Page 24 of Stolen

Commence gunshot to head.

He chuckled softly. “So you’re doing me a favor, is that it?”

“I’m saying I’ve got more value than you realize. I’m capable of a lot more than just laying on my back.”

With both hands still pressing into the elevator walls behind me, he dipped his head low enough to run his lips against my ear. “Prove it.”

I could barely hide the tremble that came on from his dangerous invitation. My stomach clenching in anticipation of what was likely to come. But I had backed myself into this corner days ago. It was time to reveal what I couldn’t before.

“Careful what you wish for,” I replied.

It was probably such a bad idea to poke this bear, but even the largest of bears could be killed, and I’ll be damned if I wasn’t going to be the one to pull the fucking trigger.

“This is going to be so much fun,” he said darkly.

The second the doors opened, he gripped my arm and hauled me out of the elevator.

My adrenaline instantly spiked, and I forgot all about the pain in my temple. Determination and pure rage took complete control of me, and I finally released everything building up inside me since they first brought me here.

I didn’t even wait for the doors to shut behind us as I went straight for a sidekick, striking him right in the ribs. I could see a small wince as he grabbed my extended leg and hurled me at the nearest wall. As he rounded on me, I spun around quickly, jumped off the nearby banister with my foot, and landed a Superman punch right against his left eye.

But my temporary victory was short-lived as he managed to grab my wrist on the recoil, not even fazed by my hit. Bending my wrist back awkwardly, I went with his motion to avoid the pain it would cause, bending my back so I lost all balance. But just as he lifted his hand to strike, my leg kicked out to block his arm from extending. Retracting my leg quickly, I let the momentum swing my leg back toward his groin, forcing him to release me in order to avoid the blow.

Balanced on my feet again, I extended the distance between us and waited for his next move, which didn’t take long. I barely dodged the right hook he threw my way but still managed to grab his arm and used his momentum to trap it and attempt to force my knee into his gut. But it was as if he could read my mind because before I could even lift my knee, his arm twisted out of my grasp, turned me around, and wrapped his arm around my neck, putting me in a rear naked choke. I struggled against him, attempting to pull his arm away from my throat as I fought for air.

“Surely, this isn’t the best you can do,” he mocked in my ear as he held me tight.

Oh, game on, asshole…

Keeping calm, I let go of his elbow, reached down, and pinched the inside of his inner thigh as hard as I could all the while driving my heel up and into his groin. He flinched just enough for me to loosen out of his grip and elbow him in the ribs before I leaped away from him and turned around.

I fought to regain my composure and catch my breath as he had yet to even lose his. He smiled at me then, stirring my stomach up and sending little chills up my spine. Fuck, he was enjoying this.

“Now, that’s better.” He smirked.

“Come on.” I welcomed him and readied my stance. The smile he had on was even bigger than before. I only glared in response, knowing one of us was seriously going to be hurting by the end of the day.

In two long strides, he came at me, charging in with a sidekick. I shuffled to the side, barely making it out of the way before twisting my body and turning into a reverse hook kick. He dodged it, leaning to the side before sweeping my standing leg out from under me as I completed my kick. I fell to the ground on my back hard, making me groan aloud, the rekindled pain flaring up and causing me to wince.

When I looked up, the owner was leaning over me with his hands on his knees.

“Don’t tell me you’re done already,” he mocked again.

Motherfucker…

Like a whip, I kicked at his face, but he veered away before I kipped up and landed on my two feet, hands at the ready. Amusement covered his face as I went for a roundhouse kick to his knee, which he blocked, returning the favor with a quick elbow to the side of my head. I blocked that, which took every ounce of force I had as I then countered with a reverse punch to his gut but missed completely.

Blocks and counterattacks were exchanged over and over again, each move more straining than the last. But I could tell when someone was pulling their punches, and as insulting as it was, I hoped it would be his downfall.

We finally paused, my breathing coming in and out in heavy gusts, him watching me like a lion ready for the kill. He kept himself moving, slowly beginning to circle me, but my hands and eyes followed his every move.

“Are you having as much fun as you thought?” I asked, taunting him.

“You have no idea,” he replied. “I’m glad you haven’t worn yourself out just yet.”

I glared at him as he continued to circle me, his eyes capturing mine as my body turned with his.

“You’re holding back.” I pointed at him as I tried to calm my breathing. “Why?”

---