Logan (Chosen Champions #1) - Macy Blake Page 0,36

don’t we just go for the balls? I mean, I’ve always been told if some guy’s after me to knee him in the nuts.”

Logan nodded. “Yep, I’ve heard that a lot, but here’s the thing to remember. Six seconds isn’t very long. What if you miss? Or worse, what if it doesn’t work? You’ve wasted valuable time when you could be doing something else. I’m not saying to never go for the balls, because if that’s your option, use it without prejudice. Grab, twist, pull. But that’s not the first option I’d try.”

Heather nodded. “I get that. But I’d still want to knee him in the nads.”

Logan smirked at her feral grin. The woman was a force to be reckoned with, and if Logan had the opportunity to train with her more, she’d really be able to do some damage.

12

Bailey

A week passed without another attack.

When Monday morning came and Bailey realized they’d made it through the weekend, he couldn’t help his sigh of relief. He didn’t know why he’d gotten it into his head that the attacks would only be on the weekend. It made no sense when he thought about it, but it didn’t change his good mood.

Of course, the fact that they had another self-defense lesson with Logan didn’t hurt either. They’d met two other times the previous week, and Bailey’s confidence with the moves continued to improve. And he was more able to concentrate with Logan’s hands all over him.

Each of them had their moments of panic during the lessons, which Logan had explained was normal. It was such a strange feeling. He knew Logan wouldn’t hurt him, but when he’d been pinned on the ground with Logan between his legs and Logan’s hands around his throat… he’d freaked. Will’s moment had come when Coal had him by the throat against a wall.

Bailey had set his alarm for six so he had time to do some cooking before their lesson. He wanted to bring the team lunch as a thank-you. Logan wouldn’t let them pay for the lessons. He insisted that wasn’t his job, so he wouldn’t take payment for it.

Of course, as Bailey chopped onions, carrots, and celery, he realized he still had no clue what exactly Logan and his team did. They had some pretty wild theories going—everything from black-ops teams and mercenaries, to private security, to CIA agents. They’d covered all sorts of far-fetched ideas.

Bailey added the chicken he’d roasted the night before to the pot of veggies and covered it all with some homemade stock. It was the last of his stash, and he couldn’t think of a better use. Besides, it gave him an excuse to make more.

Once the soup was simmering away, Bailey got started on some bread. His kitchen wasn’t big enough for full-scale baking, but he had a recipe for Dutch oven bread that always came out great and was the perfect combo for his famous chicken noodle soup.

Bailey hoped Logan liked it.

He also couldn’t wait to tell Logan he’d been accepted into the master’s program, and the financial aid advisor was confident he’d get several scholarships. Then he found out his advisor had recommended him to a program where the school would fund his degree. He’d be doing some teacher-assistant work on the side, but Bailey didn’t mind that. With only a week left of his two-week break, Bailey had somehow managed to rearrange his entire life.

He stacked the dirty dishes in the sink and glanced out the window. The sun was just coming up, and it left the morning dim and a little foggy, but bright enough to start making out—

Bailey shrieked and dropped the mixing bowl in the soapy water, making a splash that soaked both him and the floor. He glanced down at the mess, his heart racing a thousand miles a second, then looked back up at… nothing. The shadowy figure he’d glimpsed at the edge of his yard wasn’t there.

It didn’t stop his heart from attempting to pound out of his chest, and when a cat flew out from between the trees and dashed across the driveway, Bailey nearly hyperventilated. He forced himself to look out the window again, just to prove to his overactive imagination that nothing was there, and sure enough, nothing was.

“God, you’re so freaked out right now,” Bailey grumbled to himself. He stared down at his wet clothes and sighed. “Cleanup on aisle me.”

It didn’t take very long to change clothes and mop up the mess, so by the