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“You signed your contract. The hazing is over.”
My intuition is telling me otherwise. “But is it though?”
“Mostly.” He chuckles. “But we don’t have to lay it on as thick.”
I’m able to take a shower without incident. The small reprieve is a blessing, but now I have to deal with the rest of my cursed life.
Dante and I head down to the kitchen to carb up for the day. Evan and Kurtis are waiting for us with a couple of plates of eggs, potatoes, and freshly baked bread. With the smell of the fresh bread, my life doesn’t seem as cursed.
Once I sit down, Evan starts in on a lecture. “Don’t ever run off like that again. You were lucky we were able to help you.”
“Thanks for mansplaining. I never would have been able to figure that out on my own,” I sass and then ask, “So what happened with Billy?”
“He has photographic evidence of your demise and a vague memory of dumping your body.” Evan shovels some eggs into his mouth.
“Implanting memories is a karma power?” I ask.
“Only used in extreme cases such as covering up karma agent screw ups,” Kurtis grumbles and gives me the stink eye. It’s like he’s taking me running away personally.
“What happens to me now? A punishment? Time-out?”
“Worse,” Evan growls. “Training.”
“Why is that worse?”
“You’ll see.” Kurtis grins wickedly.
* * *
They aren’t wrong. Training entails physical training. Ugh.
“Put these on.” Evan hands me jogging pants, a sports bra, and a workout top all in my size.
“Do I have to?” I whine.
“Do you want to escape with your life?” he asks. “Or get caught by a pissed off target?”
“Does that really happen?” I ask skeptically.
“More often than I’d like it to,” Kurtis says.
Dante smacks Kurtis on the shoulder. “Then be smarter with your choices.”
“And I choose to be smarter and not get caught.” I start to walk away.
“Not an option.” Evan grabs my elbow.
I yank, but he doesn’t release his hold. “Let go!”
“Make me,” he challenges. I can’t believe he’s coming at me like this in the middle of the house.
Tugging on my arm again does nothing. Evan is six feet of solid muscle. My anger rises. I’m tired of being on this end of the dynamic.
I toss the workout clothes in Evan’s face. While he’s distracted, I stomp on his foot and punch his diaphragm with my free hand, knocking the wind out of him.
He releases me, and I step several feet away.
He charges me and brings me to the ground, his heavy body weighing me down.
