His hands slipped free from the rope and went straight to the seat lever. A harsh click sounded, and the backrest slammed down as Salin threw himself backward, crushing the attacker between his own body and the seat. A grunt of pain escaped the other man. The rope loosened slightly.
It was enough.
Instinct.
Salin twisted with force, elbows and knees lashing out, carving space with strikes until he flipped the position. Both now in the backseat. But now he was on top. They traded punches, hard, brutal, wild, rolling over the seat like caged animals.
A blow to the ribs. Another to the jaw. Someone groaned.
Then Salin saw the rope on the car floor. Grabbed it in a heartbeat. The next second, it was looped around the man's neck.
Now he was the one pulling.
He didn't think. He just did.
