“Just that…” I licked my lips. “…you’re probably tired after losing all those rounds.”
“What the fuck makes you think I lost, little girl?”
“Blood.” My voice shook. “Doesn’t that mean you lost if he gets that many hits in, plus your right eye’s already bruising, and is that a cut on your—’
“That’s it.” He grabbed my wrist and spun me around until I was nearly jogging with him back to the ring.
King’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he shared a look with Maksim, who was already jumping from foot to foot in anticipation.
Great, so they wanted me dead?
Then again, I did have a secret.
I smiled to myself.
“What? That excited to get the shit beat out of you?” Ash sneered.
“Your dad would murder you,” I pointed out.
He shrugged and held open the ring for me to step in. “Shoes off.”
I kicked off my boots; I was still in my skirt and blouse. I shrugged out of my jacket and stood in the middle of the mat while Ash started to circle me.
We had everyone’s attention.
The gym was completely silent except for Ash’s footsteps as he circled me like a caged animal.
“Annie.” King jumped in the ring and moved behind me. “Get your guard up, like this.” He held up my hands in front of my face while Ash glared. “Good, good, now dominant foot first, you’re going to want to jab and block, jab, block.”
He tried showing me while Ash waited with the patience of a frayed shoestring.
“Let her learn her lesson, King,” Ash grated out.
“Don’t kill her, man,” King said under his breath as he got out of the ring and joined Maksim, Tank, and the other recruits.
I didn’t look in Tank’s direction.
I could already feel his disapproval, which just made me want to stay in that ring all the more.
I kept my hands up to block my face and nearly fell on my ass when Ash threw a right hook. I blocked it, but my palms stung from the effort.
Was he seriously going to fight me?
Satan himself?
Everything I learned in Italy came back full force as he swiped my feet and sent me directly onto my back, my skirt hiked up past my thighs showing off my black underwear and way too much skin for my liking.
Thankfully, it was the distraction I needed as Ash’s eyes flickered to my thighs. I kicked out, hooking both of his feet and sending him sailing onto his back, then I used my momentum to flip over and get an armbar.
Teeth clenched, I pulled back until I heard something pop.
Ash tapped against my arm.
“Did she just…” King burst out laughing. “Holy shit! Did she just submit you?”
“Element of surprise,” I said, releasing Ash.
He didn’t move.
“Leave,” he said in a lethal tone.
I started to move, but with one hand, he flipped his weight and pinned me to the mat. “Not you.”
“Ash, she was just defending—”
“Maksim, if you want to live to see your next birthday… I’d go. Close the door.”
When I glanced to my left, Tank had both hands clenched into fists; it took both Maksim and King shoving him toward the door to get him to leave with the recruits shuffling after him.
And then, with finality, it shut with a resounding boom resonating through the basement.
“Talk.” Ash gritted his teeth, keeping most of his weight against my pelvis so I couldn’t move, could barely breathe.
“Italy.” I squeezed out some air. “I learned some self-defense.”
“Who taught you?”
Oh no.
“One of your cousins…” I licked my lips. “Enzo or something…”
“FUCKING ENZO TOUCHED YOU?”
I squeezed my eyes shut so I couldn’t see the rage on his face as I nodded my head. “He said I was…”
“He. Said. What.”
“He said…” I chewed my lower lip. “…that I was too pretty not to know how to defend myself against jackasses.” I slowly turned and locked eyes with him and added. “Guess it worked.”
“Touché.” He ground out. “But he lied…”
I was on a cliff.
Ready to get pushed.
I braced for it.
For the words.
You’re not pretty.
I welcomed them because it was an easier blow to take. No surprises that way, just truths.
“I know.” I held his gaze.
“You have no fucking clue what I was going to say.” Ash’s voice was hoarse. “And Enzo was wrong because there’s no chance in hell he was giving you lessons for your protection—more for any chance to get close to you, to touch you, to see your eyes light up like they are right now. To be the center of that fucking stare that haunts my dreams, finishes my nightmares.”
I gasped.
He lowered his head, his lips pressed against my ear as he whispered. “I would never lie to you.”
“Wh-what?” I could count my heartbeats, feel them banging against my chest.
“You are, and always have been… very pretty.” I was weightless then as he slowly moved away from me and stood, then held out his hand.