Page 78 of The Devil's Revelation
THIRTY-EIGHT
IZZY
Guess I’m not as rusty as I thought.
I land on my ass for what feels like the hundredth time and groan in pain. “Damn it,” I cry. I glare up at the woman standing over me. “I thought this was supposed to teach me self-defense, not beat me up so much that I can’t move.”
Syn laughs and helps me to my feet. “You did great on that last one. You actually took a bit longer to fall so that means you’re learning and getting faster. You’ll be an old hand at this soon.”
“At least she’s not making you run around in a bite suit for her hellhounds,” Sage adds, sitting in the grass a few feet away, looking smug and at ease.
“I save that for you,” Syn says blandly. “You know, when you piss me off.”
“I get the feeling that’s a constant occurrence,” I say as I stand and limp back to the spot she marked out for me. Damn, I’m going to be sore tomorrow. Between this and the bed aerobics with Torque, I’ll be lucky if I can move.
“I try to save that kind of punishment for when she really pisses me off,” Syn grins. “Alright, get back in your stance, and this time, don’t drop your hands.”
“Okay, but…”
I don’t have time to finish that sentence because she charges at me and I have only a few seconds to counter her and try to take her to the ground. She swiftly brings up her elbow, about to catch me in the throat, but I manage to just twist enough to block her and then it’s on.
I don’t know how long we fight, or where my sudden defense skills are coming from, but I don’t question it. I see Syn grin at me as she continues to grab and hit at me. At one point she grabs me by the hair and I screech. “Hey! What the hell?” I growl at her, pushing her away hard enough that she goes back a couple of steps.
“In a fight you need to expect people to get dirty,” she says seriously. “They’ll go after whatever they can get their hands on, and with women, hair is usually the one they can get quick and easy.”
I know she’s right, but now my head hurts and I have to resist the urge to stop and rub at the pain. Instead, I lash out to grab her by the hair, but she quickly ducks and trips me, sending me sprawling. She’s on me in seconds and before long we’re rolling in the dirt, until finally Syn gets the upper hand, pins me, and sits on my chest.
I’m gasping for air, and whine, “Is my turn done yet?”
Syn laughs. “That was fun. You put up a good fight once you got your feet and got out of your head.”
“So glad I could amuse you,” I retort sarcastically. “I have rocks digging into my ass while you’re sitting comfy.”
“You don’t have boobs like Sage so it’s not as comfy as it could be,” Syn snickers.
“I heard that, bitch,” Sage says loudly. I turn my head to look and see her recording us on her phone, grinning wickedly. “This is far too entertaining not to have it on record.”
“She’s going to show that to King and get him all hot and bothered,” Syn sneers.
“Only way he’ll get hot and bothered is if it’s you and I rolling around,” Sage retorts.
“Wanna see him be immediately turned off?” Syn cackles. “Let him see you and Rose roll around.”
Rose snorts. “I’m too old to be rolling around in the damn dirt. I’d rather just shoot someone.”
“I second that,” Sage agrees. “Both with a camera and an actual gun.”
Syn climbs off me and hops to her feet before reaching down and pulling me up. “You feel up to going one more round or do you want to take a break?”
I want so badly to take a break, but I should take advantage of the opportunity in front of me. “One more,” I say, brushing myself off.
Syn nods in approval. “Just think of me as the person you hate the most on the planet.”
As we move into a fighting stance, I try to figure out who I’m the most pissed at. This whole situation has been so crazy that I haven’t really had the time to get angry about it. I’ve been running on shock and adrenaline, but now I think about what this has all caused. What it’s cost me.
As Syn comes at me, I picture Serguey. I picture all the guys at the shop, hear their taunts and their mocking, and I let the anger fuel me.
You’re a woman. You’re useless around here except to get me coffee.
