“Before you continue to curse me—”
“Drive,” I told the driver, then lowered my voice. “I never expected you to be that clever, you know.”
She looked over at me confused and pleased. “You didn’t?”
I shook my head. “I have to admit, this is a new side of you. Part of me wishes I could’ve been present to hear what you had to say.”
She smiled. “See? I’m not completely useless.”
“Who said you were?”
“Where to, sir?” the driver asked.
I felt Bonnie staring up at me as I drew in a deep breath.
“Home. Thank you.”
As I sat there, trying to swallow down my anger, I felt torn between being impressed and being on guard. Because while her plan was successful, it was still sneaky. Knowing she could get out from underneath me so easily forced my guard to come up. It forced me to rethink some things. Then again, she was an impressive woman. Independent. Head-strong, with a thirst for life and an eye for good business tactics.
And it was something I found myself loving about her.
8
Israel
“Do you know how many times you could’ve been killed out there today?” I asked as the elevator came to a soft stop.
Bonnie stepped out of the cab as she sighed. “I know. But you said it yourself. I know what I’m doing.”
When had I ever said that? “I never said you knew what you were doing. I said what you did was impressive. There’s a difference.”
She tossed her things into the chair. “So, you don’t think I can take care of myself.”
“No, I don’t. Not against men like that. Not against men who were stalking you in that store.”
“You know they probably got that information from your phone, right?”
I looked over at her. “I’ve already addressed that issue. I did it in the car.”
She nodded. “The phone call you made.”
“It’s already being handled. In the meantime, you need to understand just how easy it could have been for a hitman to follow you the second you stepped out of this building.”
“Like the guys at the grocery store.”
“You didn’t notice them until I told you to, did you?”
“I would’ve noticed them…” She clicked her tongue and winced. “…eventually.”
I huffed a breath. “That’s cute. But I don’t think you would have.”
“Then, you obviously have no faith in me.”
“Right now, I still don’t think I can trust you. Screw having faith in you.”
“You might not realize it, Israel, but it hurts when you say that.”
I glared at her. “And it hurts whenever I convince myself that you can be trusted, only for you to go off and do shit like this under my nose.”
She swallowed hard. “To be honest, I didn’t think you were actively trying to trust me.”
Her words gave me pause. “Fair enough.”
“So, what now?”
I had no idea. “Do you really think you can defend yourself?”
She held her head high. “I know damn good and well I can.”
“Good. Because once I get my hands on you, you’ve got less than two minutes before I kill you.”
Her face fell. “Wait. What?”
I charged her, my hands at the ready. Her eyes widened as she backed up, already cornering herself. Already doing half of the work for me. “Israel! Stop!”
“You said you could defend yourself. Now, show me.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her away from the wall. She flailed around and twisted out of my grip, falling to the floor. But when she tried crawling away, I stepped onto her back, pinning her beneath my boot while she struggled.
“Damn it, Israel. I wasn’t ready!”
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.
9
Bonnie
I watched him charge me, and I moved out of the way. I spun around on my feet and ducked down before aiming for his legs. I took them out from beneath him, and he fell on top of me. When I felt his hands scramble for my ankles, I
