. Connor stood two steps back now.
His face had changed completely. Whatever had seemed funny 10 minutes earlier no longer did. Naomi did not raise her voice. Let her go. Ryan smiled.
You think you're in charge now? No. Naomi's eyes dropped to his hand. I think she told you to move. You didn't. I told you not to touch us.
You did. Ryan's grip tightened just enough for Nia's expression to flicker. Naomi saw it. So did Connor. Ryan.
Connor said. Let go. Ryan looked over his shoulder. What is wrong with you? This is stupid.
Jake shifted his weight but kept filming. Ryan turned back. Nia looked directly at him. You're making a mistake. He laughed.
That's supposed to scare me. No. Her voice was even. It's supposed to give you one more chance. Something about that answer irritated him. Maybe because it sounded too much like Naomi.
Maybe because neither woman was giving him the anger he had spent all week trying to manufacture. Ryan released Nia with a small shove. For one second, Naomi thought he had finally stopped. Then he stepped toward her. His palm hit her shoulder hard.
Naomi moved backward. One clean step, balanced, controlled. Ryan came again. Come on, he said. Do something.
Naomi's heart was pounding now, but her face stayed calm. She could feel Nia beside her. Could feel the old training settle into her body like memory. Distance. Breathing.
Hands open. Exit first. Only enough force to get away. Marcus' voice seemed to rise from somewhere far behind the years. Strength is not the first thing you use.
It is the last thing you still have when everything else fails. Naomi angled her body. Ryan. He moved closer. Come on, stop.
Jake's camera zoomed in. Connor swore under his breath. Ryan lunged. What happened next took less than two seconds. Naomi stepped off line, guided his arm past her shoulder, and turned with his momentum.