Page 127 of Fractured Future
“You’re not.”
Dropping low with one knee drawn to my chest and the other leg stretched out, I sweep my foot in a wide arch to yank his feet from underneath him. Archer goes down faster than a collapsing building.
While less bulky than Hyland, his considerable weight causes a seismic thump when he makes impact with the mat. I rise to my feet, fists raised to my chest and ready to respond if he tries to get back up.
Beating him was fun at first. It got the blood pumping and reminded me why I earned such a formidable reputation overseas. Now I’m bored and want a bigger challenge.
“You asked for that!” Hyland calls out.
Grunting, Archer blinks rapidly while staring up at the training room’s ceiling. “Touché.”
“You’re strong but slow.” I shrug at the sight of him flopping around. “We can keep doing this all day.”
“Rain check?”
Wrestling himself upright, Archer rubs his spine. He’s already sporting a big, black bruise across his cheekbone where I first clocked him. I bet he’s regretting accepting Hyland’s request now.
Looking over at the blonde brute, I gesture for him to join me with a crooked finger. His sandy locks are pulled into a low ponytail today, leaving several silky flyaways to frame his face.
I’ve never seen Hyland out of the all-black cargos, tight t-shirts and signature army boots he’s always wearing. Not even in the mornings when I emerge from my room to find him gulping coffee.
“Nope.” He shakes his head.
“Scared?”
“I’m not in the business of beating up my teammates. We have Axel for that.”
Smart man.
After the debrief and discovering that Blaine Madden was at the underground trafficking meet, I was beyond ready to step into the ring. Hyland attempted to put it off, protesting against the idea of me aiding their upcoming offensive.
I’m not going to tolerate his macho, overprotective shit. If that means handing him his ass in the training ring to prove my abilities, that’s exactly what I’ll do.
“You can have a go, dude.” Archer grunts in pain as he finds his feet. “I’ve got a surveillance job tonight. I don’t need any more bruises.”
Hyland rolls his eyes at the grumbling agent, limping off with little more than an unenthusiastic wave in my direction. While his team is still learning the ropes at Sabre, something tells me Archer didn’t expect to be humiliated so easily.
Stretching my arms above my head, I roll my warmed-up muscles. It feels amazing to do what I’m good at again. The fight against Blaine was a taste of power, and now I want more.
Ducking between the ring’s ropes, Hyland hefts a hardshell case onto the mat. It lands with a heavy thud. He kneels beside it and unclips the hinges.
“Forget it, Em. I’m not gonna lay a finger on you. We’re moving on to weapons.”
“We’ve only been in the ring for two hours.” I pout at him.
“Clearly, there’s nothing more about physical combat that I can teach you. You’re already better than the head of our newest team.”
“Well, shucks. You’re giving me a compliment?”
“Uh huh,” he mumbles.
Sauntering over to him, I’m gifted a view inside the equipment case. A variety of weapons are nestled in black foam, including two shiny handguns and a wide selection of knives.
“Sabre needs agents,” Hyland continues. “Being one means learning how to be invisible, to stalk a target and identify their pressure points. How to manipulate, subjugate, and ultimately, capture. Not just punch your way through life.”
“You’re spoiling all my fun.”
Scoffing at me, he sits back on his haunches. “You ever handled a gun?”
