Damn it.
For a moment, all I feel is despair.
But then instinct takes over and I drive my heel between his legs with every ounce of force I have.
A strangled sound leaves him as he doubles over, and I don’t waste the opportunity.
I slam my forehead into his face.
Pain explodes through my skull and for a second my vision swims, but the crack that follows tells me I hit my target.
Blood immediately pours from his nose.
While he struggles with the pain, one hand between his legs and blood running down his face, I take advantage of the opening he has given me.
I hit him between the legs a second time, and he finally drops to one knee.
I know I don’t have long.
He is bigger, stronger, and the only reason I am still standing is because I caught him off guard.
The second he recovers, this is over.
I throw myself at him and lock my arm around his neck.
Two seconds.
That’s all I have.
Two seconds to find the hold before he throws me off.
He fights immediately, his hands grabbing at my arm as he tries to tear me away.
I tighten my grip.
One. Two.
His movements begin to weaken and his grip loosens.
A second later his body goes slack beneath me.
Relief hits me so hard my knees almost give out.
“So at least you didn’t lie about that.” The voice comes from behind me and my heart immediately begins to race.
“You hate violence, but when the situation calls for it, you can put a man on the ground.”
I swallow and turn to face him.
Hunter is standing there, looking at me with an intensity that steals the breath from my lungs.
“My father’s in the army. We’re allied with the Cartel and the Italian mafia. Of course he insisted on self-defence lessons,” I reply simply.
He nods.
His eyes burn with the same heat they’ve always burned with when he looks at me.
Only now that heat is mixed with hatred too.
