Jolie
Atlanta, GA
Thursday
I watched Ryder leave the room in a huff and hung my head in embarrassment. I always used humor to disguise my feelings, hence the salute there at the end of our conversation that seemed to get under Ryder’s skin. It worked like a charm. But inside, I was pissed and ready for a fight.
Why did Ryder not want me as a partner?
“Don’t take it personally.” Levi touched my shoulder, and I realized I was blocking his way to the door.
“Oh, sorry.” I took a step back so he could pass. He didn’t try to move around me.
“Seriously, Ryder will come around.”
“I just don’t get it. He’s been training me for months. What did he think I was training for?”
Levi shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Who knows what goes through his mind. But if you knew his past, you’d understand his hesitancy a little more.”
“His past?”
“His story to tell. Not mine.”
Interesting. Something in Ryder’s past kept him from wanting me as a partner.
“You’ve got less than two days to get ready for tryouts. Try not to think too much about Ryder, and instead focus on the job you have to do. Piper should be able to help with the disguise.”
“Disguise?”
“Ring girls have a certain look to them.”
Levi winked and grinned a heart-melting smile. It was a wonder he was still single. The man was gorgeous. Light-green eyes, mussed brown hair, and a million-watt smile—when he brandished it. Other times, he had an air of menace to him that had people moving to the other side of the road if passing him on a sidewalk.
“That sounds ominous.”
“It should. You’ll pull it off, though. I have no doubt.”
I smiled at his words grateful for his faith in me—it was unearned at this point. As if reading my mind, he put his arm around my shoulders.
“You’re ready, Jolie. You can do this. I have complete and total trust in you.” He squeezed lightly and then released me.
No time like the present.
I followed him to the dorm area where I and a couple of the other guys lived. Since Cade and Piper had married, they stayed here only when it was necessary, opting instead for the house they owned outside the city. Cruz and Lydia also lived outside the city on the weekends but stayed at the dorms a bit more during the week due to the hour-long commute they’d have each day. Both owned cabins north of Atlanta on separate lakes.
Levi, Oscar, Ryder, and I were the ones who lived on campus full-time. We’d settled into a routine over the last few months, taking turns to provide dinner whether by cooking it ourselves or ordering out, rotating a cleaning schedule for the common areas, and we seldom fought over what to watch on TV. Each of us had our own set in our rooms, but we’d created a Saturday movie night routine that I looked forward to.
When I reached the living area, Piper was lying on the couch, her skin a putrid green color that made her red hair stand out all the more. She had a trash can by the sofa, and a wet cloth on her forehead. She looked terrible.
“Are you okay?”
Piper didn’t raise her head, just shook it back and forth.
“I feel like I’m dying.”
“Congratulations?”
She chuckled softly. “Yeah—I’m trying to focus on the fact that there’s a tiny baby inside me. Right now, I’d swear I swallowed a parasite and it’s torturing me from the inside out.”
“How far along are you?”
“About ten weeks. They say it will get better soon, but I’m barely able to keep anything down right now.”
“I’m sorry. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks. I can’t even swallow water. I just sip on caffeine-free Coke and a little bit of ginger ale here and there. My diet consists of Pop-Tarts and potato chips. But the doctor says that right now it’s more important I eat something, regardless of what it is. She swears this baby will be just fine.”
I crossed the room and propped myself on the edge of the armchair next to the couch. I hated to bring up work when she was in her condition, but since I had less than two days to prepare, I knew I didn’t have a choice.
“I hate to bother you right now, but Levi told me to touch base with you about a disguise.”
That perked her up a bit, and she slowly slid to a semi-reclining position. She held out her arms to steady herself, took a deep breath, and sighed. “Disguise? What kind of disguise?”
“I have tryouts for a ring-girl position for the underground fights Ryder’s entering in.”
“Your first undercover role?” She smiled, and I couldn’t help but mimic it.
“Yep.”
“You’re excited?”
I nodded vigorously.
“And especially because you get to do this with Ryder, right?”
I stopped grinning and shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to be very enthusiastic about my involvement.”
Piper waved off my concerns. “He’s a guy. He doesn’t want you in danger, thinks he has to protect you. Plus, I have a feeling he’s fighting off his attraction to you—and will you be pretending to be his girlfriend?”
She waited for me to confirm her suspicion. I shook my head. “Fiancée.”
Her eyes lit up at that pronouncement, and her face turned up in a grin. “Even better. Fiancée. Right. Pretending to be your fiancé is going to mean you’ll be super-intimate. It’s going to be hella-hard for him to keep his hands off you.”
“I don’t think that’s it. I think he’s worried I won’t be able to do the job.”
“There’s no question you’re ready. I’ll get you in the range before tryouts and make sure your target-shooting skills are ready to go. And I’ll call Lydia for a girl’s shopping day tomorrow. We’ll have him eating out of your palm.”
