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“Here, let me show you,” Nino said and positioned himself in front of Fabiano, whose lips widened into a smile.
Nino brought his knee up sideways toward Fabiano’s groin without making contact. Then he curled his hand into a fist and pretended to punch Fabiano’s stomach twice. Then he pushed the heel of his hand up toward Fabiano’s nose. “You can also scratch or bite, but don’t waste too much time. You will tire eventually.”
Nino stepped back and gave Fabiano a nod.
Fabiano came at me at once, and I seized. Everything happened so fast, and suddenly I was on my back and he was between my legs. Panic choked me. I let out a terrified sob, clenching my eyes shut, and began to shake.
“Fuck,” someone said. Then another cold and compelling voice spoke above me. This voice had brought me back before.
“Kiara, open your eyes.” And I did, looking up into cool, gray eyes. Nino. “Don’t allow the past to control you. You are safe. Nothing will happen to you. I am here.”
I swallowed and gave a small nod. Fabiano had sat back on his haunches, regarding me with a deep frown. I closed my legs, embarrassed. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” he said with a shrug, but his eyes were a bit softer than before.
Nino helped me to my feet. “Again?” His eyes held mine, and I gave a small nod. He turned to Fabiano. “This time straddle her legs only.”
Fabiano nodded. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I said, and he reached for my arm, and again, I found myself on my back with Fabiano straddling my thighs. Panic clawed its way out of my chest, and I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. My vision turned black. Fabiano shoved off me, and I sucked in a deep breath. Nino knelt beside me, touching my shoulder.
“I don’t think it’s working,” Fabiano said. “She is too scared.”
Nino nodded but he kept his eyes on me and his warm palm on my shoulder. “You can leave. I will take it from here.”
Fabiano gave me a tight smile. Then he climbed out of the ring.
“I’m sorry,” I said, embarrassed that I’d broken down like this even though this had been fake, even though Fabiano hadn’t meant to hurt me.
“I underestimated your fear of men. With me, you’ve been relaxed.”
“That’s because I trust you,” I whispered.
His brows pulled together, and he didn’t say anything. “That’s why I wanted you to fight Remo or Fabiano. You are wary of them. It would make the fight more real.”
“I know, but it’s too much right now. Can’t you train with me?”
“Of course, but I will go hard on you, Kiara. It makes no sense to stay within your comfort zone. You won’t improve if you feel safe.”
My stomach clenched with nerves as Nino pulled me to my feet. Nino had a point, and I wanted to show him that I wasn’t weak, and more than that, I wanted to show myself that I could beat my past once and for all. I’d allowed it control my life for too long.
“Step closer.” As I did, he grabbed my wrists, and I tensed in preparation for his attack, but he put my palms up on his shoulders. “Use this to gain momentum and now jerk your knee up as hard as you can.”
I hesitated.
“Do it,” he ordered, and I did. Nino blocked my knee with his thigh so I wouldn’t connect with his groin. I jumped from the impact, a dull pain spreading through my knee and upper thigh. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You are supposed to hurt me. Again, and harder this time.”
I jerked my knee up again and rammed his thigh. He gave a curt nod. “Better. Still too hesitant. Now make a fist.”
I lowered my hands and curled them into fists.
“Hit my stomach.”
I punched him, but even I could tell that I was holding back. Nino grabbed my hand and curled my fist even tighter. Then he touched it to the spot where he wanted me to aim. “Here. And hard.”
I punched him again, and his mouth tightened. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d actually managed to hurt him or if he was still not satisfied with my performance. Probably the latter. “Now open your hand and bring the heel of your hand up to my nose.”
I did as he instructed, and he changed the angle of my hand slightly. “Like this. If you use enough force, you can break your opponent’s nose.”
“You perhaps.”
He shook his head. “You can. Trust me. If I use that move with full force, I can kill my opponent by shoving his bones up into his brain, not just break his nose.”
My face scrunched up in disgust.
“Now let’s move on to actual defense. I will attack you, throw you on the ground, and force myself between your legs, and you will try to stop me with everything you have. Don’t hold back, Kiara. You can’t hurt me.”
