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“I have no idea what you're talking about. I swear to God, Maya, I won't take it easy on you. Don't attack me again.” I'll hit her this time. I know she will eventually beat me, but she will hurt too. She wants to be an equal, I'll treat her like an equal. I just hope my mum never finds out I hit a woman.
“What're you afraid of? This girl is going to kick your ass.” She steps to the side and swings a double punch just below my rib cage.
“Maya, don't do it!” Duncan bellows from the door.
Distracted, I swing my head around to look at him, and that's all she needed. She lands a punch with more force than I thought she had in her body. My breath whooshes from my body and I double over.
I warned her.
I rise up and stretch, checking myself. I swing at her. She steps into the swing, deflecting, and upper cuts my ribs. She then steps back. Damn, she's fast.
“Joshua, I could've ended you, but then again maybe he will.” She points at a pissed off Duncan, now standing outside the ring and preparing to launch himself in. He's warned all of us guys if we take her on he'll end us.
“Anyone want to tell me what the fuck is going on here, and why my sister ran out of here like she was being chased?” He's angry and trying to get to us. He distracts Maya enough for me to return the favor. I hit her in the ribs, opposite of where she got hurt a few months ago. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Duncan barreling down on me, and again Maya gets the jump on me. She swings her leg in a kick right to my gut, I'm doubled over, and Duncan is going to kill me. She steps in front of him between us. I want to hit her again, but I won't hit her with her back turned. I really need to have the guys work with her, she's good.
“Duncan, stop, I deserved it. Besides, it wasn't the side I fractured, still hurts like a bitch though. It's about time someone went hand-to-hand with me. You keep scaring the guys off from sparring with me, and you won't really spar with me. You hold back.”
“Never fear, Maya, I'll kick your bloody arse if you punch me again.” I try to laugh, but the pain is too intense.
“Maya, Joshua, what's up with my sister?”
“Duncan, your fiancée here was teaching your very pregnant sister defensive moves. I saw, I yelled, and she ran. Sorry, mate.” I shrug at him.
What can I say? I didn't know my anger would throw her into some kind of weird reaction. I should've guessed it though. I know all about a battered woman.
“Sod off, you bloody wanker, you know you can't yell around her,” he yells at me, and his muscles tense. I'm preparing for him to punch me, and I know the force behind his punches will knock me out.
“Duncan, it was worse this time. She dropped to her knees and begged for forgiveness. That fucker did some cruel shit to her. She about had a panic attack when she realized what she'd done,” Maya says as she touches his chest.
“I don't doubt he did cruel stuff to her, but why are you two fighting? What's going on in here?” Her touch visibly calms him. Holy hell.
“She was teaching Ana defensive moves. I told you that already.” I hope it ends here, because if anything else is revealed, I'll get my arse kicked by him. I know it. He protects Ana and Maya unequivocally.
“Baby? Is that true?” She looks at me, then back to Duncan, and I see her soften too. The two strongest people I know calm each other.
Interesting.
“Yes, Duncan, it's true. She needs to know how to defend herself if Jonathan comes after her. Joshua, we aren't done discussing this.” She's giving me a hard look, but I walk away and out of the gym. I head back to my cottage to shower and get ready for the day.
I’ll talk to Ana when I take her to her appointment. I need to make her understand I wasn't trying to hurt her. What Maya said confuses me, I don't understand what she meant by it was my fault. I'll also discuss these panic attacks. Maybe it's time for her to call Derek and Maya's friend.
Chapter Three
Ana
He knew.
I can't believe he knew who I was and never said anything. I know six years isn’t long enough to forget someone, but he acted like he didn’t know me, so I assumed. Bloody hell was I wrong. Maybe he just didn’t want to remember me. Maybe Jonathan was right, and I’m forgettable. Well, Jonathan always said I wasn't that special, I was lucky to have him. Looks like he was right, my Lieutenant didn't even care about me.
I went back to that pub every day for over two years hoping to see him again, even after I transferred from Royal Holloway. The hour long cab rides every day showed me what an idiot I was.
Jonathan told me after I married him he knew I went back, and was angry. I regretted walking away that day. I even hoped he would return after Jonathan and I started dating.
Joshua still looks as handsome as ever. His light brown hair is in a long flattop cut with the sides shaved close and the top long. He now has a darker brown scruffiness along his chin, and a mustache. His gunmetal blue eyes were so expressive when he looked at me. Eyes that can't hide the years of war. His body is more chiseled and stronger looking than when he was younger. His powerful leg muscles flexed with every step. When he kneeled in front of me, his thighs strained the legs of his black shorts. He still makes me feel small next to him; he's not as tall as Daddy or Duncan but still tall. His shoulders are so wide. My body still wants him, responds to him. I thought I was broken, but when he touched me, tingles prickled along my skin.
I had to break down in front of him. How stupid of me. I was gutted instantly when I looked at the pity in his eyes. Maybe he doesn't like me for allowing a man to treat me the way Jonathan did.
He'll never want me. Jonathan would tell me he ruined me for any other man. I'm starting to believe he was right.