“Um, I don’t think that’s really the goal.”
“It is now.” She winked. What was it about everyone winking at me today? “Ring girls aren’t exactly dressed conservatively. You’re going to need daily wear, as well as stuff to wear for the job. I need to warn you, it’s going to be a bit shocking.”
“Whatever it takes.”
“I’ll make the appointments. You’ll need to get in the salon as well. Touch up your color. Maybe something a little calmer than the rainbow you’ve got going on.” Piper chuckled when I made a face. “Just a tad more subdued is all. Plus, you’ll need a wax.”
“A wax?” I’d never been waxed before and there was a reason for that. I wasn’t exactly a big fan of pain.
“Brazilian. The bikinis you’ll be sporting leave very little to the imagination.” She pulled up her phone and showed me a picture of a ring girl standing in an itty-bitty bikini. The triangles covering her breasts were tiny. But the most concerning part was the minuscule piece of fabric covering her down there.
“If I move wrong, the whole arena will see all my bits and pieces.”
Piper barked out a laugh.
“Which is why a Brazilian is necessary.”
“I’m starting to regret this.”
Piper lifted her shoulders. “Your choice. But I agree with the guys—you’re going to do a great job.”
“Wait—how did you know about it? Levi just informed us half an hour ago.”
“Cade filled me in on the way here this morning. Levi’s been mulling it over with him. They’re both convinced you’re perfect for the role.”
Piper’s vote of confidence did wonders for my courage. I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin.
“A Brazilian it is. How bad does it hurt?”
“Like hell.”
No one ever said Piper minced words.
***
I left Piper and went to my room. There wasn’t much to it, and it had been hers before it had been mine. We’d shared it briefly, but as soon as she and Cade were an item, they got married and moved into his room. We had barely spent a single night in there at the same time.
There was a queen-sized bed against the wall, a small dresser with a TV on top, and a tiny desk in the corner with a chair. It had an attached bathroom, but it only consisted of a shower and toilet. No tub. Which was really unfortunate. I missed having a tub.
The entire space had been super-bland when I’d moved in—white walls, white bed cover, black furniture. After Piper had moved out, I’d put my stamp on the room. The walls were now covered with multicolored tapestries. I’d swapped the white comforter for a bohemian style in a vibrant teal to match the wall hangings. Pillows of every color filled the bed, and I’d opted for some brightly hued succulent plants in an antique pitcher for a centerpiece on the dresser. It wasn’t perfect, but it suited me much better.
Before I’d moved into Shadow Force headquarters, I’d lived with my parents. I’d just dropped out of college again for the third time, much to their dismay. But I’d not been able to figure out what I wanted to do—that was until I’d started working at Shadow Force. I’d applied thinking I’d be an office manager for an MMA gym. I’d hoped maybe I could weasel out some free gym time or something like that. When I’d learned they had apartments on-site, I’d been thrilled not to live with my parents anymore.
My mother had complained that I was “just a secretary” and that I had so much more potential. But they hadn’t known the whole story. They still didn’t, since Shadow Force’s true purpose was classified information. I’d never be able to tell them what I really did for a living, but I was okay with that.
When I’d met Piper a few months back, I’d been mesmerized by her strength and abilities, and I’d decided I wanted to do what she did. Since I wasn’t coming from the FBI or CIA or any military organization, I was at a loss as to what I could even bring to the table. Ryder had started to train me at my behest.
I’d always been in shape. Working out was a part of my lifestyle, so I was strong when I started. But since Ryder had started my training, my body had taken on a hardness I’d never had. My arms were sculpted, my biceps the perfect size. My waist had always been narrow, but now my hips flared out slightly, and my abs were chiseled into a perfect six-pack. But it was my legs that had undergone the most change.
Before, I’d had muscles and toned definition, but now each muscle in my legs stood out when I flexed. My calves were separated into two distinct sections, and my thighs looked like I was straight off the cover of a women’s fitness magazine.
I was ripped, but I could also fight.
Ryder had worked tirelessly with me, showing me first how to defend myself and then how to go on the attack. I wasn’t a fighter, not like him or Cade or any of the other guys. But I could hold my own in a duel. Plus, people underestimated me due to my size. It always worked to my advantage.
I spent the afternoon sitting on my bed with my laptop, combing the websites for information on ring girls. Some of the outfits weren’t all that bad. They looked more like what dancers or professional cheerleaders wore—spandex shorts and midriff-baring tops. No big deal. But there were some that left way more on display than I’d ever be comfortable with. Let’s hope that wasn’t what Piper had in mind.
Ryder wasn’t at dinner that night, nor did he show his face while we were binge-watching some of our favorite shows on Netflix afterwards. It was obvious he was avoiding me, but I couldn’t figure out why. I tried to keep my chin up and not let it get to me, but I fell asleep that night with thoughts of Ryder and his rejection swirling through my mind.
