Nate
Less than five minutes later, Alissa arrived at the gym, wearing some of the new clothes I’d brought for her: a pair of gray sweats and a blue T-shirt. I’d slipped out earlier and asked Tommy to pick up some clothes for her. He’d brought them back just after dark, saying his mother had helped him pick them out. I had guessed at Alissa’s size, but the clothes fit, so I must have done okay.
Tony motioned her into the ring. She hesitated, her gaze colliding with mine. I nodded, encouraging her to enter the ring.
She paused in front of me while I wrapped her hands. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Whatever you want.” Tony eyed her from several feet away. “I can take it.”
I finished wrapping her hands and stepped back. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. No one is judging you.”
She glanced at Tony, then back at me. “I want to.”
Tony’s lips twitched in satisfaction. He wanted this. He needed this. And so did Alissa. I would stay close by and intervene, if necessary, though I doubted it would be necessary. Tony wouldn’t hurt her. He wanted her to hurt him. But she might hurt herself if her demons came on too strong. So I would be here to help her if she needed me.
She walked up to Tony. “I’m not a fighter. I know a few self-defense moves, but that’s it.”
“Everyone’s got a fighter in them somewhere.” Tony’s black gaze locked on hers. “It’s only a matter of what it will take to make the fighter come to life inside you.”
She breathed in deeply, then out. She focused on Tony’s face. His eyes.
Silence stretched. No one moved.
“Come on, show me what you’ve got. Don’t be afraid.” Tony inched closer to her.
She tensed, waiting, but didn’t move.
Then Tony darted forward, tilting his head so he was eye level with her, shoving his face into hers. “Pretend I’m Romeo. I just slapped you. Now I’m pulling your hair and slugging you in the stomach. Hurting you.”
She reared back with a soft gasp, her eyes wide. “W-what?”
He followed her, his face dark, and relentlessly kept pushing her. “Come on, kick my ass. I know you want to.”
She kept stumbling away, the fear in her eyes evident, but Tony kept advancing on her. Pushing her. “Hit me,” he growled out, his voice low and menacing. “Or I’m going to hit you. I’m going to hurt you. Very badly.”
Goddammit. That was enough. He was scaring her. I was just about to intervene when she suddenly gathered herself and let out a scream, launching herself at him. Tony stood his ground as she attacked, letting her strike him, over and over, with her fists, her arms, her legs, her feet. She kept swinging, punching, kicking, snarling and hissing as she attacked, tears streaming down her cheeks as she let herself loose. Awed, I stood back and watched her evolve from a frightened kitten into a fierce lion with sharp fangs and wicked claws.
“I didn’t tell,” she screamed, over and over. “I didn’t tell them where Nate is. I’ll never tell, you hear me! Never! I’m not weak, damn you! I’m strong!” She paused, breathing heavily, and glared up at Tony, who just stood there with a smirk on his face, pleased. He’d gotten the reaction he wanted out of her. But had it been too much, too soon for her? Worry crept in. Should we not have forced her into this so soon?
“I know there’s more inside you that needs to be released.” Tony sneered, trying to egg her on further. “Come on, chica. Let it all out. Turn it loose. Hit me!”
She hesitated. Then her gaze narrowed and she attacked once again. Damn, the girl was wild. She was hot. She flew at him like a crazed beast, hitting and kicking and punching, over and over and over again. Tony didn’t even try to fight back. He just stood there and took it all, every strike, no matter how painful. Blow after blow.
Until finally, she stopped, collapsing onto the mat with a sob. Her chest heaved in and out with her harsh breaths. Tony glanced over at me, his face etched with concern. Had he pushed her too far?
She lifted her head then, and let out a long, near-hysterical laugh.
Shit. Tony and I exchanged another glance.
Then she bolted to her feet. “That felt awesome!” She marched toward Tony. “Come on. I’m not finished yet. You sure you can take some more?”
Tony’s teeth flashed in one of his rare grins. “Fuck, yeah. Bring it on.”
Relief swept through me. It was working. She was fighting off the demons, using the sparring as a way to heal. For a moment there, I’d feared Tony had pushed her too hard. But Alissa was proving time and time again how incredible she was. How strong. How brave. How amazing.
God, I wanted her.
I wanted to drag her out of the ring and back to my room so I could devour every inch of her. Claim her thoroughly. Make her mine. Right now.
I’d never had it this bad for a woman before. Alissa was messing with my head. Screwing me up inside. It was scary in a good kind of way. Would I ever be the same again?
They sparred for another ten or fifteen minutes. Tony let her pound on him without once striking back, letting her get it all out of her system. By the time they stopped, all timidity was gone from Alissa, replaced by determination. And strength.
She smiled as she walked over to me. “That was fun. I didn’t think I would like it, but I did.”
Tony chuckled as he strolled up behind her. “I knew there was a warrior inside you somewhere.” He sounded proud. A bit awed. “Any time you want to get it all out, I’m game.”
She turned and met his gaze. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? You never once hit back.”
His gaze softened, just a bit. “Despite what you might think about me, I don’t hit women.”
She smiled. “Okay. You’re…not so bad, after all.”
Tony headed out of the ring. “I’m taking a shower. You bruised me up, woman.”
She flushed and opened her mouth to apologize, but Tony’s laugh—one of the first real laughs I’d heard from him in a long time—halted her.
“I’m joking,” he called over his shoulder. “You fight like a girl. Didn’t even hurt.”
She glared after him, obviously insulted. “Next time it will,” she promised.
Tony reached the door and turned back to face her. “Good. I’m counting on it.”
She watched him walk out, then glanced over at me. “Thank you for that. I didn’t think it would work, but I feel free now. It’s amazing.”
I nodded, pleased. “You’re welcome, but Tony’s the one you should thank. He’s the one you beat up.”
Her lips twitched at my joke. We both knew she hadn’t beat him up, though it was likely he might have a few bruises later.
She glanced away. “Well, I think I’m going to take a shower now, too, if that’s okay.”
The idea of her naked in the shower made lust stir hot and fierce inside me, nearly driving me insane with longing. I wanted to join her there. So badly. Easy now. Back off. It was way too soon for that. I needed to give her time to heal. And before I made any more moves, I wanted to be sure it was what she wanted. So I would let her make the next move. When she was ready, I trusted she would let me know.
I cleared my throat. “Feel free to use the one in my apartment.”
Alissa nodded, then went inside. I remained in the corridor, wanting to join her, but knowing that would be a very bad idea. So I headed for the surface, eager for some alone time so I could gather my thoughts.
It was raining when I reached the surface. A cool, steady drizzle. I walked under the canopy of a large pine, breathing in the fresh, clean smell of the rain mixing with the rosemary scent of the pines.
I loved it here in the woods. Deep in the forest away from civilization. But I didn’t want to live in the underground maze forever. Someday I wanted to be free to live my life as I chose. We all did.
My phone buzzed an incoming text. I hesitated, then fished it out of my pocket. It came from an unknown number.
Uneasiness swept through me. I puffed out a breath, then read the text.
I have something you want, Nate. Something all the dregs want. Answers to the questions you might have about your pasts. If you want what I have, text me back. Let’s work out a deal. You help me, and I’ll give you everything.
I stared at the text. What did that mean? Who was it from? It wasn’t Alissa’s old number. The text could be from literally anyone, since Romeo took Alissa’s phone and he could have given my number to everyone he knew, and they could have given it to everyone they knew...
I typed back: Who is this?
About ten seconds passed before a response came in.
Someone who can destroy you.