I exclaimed in shock, "Carol!”

Carol, upon hearing my exclamation, suddenly turned around and froze in place. It was too late to dodge, but just as the bat was about to strike her, Tristan grabbed another hefty man in the nick of time.

The man was flung out and crashed into the man wielding the bat. With no footing, both burly men fell heavily to the ground, emitting a muffled thud.

Carol jumped aside in astonishment, watching the two men tumble to the ground. Then she gaped at Tristan.

Even