Page 73 of Now and Forever

He scanned me from my head to my toes. “Maybe we should do our sparring here in the exercise room.”

“You don’t want to go out?” I asked, disappointed.

“I’ll have to kick anyone’s ass who stares at you at the gym.” He waved his hand up and down. “And dressed like that, they’re going to look.”

I stood, my cheeks rising at his compliment. “I’m your wife. I’m sure if you make that known, they’ll behave. After all, if this is the famiglia gym, they’re your men, right?”

“Right. They’re my father’s, but…” He didn’t finish the sentence. “Bring your holster and knife. I want you to get comfortable with it.”

Finding the pair near the back of one of my drawers, I secured the holster around my right thigh and added the knife. It was odd not to have it covered by a skirt.

Dario drove us across town in his BMW—another of his cars I secretly longed to drive.

“This gym isn’t like the ones they advertise on TV. It’s used by our soldiers to work out and to spar.” His lips twitched as he gave me a sideways glance. “I’m warning you that there won’t be other women there, and there’s probably an odor.”

“I’ve been warned.” I didn’t care about the gym. I cared that Dario was doing this with me.

Dario pulled the BMW onto a gravel lot beside an inconspicuous two-story brick building. There were cars of all different makes and models. As I got out of the car, I looked around at the dilapidated neighborhood. Dario placed his hand in the small of my back and led me toward a glass door.

Inside, there was an older man behind a window, his gun and holster visible. The overpowering scent that first hit me was that of cigarette smoke. A cloud hung below a suspended ceiling. Noticeable surveillance cameras were pointed at the front door.

The man obviously knew Dario, but his eyes widened at the sight of me.

“My wife,” Dario said in a tone that encouraged the man to stop his gaping.

“Ma’am.”

Keeping his hand on my back, Dario led me through a swinging door. I wrinkled my nose. The smoke odor was replaced by what could only be described as spoiled body odor.

“I warned you,” he whispered.

I nodded as everyone in the gym turned our direction. As Dario had said, there wasn’t another woman in sight. And the men were all a bit on the scary side.

“My wife,” Dario repeated.

The heads all turned away.

Looking around, I saw a boxing ring and multiple sparring mats. Beside one empty mat was a rack of knives of different lengths and handles. I ran my fingers over the handles. “I didn’t need to bring mine.”

“Every knife has a life of its own. It’s important to feel secure with the hilt in your hand. Come with me.”

I followed Dario to a bank of lockers where he deposited his guns and two knives. A smile came to my lips, knowing he still had a knife on his leg. This wasn’t bed or a shower; he wasn’t completely unarmed.

We went back to the empty mat, and I could feel the stares of the other men. “We’re being watched,” I said softly.

“I’d have to remove their eyes to make them stop. Blind soldiers aren’t useful. Show them what you can do. Reach for your knife.”

Looking down at the holster, I pulled the blade from its sheath.

Before I freed the blade, Dario was upon me, his hard chest against me. “You’re already dead, Catalina. Reaching for the knife is the easy part—you have to be able to do it without thinking.”

I nodded, realizing how ill-prepared I was.

“Okay.” He took four steps back. “Come at me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Dario laughed. “I’ve never felt safer.”

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