Page 135 of The Quiet Witness

“I’m ready to knock you on your ass!” Kate rolled her shoulders and neck for good measure as she breathed out those daring words. I am so not ready to follow through on that.

A boastful laugh filled the training room, hiding for a second the jingles of the boxing bag and the creaking mats below their bare feet. “Still so overly confident, I see, really thought you would have dialed it down by now, sweetheart.”

No matter how often they squared off against each other, each time again her stomach was a bundle of nerves. But she wouldn’t allow it to show, even though knowing Lucien, he probably could taste it in the air like some damn lizard. Hmm, the comparison fit his method of worming out beneath both punches and well… questions.

That last thought sent the tiniest bit of irritation gushing through her. She would be making good use of that. Wiggling her fingers at Lucien, she gritted out. “This time I will get you. I feel it in my bones.”

If I say it loud enough, maybe it’ll happen?

Kate took a second to breathe in the fresh scent of pine floating in through the window, steadying her nerves. They were back in Big Sky, the same house that had been shooting fear right into her heart, but this time around she had only heaved a sigh of relief. After driving for hours over the highway, fingers clenched around the wheel like she was in a sinking boat and it was her lifeline, they had made it back home.

Lucien had clapped her on the shoulders with a well done and that was it. They were back to where it had all started.

“You really ought to deliver on those threats of yours, dear.” Lucien raised his voice to a high pitch in an effort to mirror hers. “This time this, this time that. They’ve not been very… convincing thus far.”

She sniffed loudly. “You are getting your ass whooped today, if only to wipe that smug grin off your face.”

And get my frustration out on your deserving ass while I’m at it.

He shot her a shit-eating grin. “I will be eagerly awaiting.” He bent down into a deep bow. “Just remember to hold up your defense and you’ll be okay after.”

Oh, yes, because he would be merciless as per usual. She couldn’t keep track of the many bruises that had littered her body. All in the name of education. With that pleasant thought, she turned to reach for her boxing gloves. Only to find… bright pink gloves waiting for her. “Where are my gloves?”

“You’re looking at them, sweetheart.”

“No, I’m not. Mine are black and red, not pink like a freaking flamingo.”

She knew enough by the wolfish grin appearing on his face. He was very much trying to get her frustrated, one of his ploys to keep training real.

“I swear, Lucien, if this is one of those moments where you’re going to open your mouth about honing emotions…”

He stepped closer, slamming his black gloves together. “Then what, exactly?”

She groaned out loud. Ever since they had set foot off that playground, Lucien had been relentlessly annoying. Every little word was twisted against her in jest. She knew why, to get a semblance of normalcy back between them. He seemed almost desperate to pull a laugh out of her, or when that didn’t work out sent her into a raging fit. Arguably, the last option was easier for him to succeed in.

Don’t. Let. Him. Win. She sucked in a calming breath, picking up the pink gloves while he stood by and watched her wriggle them on. They smelled… new. When had he even managed to swipe these up?

“That’s what I thought.” He mumbled with a nod. No doubt pleased with himself.

Calm, Kate, stay calm. She flashed him a beaming smile, forcing enthusiasm into her voice. “Are we going to get started or are you having second thoughts… Lucy?”

She watched with a smirk as he shivered. Two could play this game, and lucky her, she had also discovered ways to get under those well-kept nails of his.

But he merely shot her a final grin, lazily strutting over to the middle of the mat. “I thought you’d never ask, sweetheart.” He extended one gloved hand forward, waiting for her to join him. She got into her fighting stance and tapped her glove against his.

Game on.

Kate rocked back on her heels immediately, having felt the way he would launch himself toward her the second after the tap. She evaded his trick to ‘keep it real’ adeptly. But the step back meant she was already on defense. Not a good place to be.

She withstood his punches, firmly staying in place while he flicked her like she was nothing more than a boxing bag. She managed to drop her elbow just in time to save her precious liver from a punch. Only to receive an annoying little flick against her face a millisecond after.

No time to pat yourself on the back. Focus!

Corner. He was driving her back to a corner of the room. She sidestepped, only to be met with his body blocking her off.

Oh, he really wasn’t showering her with any mercy this time. Kate managed to duck below his left hook, stepping underneath with the full intention of pivoting out and away from the corner closing in on her back.

Too slow. Barely managing to slip beneath his jab and cross, she began to lose control of her breathing.