Page 3 of Rescued By the Convicts
She folded her hands around his neck and leaned her head against him. Jayce was far from perfect, and he screwed up a lot, but he tried harder than anyone she knew. He wanted to be better for her. He didn’t understand he was a thousand times better than the husbands she’d left behind when The Company sentenced her to Veenith. She’d love Jayce even if he stayed the way he was because he cared so deeply. Despite all his insensitive comments and even selfishness, Jayce was loyal and loving. She had to convince him that he was worthy of not just her, but all the good things in life. Maybe one day he’d stop punishing himself.
* * *
REECE
Reece barely duckedas Ivan swung for his head. The soldier moved fast, a lot faster than Reece had expected. According to Jayce, Ivan used to fight in the rings growing up. Perhaps Reece should have asked Jayce about Ivan’s weaknesses before accepting Ivan’s challenge.
With each punch, Melina drew a breath. She didn’t like watching them spar, as either of them could get hurt, but staying in shape remained a necessity, especially now that they had her to protect. It was the entire reason they’d removed the shelving units and supplies from the storage room into the spare bedroom and created an exercise area.
Ivan dodged another punch. Fuck, the man made it look easy. Sparring was harder than actually beating a man to death, or near death. Reece needed to pull many of his punches, so he didn’t cause serious damage.
“Water break,” Melina said.
Reece scowled. He was starting to learn Ivan’s patterns. Now was not the time for a break.
“Good idea,” Ivan said as he turned his back on Reece.
That single move meant a lot to Reece. The man trusted him. He’d never really had that in his life, not even from Crimshaw’s other bodyguards. Their objective had always been protecting Crimshaw. Once the man got to safety in an attack, the bodyguards considered their job done. There was no going out to retrieve any bodyguards injured or left behind.
Melina squirmed to the edge of the crate where she’d been sitting and watching. Before she could jump off, Reece planted himself in front of her and lifted her. A smile bloomed across her face.
“You should teach me how to fight,” Melina said as Reece set her down.
Reece shook his head.
“It’s time I learn how to defend myself,” she argued, lines forming across her brow as she grew upset by his refusal.
“She’s right,” Ivan said as he grabbed two water bottles and tossed one to Reece.
Reece had nothing against women fighting, but it would take years for her to reach a level of skill necessary to defeat the men on Veenith. There were no weaklings here, at least none that survived their first week.
Reece signed the wordrun.
“I won’t always be in a position to run. What if I were trapped in this room with someone?”
“Again, she’s right, Reece. Teach her a few moves.”
How? He didn’t have the words.
Wide, hopeful eyes watched him. Damn, he could deny her nothing, even though it would be better teaching her knife skills. At least with a knife, she could do serious damage, enough to buy herself time to get away.
Reece pulled out his knife.
Ivan walked over, took it, tossed it. “Her attacker’s disarmed her. Now, what does she do?”
Point made. Reece motioned her forward and taped her right hand for support. It would do her no good to break her hand or wrist during training. Any injury only compromised her chance of survival.
He spent the next twenty minutes showing her how to align her joints from her knuckles through her shoulder and knee to deliver the most impact.
She held up her hands to stop him. “I’m winded already. I’m not used to this.”
Reece took her hand to show her all the areas to punch. She giggled when he positioned her fist over his crotch.
He dropped her hand and headed for the door. If she wasn’t going to take this seriously, then there was no sense in him teaching her.
“I’m sorry, Reece,” she called after him. “I’m listening. I always listen to you. But I can’t imagine punching there when it’s you standing in front of me. I don’t want to hurt you.”
The only way she could ever hurt him was by leaving him. Or getting hurt. She and Ivan were right. She needed every advantage when it came to staying safe. They might not always be there to defend her.
