Page 10 of Murder & Mayhem

With a frown, I follow him out the door and over to the sports complex turned fighting pit. Rather than going through the front entrance, as I expected, he heads around the back of the building, where I watched him and Luc and some of the others playing basketball a few weeks ago. He moves toward a steel door I hadn’t noticed before and types in a passcode before pulling it open. Stepping to the side, he gestures for me to go ahead of him. “Ladies first.” He grins brightly, and I can’t tell if he’s fucking with me or being genuinely chivalrous as I warily move past him into the darkened interior.

I stop just inside the doorway, not wanting to move too far into the dark room, and he follows me in. The heavy door slams shut behind him, bathing us in darkness for a tense moment that seems to last a lifetime before I hear the flick of a switch. It’s followed a second later by a low buzzing sound before the bright overhead fluorescent lights turn on, illuminating the ample space kitted out with various weight-based machines and a large area covered in mats perfect for sparring.

I take a second to look around as Jon moves to set his bottle of disgusting juice on the ground, along with his towel, before grabbing a couple of water bottles from a mini-fridge at one side of the room.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I turn to face him. I haven’t seen him in action, but if what Oliver told me is true, Jon—just like the other kids—is one hell of a fighter. “I know some basic defense moves,” I blurt out, “but I want you to teach me some offensive moves.”

His gaze runs over my body in an assessing, critical manner as he quirks a brow in surprise. “You were able to handle yourself well enough that day in the alley.”

I’m already shaking my head before he’s finished speaking. “It’s not enough. It’s basic defensive moves. I need to be able to protect myself better if I’m up against someone more skilled.” Things are going to get really bad in Black Creek, and I need to be confident that I can protect myself and Luc. Taking on the Antonellis isn’t going to be like anything I’ve done before. I can’t solely rely on catching them off guard and using seduction tactics to get under their defenses. They’re smarter than that. What little fighting skills I’ve picked up on the street, and honed from Hadley, have been enough to get me this far, but I need to know more; to be better.

He thinks it over for another moment before nodding in agreement. “Alright, yeah. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

We spar for the next hour or so, while Jon gets a feel for where I’m at and begins teaching me a few new moves.

“Where did you say you learned how to fight?” he asks, calling a timeout. I’m panting heavily and, thankful for the break, I collapse onto the mats. The jerk isn’t even breaking a sweat. How the fuck is that possible?

He moves to the corner of the room, returning a second later with a bottle of water, holding it out for me.

“I didn’t,” I answer, accepting the bottle from his outstretched hand. I guzzle down half of it, avoiding giving him an actual answer as his questioning gaze lingers on me. His head is slightly tilted, his eyes narrowed as he scrutinizes me for a long moment.

“Your fighting style is unusual,” he murmurs, almost to himself, still watching me far too closely for my liking.

Licking my lips, I give him a casual shrug as I push to my feet, ready to go again. “Teach me how you did that takedown,” I say instead. Thankfully it’s enough to shake him out of his musings as we move back into the middle of the mats.

Literally, five minutes later, he’s got me pinned to the mat in a move that I’m pretty sure, if this were a real fight, would have me crushed like a bug beneath him, when suddenly his phone goes off in the pocket of his shorts.

“Hey, boss. What’s up?” he asks, answering the call. “Yeah, she’s here.” He looks down at me, where I’m lying on the mat in a panting, sweaty mess. “Sure thing, be right there.”

Hanging up, he tucks the phone into his pocket before grinning. “Training session is over. Bossman wants to talk to you.” I roll my eyes, clearly not as eager as Jon to follow Cain’s orders. “Whatever you did, he sounded pissed.”

“Isn’t that just his usual setting?” I grumble as he helps me to my feet, barking out a laugh.

“Oh, it’s definitely worse when he’s around you.”

Oh great, what a compliment.

“I want to do this again,” I insist, taking a towel from his outstretched hand and wiping the sweat from my face. “Like a weekly thing, or whatever you have time for.”

“Sure, I can do that,” he readily agrees, grabbing his towel from the floor and wiping it over his face and through his hair, although god knows why when there isn’t a drop of sweat on him. Like seriously, he looks like he’s spent the last hour sitting in a chair, reading. Meanwhile, I stink and I’m in desperate need of a shower.

Just before we leave the gym, I reach out and grab a hold of Jon’s arm, pulling him to a stop before he can flick the light off. He half-turns toward me, a question in his eyes. “You’re looking out for Luc?” It’s not a question, more of an order. One he seems to recognize.

“I am. I will.”

“No matter what.”

He turns to face me fully, and the steady way he holds my gaze reassures me more than anything he says. “Ipromiseyou, Red. He’s my number one concern at all times. Me and the guys are takin’ good care of him, and we will continue to do so, no matter what.”

When I’m satisfied he means what he’s saying, I let go of his arm, giving a sharp jerk of my head. “Thank you,” I mutter, feeling strangely emotional.

He just gives me one of his lopsided grins. “Luc’s lucky to have a sister who fights so fiercely to protect him.” Something flashes across his eyes, but it’s gone before I can pinpoint it, and he’s back to his usual carefree self as we make our way back across the road to the clubhouse.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks curiously as we enter the clubhouse.

I eye him out of the corner of my eye but answer casually. “Sure.”

“Would you mind if I taught Luc some of the stuff we were doing today?”

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