Page 56 of Dangerous Rhythm

“What does a dance follow?”

“Music.”

“Yes. Melody, tempo, power—”

He perked up. “Melody, there’s a flow to it. Tempo, speed. And power, how hard you punch?”

“Power is obviously important in a fight, but there’s a time where speed is more important. But there’s always a flow to it. If you figure out what your opponent’s ‘melody’ is, you can read their next move and use it to your advantage.”

The analogy seemed to penetrate Curtis’ musical mind more easily. Lina figured they’d test it. “Let’s do another round. Attack me and watch me ‘flow’ with your moves.”

“Attack you?” Curtis balked. “I’m not gonna hit you!”

So far, she’d been the assailant. “Don’t worry. You can try, but you won’t.”

“Shows how much confidence you have in me,” he deadpanned.

Lina laughed. “I have a lot of confidence in you. You can do it open-fisted if that makes you feel better. Just pretend I’m a Stiletto goon.”

“A Stiletto goon isn’t as pretty as you.” He got into his fighting stance. “Nor are they as fast as you.”

“You figured out two of their weaknesses already.” Lina stood steady, unmoving, with her hands locked on her back, then ordered, “Attack.”

“This feels so wrong,” he muttered.

From his stance and the change in his footing, she could tell Curtis’ first move was to try punching her. His right open palm flew past her head as she swung to the side. That arm followed her, trying to get her with a fast and powerful swipe. She ducked and came up on the other side.

Curtis’ left arm followed up with a low jab to her middle section, which she again evaded with simple footwork and a twist of her body to her left. He moved left, she moved left. Hemoved right, she moved right, like they were in a waltz. Except they were not touching.

Missing his two attempts, Curtis did a snap-kick straight at her stomach. Without moving her hands from her back, Lina stepped aside and kicked him right in his stomach. Between his forward momentum and her strong leg—though she’d held back—he toppled back and fell on his ass.

“Fuck!”

“Get up. Keep moving,” she told him.

Curtis jumped up, faster than Lina had seen him do before, and rushed her with a succession of blows in multiple directions. This time, she had to bring out her arms to deflect his open fists as he got closer than she’d expected.

He’s getting it, she thought proudly as she kept countering his attacks.

He’s amped up the tempo. Now we’re having fun.

Using his longer legs to his advantage, Curtis tried to swipe at her feet. But that move also put him at a disadvantage when Lina successfully jumped over it. While his body turned with the leg swing for a mere second, she again kicked him down.

“That was good,” she said, panting. She was actually breathing hard.

But apparently, Curtis wasn’t done. Lina did tell him to keep going. He got up, and this time, his frustration was clear in his eyes.

He’s going for power now.

Curtis ran to her. He wasn’t going for a punch this time. Lina watched a desperate move by a desperate man as he charged toward her with full force. Using his own momentum, she grabbed one of his arms he’d extended to catch her, turned her shoulder in and slammed him to the floor, judo style.

But she shrieked the next second as she flew forward herself. The damn man got a hold of her arm and shirt and, using hisfall, had brought her down with him. She was about to roll away, but this time Curtis was faster than her. With her arm still in his hand, he rolled on top her, caught her other arm that was about to strike and held them down above her head.

He pinned her lower body with his own. “Didn’t expect that, did you?” Curtis smiled down at her.

“That was a great move,” she admitted. “You went all caveman on me. You wanted me to believe you went caveman on me.”

Curtis smirked. “Yeah. But I also know you can easily get this caveman off you. Why don’t you?”

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