Jemma hit the gym hard that morning. The nightmares had plagued her most of the night, as they usually did, only this time she wasn’t able to escape and ended up six feet under. Her anxiety was worsening with each passing day, and she knew if she didn’t get it under control, it would eat her alive.

The heavy bag swung on its chain, and Jemma unleashed her rage on it again. She threw her body behind each punch, and before she knew it, she was covered in sweat. She spun and landed one last kick before stepping away to hit the weights.

“Looking good, Jemma.” Mikel Brant, the gym’s trainer, offered a smile as she approached. “Your form is perfect.”

Jemma took a swig from her water bottle. “Thanks,” she replied breathlessly.

“You doing all right?”

“Yeah, just the usual.”

Mikel nodded. She knew Jemma was running from someone, only she assumed it was an abusive ex, not a psychopathic father. Jemma had just never corrected her.

“This helps.” Jemma gestured to the bag and set her water bottle back down.

“Want to spar?” Mikel offered. Jemma nodded.

“That’d be great, thanks.” The heavy bag certainly wore her out, but there was something about fighting another person that made her feel powerful again. And after years of feeling like a victim, she craved the power.

Jemma followed Mikel into the gym’s sparring room and stretched out her already warm muscles. The room was impressive and the best around. Mikel was a resident lightweight champion in kickboxing. That meant she hadn’t spared any expense when it came to outfitting her gym with the best equipment she could find. Jemma had already known the basics, but Mikel had been schooling her on the sport ever since she had moved into the apartment down the street three years prior.

She knew better than to ask Jemma about her nightmares, but was always there to be her sparring partner when the bag just wasn’t cutting it anymore.

“Ready?” Mikel asked, and Jemma nodded. They touched their fingerless gloves together, and moved into their stances.

Jemma held her ground until Mikel surged forward, and then thrust out her right fist in a hook. Mikel dodged it, and Jemma dodged a counter attack. Jemma avoided another kick before landing a fist in Mikel’s side. Jemma took advantage of her opponent’s surprise, and knocked Mikel to the ground with a kick.

“Nice,” Mikel laughed from the mat. Jemma reached down to help her up, and they went back to fighting. It was cathartic for her, and with each contacted fist, she felt her anxiety slowly leaking away until both she and Mikel were laying on the mat sucking in ragged breaths.

“You ever wanna go pro, you let me know,” Mikel said with a laugh.

“Thanks, but I’m good.” Jemma smiled and stood. “I’m gonna go hit the weights.”

“Do you ever rest?”

“I’ve got goals, Mikel,” she said lightly and headed toward the main floor. Goals to not let myself get killed.

She had spent the last three years holed up in the same apartment, implementing backup plan after backup plan just in case she was discovered. One day she was going to bring his entire life crashing down around him, just like he had hers. Jemma racked the weights and proceeded to ignore the men sending glances and half waves her way. They hit on every single woman in this place, and she had no time for it.

She worked herself until her muscles felt like jelly, and then drank the chocolate peanut butter protein shake she had brought with her. After finishing it, she went to find Mikel.

“I’m headed home.”

“See you tomorrow?”

Jemma nodded.

“If you need me before then, you can call. I gave you my cell number.”

“I know, thanks.” Jemma didn’t bother to tell her she didn’t own a cell phone. They were too risky, and she was afraid a landline would be just as traceable.

Sweaty and exhausted, Jemma made her way out of the gym, her bag strapped to her back. As she was stepping through the door, she made the mistake of looking down for just a second, and found herself smacking into a hard chest.

She brought her fists up, ready to defend herself, and was met with the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

“Hey!” The man threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Whatever it was, I didn’t do it.”

She slowly lowered her fists, but eyed him warily. Past experiences taught her to never trust strangers. “Sorry about that,” she offered and continued past him.

“Hey, wait up!” She turned to see the man following her. “I’m sorry, I should have been watching where I was going.” He held his hand out. “I’m Caid.”

“Jemma,” she said easily.

“Nice to meet you, Jemma. Maybe I’ll see you around,” he said with a smiled and headed into the gym.

Rattled, she turned away and made the short walk to her apartment building. The second the lock clicked behind her, she let out a breath. Being out in the real world always scared her. You never knew who was watching or what their motives were.

She pulled the bag off her shoulder, but a knock at her door had her hands wrapping around the butt of the gun in her waistband.

“Who is it?” she asked cautiously, making her way over to the door to look through the peep hole.

“Maria!” her neighbor called. Jemma relaxed slightly and cracked the door, leaving the security chain in place.

“What is it?”

“Just wanted to see if you were up for a little girls’ night tonight?” Maria’s chocolate-brown eyes watched her hopefully, and Jemma felt a pang of guilt. She was always turning the woman down.

