Kaiden's anger flared white-hot behind his eyes.
His fist came down.
"No-" Damian flinched violently and screamed, the sound tearing from his throat in raw terror. His arms flew up instinctively to protect his face, his broken shoulder sending lightning bolts of agony through his entire body. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact that would surely end him. After seeing Kaiden butcher the men who easily beat Damian to a pulp, the boy knew he was far, far out of his league.
But the punch never came.
The hand stopped an inch away from his face.
Damian's scream cut off abruptly, dying in his throat. His chest heaved with panicked breaths as he slowly opened his eyes. Kaiden's fist hung suspended in the air between them. The fury radiating from the man was palpable, a living thing that pressed down on Damian like a physical weight.
But he hadn't struck.
