I struggled against him, but his grip was like a vise. I couldn’t get any leverage. Why was that… exciting?
“Bene. Now, spread your legs and drop to push your hips back. It will change your center of gravity,” he said. I hesitated for just a moment before complying. His grip loosened, and I wriggled my arms. “Si. Now you would move your hips to the left,” he waited until I did so, “and then strike down at the groin with the heel of your hand.”
We moved through the motions slowly, then more quickly. “Very good, Bridget. It is all about breaking the man’s posture, and then running away as fast as you can.”
He held me for one more moment, then stepped away. I met his gaze in the mirror. We were both breathing heavily now. “I need some water,” I said, and he followed me to the side of the room.
“That is probably enough for today,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, trying to mask my disappointment.
Gabriel sat down next to me, our backs against the wall, and drank from his own water bottle. I tried not to watch the movement of his swallow.
“Why are you so determined to put yourself in danger, carissima?” Gabriel asked after a moment.
“Why are you all so determined to keep me from helping? Especially when it’s my family causing all this. My motherknowssomething. Isn’t it worth trying? I’m not saying I want to go traipsing into my old house. I just want to call her.”
He shook his head slowly. “It is not worth the risk.”
“What risk?” I cried, spreading my arms. “We’ll call from the burner phone, right? Domenic works during the day — she’ll be alone.”
“My friends will find another way,” he said, and my temper boiled over.
“I am sosickof being coddled,” I said through gritted teeth.
Gabriel pressed his palms together. “It is not coddling. It is protecting.”
“I am not yours to protect!” My voice rang out too loudly in the small room. I caught my breath in the silence that followed, my eyes on the water bottle in my hands. “Sorry. I know I’m being ungrateful… I just can’t stand sitting around doing nothing when I canhelp.”
Gabriel heaved a dramatic sigh. “Okay, carissima. You win.”
“I do?” His brown eyes were glittering with amusement again.
“Si. You are right. We are being like hens with a little chick, and it is not fair,” he said. “But you can not blame us for wanting to keep you safe when you are so… preziosa.”
“Thank you,” I said, gripping his hand.
He rolled his eyes. “And I will talk to the two dragons.”
I couldn’t help smiling. My anger simmered down, but left behind a lingering heat.
Gabriel grunted as he stood to wipe down the mat. I felt emboldened by my success.
“Earlier, you said the worst thing is going on the ground,” I said. “Why? Just because it’s harder to get away?”
He paused. “If you are on the ground, there are some things you can do to escape. But it is a dangerous place to be. You are very vulnerable.”
I swallowed. Something dark, something I didn’t want to examine too closely, was rising inside. “Can you show me?”
He hesitated again. He had broken a slight sweat during our lesson, and his cedar scent was stronger than usual, sharp and resinous. “Come here and lie down.”
My heart pounded as I crossed the room. I lay on my back next to where he sat on his knees.
“Are you sure about this, carissima?” he asked, his voice low, and another drop of dark excitement slipped into my stomach.
“Yes. I want to know,” I said, somehow keeping my voice steady.
“I will… straddle you.” He didn’t, though, not for a moment. I held my breath, suddenly terrified that he would change his mind, but in one fluid movement, he was on top of me.
