But before I could say a word, a group of women came barreling straight toward us. They looked like they meant business.
They pointed in our direction, voices loud enough to carry down the block.
"That's her! She's the shameless homewrecker!"
"She seduced our Maddie's husband! Get her! Get her!"
"Don't let her run! Women like her who destroy families need to be taught a lesson!"
They closed in fast. The one in front grabbed a fistful of Rebecca's hair and yanked her to the ground in one swift motion.
The instant Rebecca hit the pavement, the rest of them swarmed in, fists and feet flying.
"Homewrecker! That's what you get for seducing someone else's husband!"
"You think you can steal our Maddie's man? We'll beat you senseless!"
"A shameless tramp like you, throwing yourself at married men—you're not fit to lick Maddie's shoes!"
Rebecca clutched her head, rolling on the ground, trying to dodge the fists raining down from the women.
"Mr. Graves! Mr. Graves, help me!"
"Maddie, how could you do this to me? There's nothing between me and Mr. Graves!"
"I came here to apologize to you! How could you do this?"
Mick tried to push through, but the women were ferocious. He couldn't get past them.
Hearing Rebecca's screams, Mick whipped around in a fury and jabbed a finger at me.
"Madeline! I really underestimated you!"
"You hired people to beat her up? There's nothing between her and me—how could you stoop this low?"
"You're out of your mind! You're a lunatic! A psycho!"
I was just as stunned by the whole scene. I rushed forward and grabbed Mick's arm.
"It wasn't me. I swear it wasn't me. I didn't do this."
"I don't even know those women. How could I have sent them to attack someone?"
"It really wasn't me, Mick. You know me—if I'd done it, I'd own up to it."
But Mick was beyond reason. He wrenched his arm free with brutal force.
"You don't know them? You have the nerve to say you don't know them?"
"They're screaming about beating up a homewrecker—every word out of their mouths is about defending you—and you're going to stand there and say you don't know them?"
"Madeline, you make me sick!"
The force of his shove sent me stumbling backward. I lost my footing and hit the ground.
We'd been standing right at the curb. Before I could get up, a car came barreling toward me, completely out of control.
My head slammed against the concrete steps at the edge of the road.
Something warm spread beneath my skull, pooling and seeping outward.
The sudden accident scattered the women. They bolted in every direction.
Through blurred vision, I watched Mick scoop Rebecca into his arms, his face twisted with panic.
I gathered every last ounce of strength and stretched my hand toward him.
"Mick... help me..."
