Page 50 of Knox

“I’m really doing this.” I pressed the couch back another foot. “Grab some throw pillows. We’ll use them to mark boundaries.”

She collected pillows from the couch and arranged them in a rough square while I finished clearing space. When I turned back, she stood in the center of the makeshift training area, arms crossed, looking skeptical and vulnerable and beautiful in equal measure.

Focus, Hawthorne.

“All right.” I stepped into the space across from her. “First rule. You don’t fight fair. There’s no honor in self-defense. You do whatever it takes to get away.”

“Whatever it takes,” she repeated.

“Eyes, throat, groin. Those are your primary targets. He’s larger and stronger, so you need to disable him fast and run.” I moved closer, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. “Second rule. You fight through the fear. Your body’s going to flood with adrenaline. Your hands will shake. That’s normal. But you push through it and you keep fighting.”

Sloane’s jaw tightened. “Okay.”

“Now,” I said. “Show me how you’d push someone away if they grabbed you from the front.”

She placed her palms against my chest and shoved. Weak. Ineffective. She’d barely move someone my size.

“Again. But this time, don’t just push. Explode through the movement. Drive from your legs.”

She tried again. Better, but still not enough.

I caught her wrists gently. “You’re holding back.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

I fought the returning smile. “I’ll survive.” I released her and stepped back. “But the guy who comes after you isn’t going to hold back. So neither can you.”

Something flashed in her eyes. Anger, maybe. Or determination.

Good.

“Again,” I said.

This time when her palms hit my chest, I felt real force behind them. I took an exaggerated step back, nodding approval. “There you go. That’s the energy. Now let’s work on getting out of a grab.”

I moved behind her, slow enough that she could track my movement. “I’m going to put my arm around you like the guy did at the party. Light pressure, just showing you the position. Tell me if it’s too much.”

“I’m okay.”

I stepped close, bringing my arm carefully around her torso. She stiffened, her breath catching.

“You with me?” I asked quietly.

“Yeah.” Her voice was tight. “I’m here.”

“Good. Now, you’ve got several options. First one.” I kept my grip loose, demonstrating rather than restraining. “Drop your weight. Make yourself heavy, harder to move. Then drive your elbow back into my ribs. Don’t hold back.”

She tried a halfhearted jab.

“Harder, Sloane. Like you mean it.”

She threw her elbow back with real force, and I grunted despite bracing for it.

“Perfect. Again.”

We ran through it three more times. Each repetition, she grew more confident. More decisive. The fear in her movements gradually replaced by something fiercer.

I released her and she turned to face me, breathing slightly harder. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright.