Page 32 of Blade

“Sparring?” I ask, confused. What the hell does that mean?

Diablo smiles wide and steps forward. “If you don’t know what sparring is, then you’re in for a treat. Go up the hall and all the way to the end. Then make a right. The gym will be on the left-hand side.”

“Thanks.”

I turn and make my way to the gym. On my way up the hall, Ivy comes out of one the rooms. When she looks up and sees me, her eyes narrow. I hope she keeps moving and doesn’t approach me. I don’t want any problems but I’m not a push over by any means.

I keep walking and right before I get ready to pass her, she steps in front of me. Her eyes don’t betray the hatred she has for me. I couldn’t care less if this woman likes me or not. She has no reason to hate me when she’s the one who lied and schemed.

“Move out of my way.”

“Or what?” She laughs.

“Or I’ll make you.”

She takes a step forward and I see her reach behind her back. I prepare myself for the fight I know is about to happen. I honestly don’t want to fight her, but I will. I ball up my fist and get ready to swing when I hear deep growls from behind me. Turning around, my heart drops to my stomach and out my ass.

Two of the biggest Great Danes I have ever seen are slowly making their way up the hall, but it’s not me they have their eyes on. It’s Ivy. When they reach us, the one wearing a pink collar nudges me, while the one wearing a blue collar stands in front of us. It looks like they’re protecting me, but that can’t be right. I’ve never seen these dogs a day in my life.

“Is there a problem here?” Viper asks. He comes from one of the side hallways.

“No problem here, Viper,” Ivy grumbles.

“Now why am I finding that hard to believe?”

Ivy rears back and tries to give Viper innocent eyes, but she isn’t playing it off at all. “I don’t have any problems, Viper. I was just headed to the kitchen when I ran into her.”

Viper eyes her for a moment before looking down at me. “Is everything okay, Bianca?”

“Everything is good. Ivy was just getting out of the way so I could go to the gym. Isn’t that right?” I say, smiling wide. Nothing happened but I will be keeping my eyes on her. I don’t like the look I see in her eyes. If looks could kill, well, I would definitely be in the ground right now.

“That’s right,” she says, continuing to send me a murderous glare. When she steps out of the way, I head for the gym. Viper and the dogs follow me. “So, where did those two bears come from?”

Viper looks over at the dogs then me with confusion. “This is your first time seeing Duke and Daisy?” he asks.

I nod and Viper looks even more surprised. “I don’t know how you managed to be here as long as you have without seeing them, but Duke and Daisy are Cara’s pets. Duke and Daisy are highly trained to protect. That’s why they got in between you and Ivy. They’ve probably seen you around Cara and Sara, therefore they know you’re close to the girls and that mean automatic protection.”

“Wow, they’re that observant?”

“Yeah. They mind their own business but if troubles pops up, then these two will soon follow.”

We make it to the doors to the gym and Viper opens the door for me. As soon as he has the door open, I hear grunts and growls coming from inside the gym. Walking through the door, I stop dead in my tracks. Cara and Capone are on a big blue mat and they’re going at each other’s throats.

They’re trading kicks and punches. To my surprise, Cara is keeping up with Capone. When Capone slams Cara down on the mat, I expect her to stay down, but she gets up with more determination, throwing a series of kicks and punches. One of her kicks lands right in the middle of Capone’s chest and he staggers back. Then they’re charging for each other all over again. I know Cam told me his sisters were trained to fight, but I didn’t expect anything like this.

Viper laughs beside me and I know I look like a deer caught in headlights when I look over to him. “You didn’t know the girls could fight, did you?” he asks, still laughing.

“That’s not fighting. She looks like some kind of ninja or something.” Viper clutches his stomach and laughs even harder. Seriously, how in the hell is she keeping up with Capone? He’s twice her size and has probably at least a hundred pounds on her.

“Cara and Sara are highly trained in every martial art known to man. Capone and Gunner are Marines, and Dice is a Navy SEAL. They’re the only guys in the club who can give the girls a run for their money, so they like to spar with each other.”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll hurt her by accident?”

“No. I would be more scared for them then her. Don’t let Cara’s size fool you. She packs a mean uppercut,” he says, smiling over at Cara.

“Kick his ass!” Viper shouts.

“What the hell do you think I’m doing, Viper?” Cara grunts as she ducks another attack from Capone.

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