Free Breaking Point (The Point Series: Book 2) by Gerard Brennan

of my pocket and shot me with. My own gun."
    "It was meant to be a warning shot."
    "And what? Will that grow my ear back?"
    "You're nuts, man."
    "Get in the fucking car."
    Owen lunged. Something happened and a light flashed in the back of his brain. He stumbled backwards. Then he realised. The stoner was punching him. Owen hadn't expected a fight. The thought of it made him snigger. Brian pulled back his arm, priming a knockout blow. Owen stepped to the side and the fist whiffed through the air. The stoner's flank was open. Owen cracked his ribs with a hammer-blow body-shot. Brian grunted. His hands dropped. Owen bitch-slapped him. The stoner toppled.
    Owen towered over Brian. He had toughened up a wee bit. Not enough, but at least he'd had a fair go this time. Didn't resort to picking pockets. Owen bent down to slap him about a little more before he bundled him into the car.
    A window exploded and glass rained down on his back. He yelped and scrambled out of the downpour. Debris littered the footpath around Brian. Then he heard screaming. Looked up.
    Somebody was flying through the air. But only a short distance. The flailing body crash-landed on the roof of the Toyota.
    The bitch in the boot started up her shrieking again. Owen switched his gaze to the busted window. A big man in a suit dusted his hands off, a huge grin almost splitting his face in two. The smaller suit, Malachy, stood beside him. Owen gave him a nod.
    "You scared the shite out of me there."
    Malachy winked at him. "Sorry about that, boy. Did you get your fellah?"
    Owen pointed to Brian, still huddled on the footpath. "Got him, yeah. Thanks for letting him through." He swept his hand towards the Toyota. "You got yours as well, then?"
    "Got him good. Sorry about your motor. My colleague got a bit overexcited."
    "It's a hire car. Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll still run. Looks like cosmetic damage, just."
    "Well, sorry for the hassle anyway. We better head on. The cops will probably arrive in half an hour or so."
    Malachy and his heavy stepped away from the broken window. Owen nodded to himself.
    Pretty reasonable for a druggie gangster, like.
    With his good ear, Owen heard the shuffle and scuffle of Brian struggling to his feet. He figured he'd throw the wee stoner into the boot with the screaming girl. It'd be tight, but maybe a bit of company would calm her.
    "Right, Morgan. Come here."
    "Can't... breathe... help."
    Brian had gotten onto his knees, but he remained there hugging his own chest. Owen must have done a real number on those ribs.
    "Get up, you big girl's blouse."
    "Trying... to."
    More than a little pleased with himself, and eager to get moving on the rest of Brian's nightmare, Owen stepped up to the wimp and extended his hand. Owen saw the glint in Brian's eye just a second before he launched an uppercut straight into his crotch. His whole body convulsed and he bent at the waist. Then his ruined ear thundered with pain. The world went black and grey. He felt four or five blows to the side of his head before he dropped to the tarmac and curled up into a ball. His kidneys flared as they absorbed a kicking.

Grounded
    ––––––––
    T ony felt pressure on his eyes. His lids were pulled open. Light flooded his brain. Brian's face floated in front of his.
    "Jesus, thank God," Brian said. "I thought you were dead."
    "You came back for me?"
    "Sort of... Can you move?"
    He tried. "No."
    "You have to. I need to get out of here."
    Tony doubled the effort but got the same result, with added agony. "Jesus, they've done a real number on me, haven't they?"
    "Tony, come on. Move!"
    "I really can't."
    Brian pulled at Tony's hoodie. His back flared. Every nerve screamed. "Fuck!"
    "Oh, shit. He's getting up. I have to go, Tony. I'm really, really sorry."
    "What...?"
    Brian was gone. Tony heard a car door clunk shut and then the ground underneath him started to vibrate. He put a hand out to steady himself. Felt like he was moving without moving.