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“You’re getting stronger, Lina. You’re doing great.”
“I know. But…I think learning how to fight would help. I want to getoutof this place, Hunter. As in outside.”
“And you think knowing how to fight will help.”
“Knowing how toprotectmyself. Yes.” She nodded. “And, you said you teach at your club. That’s only a mile from here, right?”
I nodded, and a spark of hope lit up her eyes.
“I could…I’m going to get myself to where you teach and take a class. But…can you start teaching me here? And I’ll work to getting there? Will you help me?”
“Of course I will.”
She jumped up and down and let out a little squeal. “Tomorrow. After your class?”
“There should be room in my place. Or, in yours?”
“We’ll use a conference room here on this main level.”
“We can do that?”
“Sure. I’ll get it worked out.” She clapped. “Yes!”
I watched her as she faced the next child coming for his sugar fix. Already the confidence was showing on her face as she stood taller, her back a little straighter and her shoulders broad. I’d help her beat this thing.
And it hit me right then and there: I was going to stay here. With Lina.
To hell with my past, and to hell with my dad. I’d beat them both if it meant staying here with Lina.
Chapter Fourteen
Angelina
“It’s good to see you out and about again, Miss Angelina,” Doug said to me as Hunter, and I walked past the concierge toward our reserved conference room.
“Thanks, Doug.” I smiled and noticed my steps were a little bit lighter.
I’d been practicing with Hunter for three weeks, nearly every night, whether it was before or after classes.
“You make friends quickly,” Hunter said as he held open the door to the conference room.
The wall of windows offered a nice view of the setting sun. It was nearing Thanksgiving, so the sun set early nowadays, but it wasn’t any less fantastic to see, especially with the clouds roaming around the sky today.
“Yeah, well, Doug’s been around forever.” I threw my towel in the corner of the room and went to the center.
“Doesn’t look much older than you.” Hunter faced me in the center of the cleared-out room. He was wearing a tank top this time. It was both awesome and distracting at the same time. His arms really were as big as my thighs. Maybe even both of them together.
I’d always thought that was gross when I’d seen it on TV, but his muscles weren’t all shiny with oils and veins popping out. His size was intimidating, I’d even seen it on Doug’s face at first, but Hunter’s eyes were what drew me in. They were kind, loving, and that negated the fear factor over his size. For me anyway.
“Lina?” he asked.
“Oh. Sorry.”Don’t mind me, I was totally spacing on your body. “He’s only a couple of years older than me. He’s poised to step into leadership here once he’s done with grad school.”
“And you know all this how?” He bent his knees and motioned for me to do the same to start warmups.
“Dad told me.”
“Your dad knows him?”
