Page 30 of Mob Princess

I sighed. “And you won’t be ready when those men jump you from out of nowhere. I’m only one man, Bonnie. What are you going to do if there’s two?”

“If another man attacks me—”

I dropped to the floor, pinning her with my body. “You’ll have to get past me first.”

“Done.”

She rolled me over and tried to jab me in my ribcage with her elbow, but I was too quick. I slithered out from underneath her and grabbed her ankles, pulling her toward me. She kicked her legs, and I tucked them underneath my arms. I grabbed the fists she tried to beat me with, wrapping my hands around me. As I bent forward to pin her wrists down, her legs came with me. And when she was beneath me, arms spread, and knees bent toward her chest?

There was nothing she could do.

“See?” I asked. “Less than two minutes, and you’re raped before you’re dead.”

Her eyes watered. “Get the fuck off me.”

I stood up and offered her my hand, but she smacked it away.

“You have an unfair advantage. You know no one can beat you,” she said panting.

I shrugged. “Which means if you can beat me, you can beat anyone. Which is going to be our next goal.”

She looked over at me. “Our what?”

I stood with my back straight, knowing this was the right choice. “I’m going to teach you how to fight and defend yourself.”

She licked her lips. “Fine. Try it again, now that I’m ready.”

“You won’t be ready if it happens.”

“Doesn’t matter. Just humor me.”

She hunched her shoulders, and her eyes darkened. She shifted her feet, planting herself firmly against the floor. Clearly, she’d had some sort of training. But training didn’t replace the skills needed to work out of a situation that is sprung onto someone. Still, she looked feral. Wild. Animalistic. And as I stood there, watching her welcoming my next attack, I felt the need to be close to her.

So I could be reminded that she was, in fact, alive and safe.

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