Chapter 6

Reece headed to the room at the bend of the hallway. It had a glass window, concrete floors with large thick carpets, and dull weapons used for training. He did a few warm-up jumping jacks and stretches. Zamina and Ora crossed in front of the window then opened the door. Reece threw Ora a brief frown at the steampunk-influenced glasses she had on. They were a different color than the other pair but had a leather cutout that rested on her face and curved around the hook behind her ear.

Zamina gave him a small smile, and butterflies ticked his stomach. He’d never felt that before. He grunted to control his desire to grab her into a passionate kiss even with Ora standing there.

“So, first, let’s stretch.” Reece led her with a nod to imitate his stretches. They followed; Zamina made sighs here and there. Reece smiled since, when she sighed, she’d give him a side-eye or a smile to let him know she was teasing him on purpose.

“Can we get to the lesson already?” Ora stood and flexed her fingers.

“Your glasses. I don’t want them to break. You can wear the sports goggles over there.”

“They are fine. I’ve fought in them plenty of times.”

“We aren’t fighting yet.” Reece chuckled.

The girl was strange but had an earthy beauty that contrasted with her dismissive nature. Under other circumstances, he may have pursued her, but Zamina’s beauty and allure screamed for attention.

“I’m first, Ora. I don’t want you to break him before he teaches me how to defend myself.” Zamina elbowed her friend.

“Nonsense.” Ora gave Reece a mischievous grin.

“Fine, you can go first if you leave us after you are done with him.”

“Deal, but I will be close—in case you need me.”

He stepped back into a fighting stance. “Pick a weapon if you like.” Reece watched her walk over to the bola balls. He’d augmented their design so they could be thrown to knock down an opponent or swung to maim multiple opponents at a time with heavy balls. There were different types, but the trainers had rubber balls on each end. The spheres could be heavy metal balls or more vicious with spikes in them. They could be thrown to capture someone; the ones with knives could be used to cut down many attackers within quick succession.

“I like this weapon. I haven’t used any like it before.”

“Well, I can give you some pointers, and I won’t be hard on you.” Reece relaxed, trying to make himself look at ease. Truth was something inside him didn’t want to go easy on Ora. She’d been blocking him and Zamina from the beginning. He wanted to let her know, in a small way, she wouldn’t win.

“Sure, you would.” She smirked at him and stepped closer. “I’m a quick study. Tell me what I need to do.”

Reece grabbed a pair with spikes on them and stepped back. “I can use these to take both of you out—which I wouldn’t”—he smiled at them— “or throw it to stop you from running from me.”

“I can’t do damage to you with rubber balls.” Ora’s shoulders slumped.

Zamina laughed. “You are way too competitive, Ora. This is a lesson. Chill out.”

Ora smirked at her. “Nope.”

“This is how you get the rhythm for the weight of the weapon,” Reece instructed. “Holding parts of the rope, specifically sized to aim at your opponents, under your arm takes practice.” He turned in a way to show that part of the rope was gripped tightly under his arm. “With a turn or bend of my body, I can hit a target without using my hands to bring them down. It lengthens your reach and protects your inner space.”

Ora tried, and after a moment, her speed picked up, and she was able to place some of the rope under her arms as he did.

“This is attacking multiple opponents.” Reece turned and slapped one metal ball into the target dummy whose torso was on top of a metal pole. Then he bent and did a backward kick on another dummy. He slid the moving ropes into his fingers and then threw bola at the lower pole of the dummy in the far corner. That was where a person’s ankle would be. He pivoted around to Ora.

Her eyebrow raised, and Zamina’s jaw dropped.

“You are good at this. Wow!” Zamina’s eyes seemed to glow.

Reece blinked, and the lightning of her blue eyes dimmed.

Ora attacked. Her ball hit Reece in the stomach, taking him by surprise. He backflipped away from her reach. Ora slid the rope into her hands like he’d done then tossed it at his ankles.

Reece jumped toward her, grabbed her hands, used his leg to knock her down, and pinned her arms above her head. “That was a dirty move. You knew I wasn’t ready.”

Ora smirked. “A victim should always be ready.” She yanked her arms down, broke out of his hold, then punched his chest as she jerked her torso upward, unseating him. Ora jumped on top of him and snapped the bola ball next to his head. “Got you again.”

Reece narrowed his gaze to try to see through her shaded glasses, but he couldn’t read her at all.

“Get off of him, Ora. It’s my turn.”

Reece wanted to spar with Ora more; she was quick and unpredictable, but right now, he wanted his time with Zamina, so he lay there passively while Ora grunted and stood.

She looked down at him and didn’t offer the customary hand to help him stand. “He is weaker than I, a novice. Why would you want him?” Ora snorted. She turned and stomped out of the room.

“She is such a bully.” Zamina offered a hand.

Reece grabbed it, only because he wanted to touch her, then stood up. “Your friend doesn’t like me.” Reece smiled.

“She doesn’t like anyone.” Zamina stepped closer. “So, I’d like to learn some Jujitsu.”

He nodded. “I know. First move is on the floor.”

Zamina peeked out the glass window, to make sure no one was watching. Then she turned to Reece and kissed him.

It caught him by surprise but was the most delicious experience he’d ever had with a girl. Many were intimidated by his brooding nature and only opened up when he’d shown interest or persuaded them with words of adoration spoken low to seduce. Reece stepped closer and captured her full luscious lips, pecked her once more, and whispered, “My sister’s probably going to watch the video of this later, so here’s your first lesson.” He clipped her calf with his and held her as she fell to the mat. “Put your feet to my chest to stop me from coming closer.”

She giggled and did as directed. “What if I want you closer?” Her voice deepened in a husky wanting tone.

“It can happen later, after this.”

Zamina sighed. “I can’t. My adopted brother is really strict and doesn’t like me off the family grounds late at night. I will text you and tell you where we can meet this weekend.”

“Deal. I can’t wait.” Reece had to hold it together until after the lesson because, for once, he wanted to kiss a girl more than he wanted to work on his race car.

Reece watched Zamina rush off to the lockers, but Ora stood there with her arms crossed, watching him quietly. He felt like she was sizing him up.

“So, you and Zamina have been friends for how long?” He tried to make small talk, get her to relax.

“Reece, I want you to know I don’t hate you.” Her voice had softened, gentle and so unlike she’d been before.

It caused Reece to relax just a bit. “I don’t hate you either. I only want a chance to get to know your friend.”

“I am trying to protect you because you don’t know everything that is – Zamina. She will consume you, use you, and change you in ways that will lead to your death. I will only warn you this once because my time is not my own. Stay away from her, and never be alone with Zamina.” Ora pivoted away from him and sashayed like she hadn’t just warned or threatened him about a girl that was half his size and didn’t seem to be able to hurt a fly. Yeah, it was official: Ora didn’t like him.