Page 38 of Knight Moves

“Yes. I think we all do. I’ve got cryptology, Frankie has graphic design, Wally is focusing on malware, and Hala has acting, of all things. I don’t know about Kira, Jax, or Bo. What do you have?”

“Circuit design with a side of laser and optical engineering. It’s awesome.”

“Wow,” I said, my eyes widening. “That’s…different.”

“I know, right? You guys all seem to be experts in computers and math, and I’m all about circuits, fuses, and superconductors.”

I looked down at the book on the table. “And lockpicking.”

He followed my gaze and laughed. “Nah, that’s just for fun. You know, I may not be an expert in computers, but I love to play chess and I can navigate a mean game ofHidden Realm, if you want a challenge sometime. You’re quite the gamer.”

I stared at him. “How did you know that?”

“I’ve watched you play.” It suddenly occurred to him that maybe that sounded more than just a little creepy. His face turned a shade of scarlet. “I mean, I wasn’t stalking you or anything. I was headed to the gaming room once, but you were already there playing. So, I watched you play through the window without interrupting you…and okay, and thatdoessound stalkerish. But I swear, there was no creep factor involved. I just didn’t want to break your concentration, that’s all. You’re really good.”

“Thanks. Next time, if you want to play, just come in and let me know.”

“Deal.”

I left him, thinking he wasn’t anything like I’d expected when I first saw him, and went to my next class. The rest of the day passed without incident. After dinner, Wally talked Frankie and me into going to the gym to work out, which in itself was a shock. Wally convincing us to go to the gym. Would miracles never cease?

When we got to the gym, Bo and Jax were wrestling each other again. Both guys were in muscle shirts and soft shorts. It looked like they’d been at it awhile, because they were both sweating heavily.

Kira was running on the treadmill with earbuds in. Wally stopped to watch her. It occurred to me thatthiswas why Wally had wanted to go to the gym—to watch Kira. Apparently this was where she spent most of her free time, driving herself to physical perfection.

Still keeping an eye on Kira, Wally and Frankie went to check out the hand weights, while I stayed to watch Jax and Bo go at it for a few more minutes.

Bo was bigger and stronger, but Jax was fast. A couple of moves later, Bo had Jax nearly pinned to the ground. Jax reached up and yanked hard on Bo’s ear.

“Ouch,” Bo roared, his grip loosening. Jax was able to slip out of his hold. “That’s cheating.”

Jax laughed and tossed his dark hair out of his eyes. “Only if we were playing a legal match. That’s not what we’re at this school for. If I’m an operative and I’m wrestling someone, I’m trying to survive. You need to learn how to play dirty, Bo. I’m not playing by your or anyone else’s rules.”

Bo shook his head indignantly and grabbed a towel before leaving the mat and heading over to the weights.

I thought about what Jax had said. Survival at all cost—wasn’t that an important thing for all of us to learn? But just what would he be willing to sacrifice for that? It was a question to which I didn’t have an answer.

Jax saw me watching and crooked the fingers on one hand at me in a come-hither motion. “Hey, Red, want to give it a go?”

I crossed my arms against my chest. “No.”

“Too bad. I could teach you some helpful self-defense moves, you know.”

When I stood my ground, he shrugged, grabbed a towel, and headed for the men’s locker room.

Did he want to help me or learn my weaknesses? He had to have seen me at work with the weights and know I couldn’t wrestle my way out of a paper bag. Why couldn’t I figure out what he wanted from me?

After a moment of contemplation, I looked around the gym and decided to jog on the treadmill. I chose the one the farthest away from Kira, who didn’t even glance my way when I got started.

An hour later, I was soaked in sweat and dead tired. My legs were shaking. Frankie and Wally looked worse than me. They’d lifted weights for a while and then spent time on the treadmill and elliptical machine. Kira had disappeared, probably to take her shower before we got back to the room, so she could get in bed and safely ignore us.

When the gym closed, we walked back to our rooms, groaning and complaining the entire way.

“They’re going to dump me,” Wally said, wiping his beet-red face. “Frankie can lift more than me.”

“No one cares about that,” Frankie said.

“I care!” Wally protested.

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