“I did. You gave me a gun.”
I cock a brow. “You don’t have to fight if you shoot them first.”
She thumps her head back against the door. “It’s not about that.”
“So instead of explaining that you so desperately want your ass beaten, you go to the kid?”
“Who told you?” She narrows her eyes. “It was Carlos wasn’t it? Rat bastard.”
I laugh. “I know everything that happens in my cartel, avecita.” I place my finger under her chin, forcing her to look at me. “And I know everything that concerns you.”
“So now what?”
“Ask me,” I say. She stills, and I can see her pulse start thrumming at her neck. I lean in, brushing my lips over her artery. “Ask me to teach you.” I kiss the soft skin. Her head tilts to the side, her palms landing on my chest. So sweet. So responsive.
“Teach me to fight, Rafe,” she says, her voice breathy. My cock twitches. I’m not sure if this is the best idea I’ve ever had or the worst kind of torture. Probably both.
“What will you give me in return?” I grab her by the back of her neck and tug her away from the door before spinning her and slamming her chest against it. Her palms land flush to the wood either side of her head. She twists her face, glancing over her shoulder at me. Every perfect inch of her is pressed against me as the scent of her invades my senses.
“Now,” I groan against her ear. “Get away from me.”
“What? I can’t. You’re three times the size of me, Rafe.”
“Tell that to the guy who wants to hurt you, avecita.” She struggles a little, but it’s pathetic really. “Place your hands in front of your chest, and lift your knee until you can get your foot against the door.” She does it. “Now push.” She does, managing to shove me back a few inches before I’m right back against her. “If that doesn’t work, do the same thing, but this time, throw your head back.” She moves again, and I duck to the side as she throws her head back. I allow her to move us away from the door before I wrap both hands around her body, pulling her arms across her chest in a tight hold. “Good.” I kiss her neck and she trembles. “Now, how are you going to get out of this?” She thrashes around, but she has no wall for leverage, and she weighs no more than a rag doll.
After a few minutes, she lets out a frustrated huff. “I can’t.” She sounds so dejected.
“It’s all in the technique. Turn your palms to face down.” She does it. “Good, now thrust your hips back and use every bit of force you have to throw your hands down.” I loosen my hold slightly, and she goes through the movements, breaking my grip. When she turns around, she has the most brilliant smile on her face.
“I did it.”
“Good. I assume Carlos showed you how to get in a crotch shot.” She nods. “He likes that one,” I mumble.
“So now what?”
I lift a brow at her. “You get free, you kick him in the nuts, and you run.”
“Rafael.” She sighs. “I don’t want to run away.”
I lean against my desk and cross my arms over my chest. “What is this about?” She opens her mouth to speak. “And don’t lie to me.” Her mouth slams shut again, and she stares silently at me. “You don’t want to learn to defend yourself—you want to know how to fight. Why?” She folds her arms around herself and drops her chin to her chest. “Come here.” I crook my finger at her and she hesitantly comes closer. Pulling her between my legs, I brush her hair away from her face. “Why?” I repeat quietly.
Her eyes lock with mine, and she looks so vulnerable. “My sister…”
“Isn’t going to harm you. She’s done a lot to get you back.”
“No. It’s not that.” She shakes her head. “You don’t understand. Una…she was always the strong one.” A small smile touches her lips before it falls. “When we were in the orphanage, they only used to feed us once a day. I used to get such bad stomach cramps. So, Una would break into the kitchens at night and steal food. She never ate it herself though. She just took enough that they wouldn’t notice—enough for me. And then the matron would sometimes find out. She’d beat Una with a belt until she bled.” She swallows heavily. “She’d just limp back to our room and go out that very night to steal more food.”
“She loved you.”
“She was always the strong one, Rafe. And now she’s this big bad assassin, and I’m still her weak sister. The only thing I’m good for is laying on my back.” In a heartbeat, my pulse spikes, taking my temper right along with it. My hand wraps around her throat, and her eyes go wide as I drag her so close that her rapid breaths blow over my lips.