“I’m actually busy tonight,” she said with an apologetic smile. “Rain check?”

Maria’s mouth turned into a pout, and she sighed, “Oh, come on! Take a night off.”

Jemma hesitated for a moment. What could it hurt? “All right,” she said easily.

Maria clapped her hands together and jumped up and down. “Yay! I’ll be by to pick you up at eight!”

They were going out? She couldn’t be out after dark! “Wait--”

“See you then, senorita!” Maria called and shut her door across the hall before Jemma could get another word out.

Jemma felt the panic setting in as she shut the door. She sank to her knees to try and regulate her breathing. It will be okay, she thought to herself, no big deal. Just a night out with another woman. Nothing to be worried about. It’s been three years, and he hasn’t found me. She tried to steady her mind, but the panic continued to close in on her.

She grabbed her bag and rushed back outside, bounding down the stairs. She refused to take anything that would dull her senses, so she relied on exercise to help her. The only problem with that was she had to make it to the gym before full on panic took over and she ended up curled in a ball on the street.

Jemma rounded the corner and ran into the gym, straight for Mikel, who was currently working with a client.

“Can you spar?” Jemma asked quickly. She was too far gone for the bag to do the trick.

“I can in about forty-five. Can you work the bag until then?” Mikel put her hand on Jemma’s arm, her silent apology as she tried to not embarrass her distressed friend in front of the client she was working with.

Jemma nodded, hiding her irritation. Mikel wasn’t at her beck and call; the bag would simply have to do for now. She turned to head toward the training room.

“I can spar with you,” a familiar voice sounded behind her. Jemma turned to see the man she had run into earlier.

She started to shake her head, but stopped. It really didn’t matter who she sparred, she just needed the release, so she nodded instead.

“Go easy on him, Jemma,” Mikel joked as Caid followed Jemma into the training room.

“How experienced are you?” Caid asked her as he pulled his sparring gloves out of his bag.

“Experienced enough,” Jemma said stepping onto the mats.

“All right.”

They touched gloves, and Jemma immediately attacked. She didn’t have the time to wait for him. He blocked one fist, but her other contacted with his side.

“Nice,” he commented and blocked her next one. He blocked another, and then connected to her stomach.

Thank goodness, he wasn’t trying to go soft on her.

They continued fighting until they were both dripping sweat and could hardly stand. Caid had proven to be a great opponent, even tougher than Mikel. Probably because he was a lot stronger than her. She was going to be aching for days. And the best part was, she was too exhausted to feel the panic that had been threatening to drag her down when she stepped into the gym.

“You are damn good,” he said as he pulled his gloves off and collapsed onto the mat next to her.

“Thanks.” She pulled from the water bottle Mikel had brought in.

“Feeling better?” he asked before taking a drink from his.

“What do you mean?”

“I know a panic attack when I see one. I’m cool if you don’t want to talk about it, but I just wanted to make sure you felt better before we call it quits.”

She nodded. “I do, thanks.”

“Anytime, Jemma.” He smiled, and she caught herself staring at him for a moment before she got to her feet.

“Interested in sparring again?”

Caid let out a laugh. “You trying to kill me?”

She smiled. “I didn’t mean today. Tomorrow?”

He nodded. “Sure, same time?”

“Sounds good.” She grabbed her bag from the corner and headed out into the main part of the gym. She was surprised to see the floor was empty and it was dark outside.

“Feeling better?” Mikel asked as she handed Jemma a towel.

Jemma nodded. “What time is it?”

“Ten.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Yep, you two have been going at it for the last four hours.”

Caid came out behind her and waved to Mikel. “See ya tomorrow, Jemma,” he said and walked out the door.

“He’s a hottie,” Mikel noted, and Jemma let out a laugh.

“What?”

“Just saying. I wouldn’t mind letting him throw me around a bit.”

“You’re married!”

“And I love my husband. I would never do anything to jeopardize what I have. I’m just saying, you know, for sparring purposes.”

Jemma laughed again and handed the towel back to Mikel. Mikel’s eyes narrowed on her face. “What?” Jemma asked self-consciously.

“You’re okay now?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Call me if you need me.”

“Thanks, Mikel.”

Jemma stepped outside and felt the darkness close in on her slightly. She took a series of deep breaths, pulled the hood of her sweater up over her head, and walked quickly back to her apartment.

Once inside, she pulled a salad out and began eating while standing up in her kitchen. The small studio apartment was perfect for her. She could see every angle of it from this spot, including right into her bathroom. She had to make sure she wouldn’t be caught unaware if someone did, in fact, come into her space. They were hunting her. It was only a matter of time before they found the trail, even if she had buried it. She knew in her heart that while it may not be today, or tomorrow, one day they were going to come for her. Only this time she would be ready.