BEFORE THE STORM

The goons all stopped laughing and everyone in the cafeteria seemed to go quiet. Everything went still and should a pin have dropped, the officials in the next room would have heard. Duke tensed and then sat upright. His face was a mask of pain infused with anger. In a flash, he reached across the table for Rosetta's neck. Rosetta sat backwards as fast as she could and his fingers grazed her throat slightly. She grabbed his arm and then pulled him towards her midsection with one arm while she used the other one to slam his head, nose first into the aluminium table. He cried out in pain and fell backwards clutching at his broken nose. The goons tried to move in to intercept, but she simply smeared her food on her palms and sent her fingers into the eyes of the nearest goon. He staggered backwards and the other two halted unsure of what other trick she had up her sleeves. Duke got up with a bloody nose and tried to attack her again but an official interrupted.