Raphael didn't waver his stance. "I wasn't asking, pal," he replied evenly and his jaw squared.

Adrenaline was making his pulse race and his palms sweat underneath the leather gloves. His expression remained calm and unblinking. He avoided looking the girl in the eye and focused on the punk who held her. Seeing her fear would just make him anxious and more likely to screw up. He didn't have the option of screwing up.

Taking an easy breath, Raph's left hand drooped to his side to graze his fingertips over the sheath for the sai concealed on that hip. "Unless you're looking to get messed up real good," he warned with edge of malice in his tone, "let her go."