His head jerked, teeth clacking together with a nasty crack. He stumbled. She twisted, drove her shoulder into his chest, and body‑checked him into the opposite wall. His skull clipped the concrete with a solid thud.
Fourth bullet.
Bang.
Right into his sternum at knife‑distance. His eyes went wide, then empty, as he slid down the wall, leaving a dark trail.
"Three down," Veer said. His voice sounded strained now. "Kaya—"
She spun. One last jackal had slipped past while she was busy, racing straight for Veer and Cutie.
Veer couldn't lift his arms without risking dropping the boy. So he used what he had.
He stepped forward and smashed his knee up into the jackal's stomach, using Cutie's weight to anchor himself. The beastman doubled over with a wheeze, but still clawed forward, grabbing at Veer's shirt.
