Page 77 of Salute, To Bravery
Lance didn’t have a tell anymore, not since we’d joined up and he’d learnt to control them. I noticed that bothered Drake, who was trying to read him, as were Ace and Apache. They had to be brothers; they looked so alike. Some of the others were also trying to read the rest of us, and they were just as perplexed. None of us were showing any emotions, facial expressions, or body language they could pick up on.
Mind you, Rage was good too, but we were better. Rage still had a few little tells, which I picked up on, but it benefitted them because their reactions were genuine. Which meant they believed what Drake was offering was the truth.
After the meeting broke up, we headed outside, where a keg had been set up, and the grills were cooking, now manned by four men. They were bantering back and forth and clearly arguing about who barbecued the best. I let myself relax a little. Should it prove to be an ambush, they’d lose because we were fully armed.
Reaper
“You’re an enforcer?” a huge guy asked.
I turned around and faced him. “Yeah. Seems you are, too,” I said, nodding at a patch.
“Name’s Gunner. And no offence, but really think you can go up against the big men?” Gunner demanded as he scowled.
“Do you have a ring? Do you want to go here and now?” I questioned, handing my glass and plate to Tempest, who laughed. Stern faced, I rolled my neck and shoulders to loosen up.
“Don’t fight a cripple or a woman,” the asshole announced.
“Fine by me.” Without warning, my hand shot out and punched Gunner straight on the nose. A cry of pain escaped Gunner’s lips after the crunch was heard.
“Reaper!” Lance bellowed.
“All good, Prez. Gunner here wants to know why I’m an enforcer. Just giving him a demo,” I called as Gunner lifted his head, blood dripping through his fingers.
“You little bitch,” he groaned.
With a wicked grin, I danced around and beckoned Gunner on. “Ain’t no bitch nor a cripple. Bring it, big guy,” I taunted. “Aww, scared of losing to a woman?”
Gunner growled and dropped his hands. Blood dripped from his nose, and he snatched a towel someone offered him. Cleaning himself, Gunner kept a sharp watch on me as I waited for him to decide.
Gunner took two steps forward, and I knew the game was on. Damn, Gunner was a big brute, but they always fell hard. With his longer reach, my speed was important. We traded a couple of tester blows, and then I rocked Gunner back with a right blow, followed by a left.
“Hundred on Reaper,” Tempest announced, and I smiled.
“Ain’t no way she’s taking Gunner,” Mac argued. “I’ll take that bet.”
“Warn your people. Reaper doesn’t lose,” Lance said.
“Two hundred on Gunner,” Drake stated with a smile.
“Two hundred on Reaper,” Lance retorted.
Gunner came at me like I guessed he would. Brute strength and using his size. I was easily able to duck under his blows andhit him with three torso shots. Darting back, I lunged at Gunner with a roundhouse but swapped and kicked upwards, landing both feet under his chin.
Gunner staggered, dazed, as I ducked a wild blow but got struck with the second.
“Shit, that bitch can take a hit,” Axel boomed.
Fuck! That hurt. Gunner had power behind those fists, and he probably had stamina. I had to end this fast. We traded several more blows, both of us connecting them. I saw stars when a right hook of Gunner’s landed on my cheekbone. Crap, I’d have a massive black eye.
Neither of us were holding back, and we were both studying each other’s fighting technique.
So, I changed mine up. That took Gunner by surprise as I came straight at him. Gunner automatically lashed out, but I slipped around his back, landed three kidney shots and climbed him. He was in a headlock before he realised what was happening.
“Submit,” I growled as he clawed at my arms. “I’ve got a lock on!”
Gunner bucked and attempted to throw me off, but my legs were firmly clamped around him, and my headlock was in place.
“Submit, Gunner, or I will choke you out!” I warned.