***
It was a long time before I finally was able to rest, and I felt like I’d just closed my eyes when the door to my room swung open, banging against the wall. I shot up out of bed and came face-to-face with Ryder.
“Get up.”
He didn’t give me time to answer, just waltzed back out the door. Considering he was dressed in gym shorts and a tank, I figured we were working out. I threw on some workout clothes and hit the bathroom before I rushed to meet him. Ryder was standing by the door, looking perturbed and extremely impatient.
“Where are we going?”
He didn’t answer, just opened the door, expecting me to follow him. Which I did.
We reached the front doors of the gym, and Ryder unlocked them, allowing me to pass, and then secured them back after we were outside. He started stretching, and I followed his example. It looked like he wasn’t in the mood to have a conversation.
I considered calling him out on his rudeness, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. Plus, I wasn’t sure I had the energy. It was before five a.m., and I’d barely slept. Once the stretching was done, he took off at a run.
I followed, keeping stride just behind him. When he saw I was on his tail, he picked up the pace. I followed suit, until both of us were sprinting at near maximum speeds. He was faster, of course. But I’d held my own.
Finally, he stopped, bending at the waist to get his breath. I knew I’d be sore from pushing myself so hard, but if Ryder was expecting me to quit, he didn’t know me very well. He caught my eye, shaking his head. He muttered something under his breath. It sounded a bit like damn, stubborn woman, but I couldn’t hear him well over the sound of my own labored breathing.
When we’d somewhat recovered, Ryder took off back to the gym at a slow jog. He unlocked the gym doors and strolled right on back to the cage.
Frustrated and pissed that he felt like he could just jerk me around, I gladly put on the gloves and headgear. Ryder wanted a fight. I’d give him one.
When we were suited up, I bounced on my toes, loosening the muscles that were threatening to lock up on me after the sprinting race we’d just had.
Ryder faced me, his scowl perfectly in place. Then he charged. No warning. No mercy. He plowed into me, taking me down to the mat. Within seconds he had me twisted up and tapping out for my release.
I jumped to my feet, angrier than I’d been in a long time. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Nothing. Just sparring.”
“Right. You’ve never taken me down like that.”
“If you can’t handle it, maybe you should go back to sitting behind a desk where you’ll be safe.”
Well, that did it.
I growled and rushed at him. But I wasn’t fighting with my head; I was fighting with my emotions. Ryder kicked his leg out just as I reached him, sweeping it down and hooking it around my ankles, taking me back down to the mat.
Heavy breathing was the only sound in the room, both mine and his. Ryder pinned me down, his body partially across mine. And then an idea hit. If he didn’t want to fight fair, well, then, neither would I.
I tapped the mat, and Ryder let me up. I could tell our nearness affected him regardless of the nonchalant attitude he put on each time we sparred. We were attracted to each other, and the sparks that flew when we were near sparkled and crackled the air. Two could play at that game.
I put my hands above my head, filling my body with oxygen. The sports bra I wore had a zipper in front. I pulled it down a couple of inches, baring a little more cleavage than I usually did. I wasn’t exactly well-endowed, but it would do. Then I turned to face him, putting a bit more swagger in my hips than normal.
Ryder immediately noticed the exposed skin, and shock filled his eyes. His face jerked up to mine, and I smiled coyly. With one foot in front of the other, I sauntered over to him, my fingers dancing lightly across the skin of his chest and down his arm. I pouted a little before leaning in.
“Why are you being so mean?” I crooned the words, putting just a touch of whine in my voice.
I could hear Ryder swallow loudly, and he cleared his throat. “I’m not being mean, Jolie. I’m just trying to prepare you for a real fight. The kind where your life is at stake, not the kind where we tiptoe around you in the ring.”
Okay, that pissed me off. But I kept me cool and let my fingers flutter back up his arm to cup his cheek. I pressed myself tightly against him, and he couldn’t help but glance down. When I saw his gaze go to my lips, I knew I had him just where I wanted him.
“Ryder?”
“Yeah?”
I hooked my leg around his knees, falling on top of him and pressing him securely down to the mat. His breath rushed out with an oof as I sat on top of him.
“Gotcha.”
He closed his eyes, and I think maybe he counted to ten. Then he shook his head and propped himself up on his elbows.
“You didn’t fight fair.”
I jumped to my feet and held out my hand to help him up. When he was standing, I took a couple of steps into his personal space, tilting my chin up to see his face. With a lazy finger I traced his lips and then let my finger fall down over his throat.
“Haven’t you heard?”
His face pinched in confusion.
“All’s fair in love and war.” I propped up on my tiptoes and placed my lips against the side of his mouth. “And this, my dear Ryder, is war.”
Then I pulled away, took off my gear and waltzed out of the room, leaving a stunned and overheated Ryder staring at me in awe.
This might be fun after all.