Chapter 20

“Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred,” Angela counted out loud removing her hand from the back of James’ neck allowing him to come up for air. James head popped up out of the freezing cold lake water and his lungs sucked in as much air as they could as he gasped loudly. “You did good!”

“I could of went another twenty seconds,” James lied breathing heavily. Angela’s training course was kicking his ass, but he fought and did his best to complete it. He wanted to prove to her and himself that he could indeed hang with the big dogs and protect his woman if need be. So far James had completed his hand to hand combat training as well as his high speed driving training. Now he was going through his holding his breath training and up next was knife training.

James sneezed loudly.

“You cold?”

James shook his head no. “Nah I’m good baby.”

“Your body has to learn to adapt to the cold weather and the cold water temperature,” Angela told him. “A simple sneeze can get you killed,” she warned.

Angela gripped the back of James’ head again. “You ready?”

James took a deep breath and then nodded his head. Angela quickly pushed his head down under the water. Angela felt bad for James. She knew she was being hard on him, but in order to teach him things that took her years to learn in a few months, she had to be hard on him. It was either that or take on The White Shadow alone, because there was no way she would let James go up against The White Shadow without the proper training.

Even though Angela was training James, she was still a little nervous about taking him out into the field with her. Training was one thing, but nothing compared to the real thing. Even though Angela was training James, she still planned on keeping a close eye on him.

She released the back of James’ neck and again his head popped up out the water like a Jack in the Box.

James head popped up out the water with a smile on his face. “This water is freezing. Why don’t you come warm me up?” He said breathing heavily. He wrapped his hand around Angela’s waist and then slid it down to her ass.

“Stay focused!” Angela roughly shoved James off of her. “I told you I’m not your girlfriend while we are training. You’re going to have to keep your mind focused or else you gone get yourself killed.”

James nodded a silent apology as Angela shoved his head back down under the water. While he was under the water, James thought about the task that lied ahead and the seriousness of it. He knew that he would have to be at his best if he wanted to help Angela take down The White Shadow. James also knew that Angela was definitely going to need his help with this matter. He had seen The White Shadow in action, up close and in person, and still he wasn’t sure if he and Angela would be enough to stop the dangerous assassin.

The longer James stayed under the water, the more comfortable he was becoming being under water and holding his breath. James knew Angela would never back down from The White Shadow so he had to prepare himself as best he could to hold her down. From this point on, James promised to train as hard as he could and prepare his body as well as his mind for what was to come next.

Once the breathing training was complete, James made his way inside Angela’s hideaway house and began his calisthenics followed by an hour of shadow boxing. James doubted that him and The White Shadow would ever do hand to hand combat, but he planned on being ready just in case. With Angela’s teaching he was learning that it was better to be over prepared than under prepared.

Over on the sideline Angela stood watching James get himself prepared for what was sure to be the fight and battle of his life. To say that she was proud of the progress that James was making would be an understatement. He was really trying and giving it his all. If they made it out of this situation alive, Angela planned on taking James on a much needed long vacation to spend some quality time with him and to cater to his needs.

James turned and spotted Angela standing leaning up against the wall with a 9mm in her gloved hand. He noticed Angela wore an all black leather getup that hugged her curves nicely. “Am I doing that bad that you wanna put a bullet in my head?” He joked nodding down towards the gun that rested in Angela’s hand. Angela stuck her 9mm down inside her holster, walked over, and kissed James on the lips. “I think you look so sexy when you sweat.”

“Stay focused, please!” James gently pushed Angela back a few feet hitting her with a dose of her own medicine. “I’m not your man when I’m training, remember?” He teased.

“Forgive me,” Angela purred while reaching down and grabbing James’ manhood through his sweatpants. “Be ready for the fucking of a lifetime when I get back. You hear me?” She growled in James ear applying a little more pressure to his manhood.

“Is that a threat?” James countered smoothly looking down into Angela’s eyes.

“That’s a promise,” Angela replied. She could feel James’ manhood responding to her touch. “Be all cleaned up by the time I get back.”

“Where you going?”

“To get us something to eat.”

“Hurry up,” James said and then kissed Angela’s lips. “I miss you already.”

“I shouldn’t be no longer than thirty minutes,” Angela said pulling away from James. She knew if she stayed any longer that the two would wind up fucking each other’s brains out and she would never make it to the store to get them some food. “Be ready when I get back.”

“I love you!”

“I love you too,” Angela said exiting through the garage door. She grabbed a shiny black helmet with a dark tinted visor and slid it over her head. She revved the engine on her Yamaha R-1 motorcycle and flew out the garage like a bat out of hell onto the streets.

Angela watched as the speedometer reached 90 mph as she thought about how much she loved James. She could tell that James was finally letting his guards down and allowing her into his life. He was beginning to trust her more and more with each passing day.

Angela knew that it would be damn near impossible for her and James to live a normal life once this was said and done, but she planned on making life as simple and comfortable as possible for the both of them. If money could change and turn a fucked up situation into a better one then things might not be that bad because money was something that Angela had plenty of. She didn’t know what the future had in store for her and James, but whatever it was she planned on embracing it.

A shiny black B.M.W. zooming past heading in the opposite direction snapped Angela out of her thoughts. She was riding at such a high speed that she wasn’t able to get a look at the driver behind the wheel. Leaving James back at the house all alone had her a bit nervous. She knew James could protect himself if need be, but the fear of the unknown is what scared Angela the most.

“Let me hurry up and get this food so I can get back home to my man,” Angela said to herself as she zoomed into the Wal-Mart parking lot.