Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,10

couldn’t identify quavered in her voice.

We waited for a few brief moments while the rest of our family got settled in the vehicles scattered around. Then the police escort, complete with sirens and lights, led us from the field of horrors.

As we merged back into traffic, I finally felt my belly unclench. My heart thawed. My soul reached for the sun and light of the living. Reaching across the console, I grabbed Ryker’s hand in mine. Hungry for his touch in the broad light of day.

“How are you feeling, babe?” Jessa asked.

I startled at the sound of her voice. Chuckled as I turned back to look at her. “You scared me.” I nodded. “I’m good, actually. Feel better than I have in a long time.”

Her gray eyes twinkled in the late evening sun. “Good. And I didn’t mean to scare you. What do we do now?”

I shrugged. “Go home. Try to have a normal night?”

Nik snorted. “I’m going to BJJ. I need to burn some energy.”

My brow furrowed. “BJJ? I’m assuming that’s not something sexual. Unless you’re a horrific speller.”

Her laugh was a bit strained. “Gods, no. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I’m a second degree black belt. I’m ready to kick some ass.”

I twisted around in my seat. Eyed the younger woman. I raised a brow. “You don’t look old enough to have studied anything that long. And certainly not Jiu Jitsu.”

Her smile was all teeth. “Surprise.”

I laughed. “Where do you practice?”

“Gym on Fourth and Grand.”

“Do they have a beginner’s class?” I asked. “Tali wants me to take Krav Maga, but that sounds…hard. At least with BJJ, I could amuse myself with the idea that I was learning BJs.”

Ryker growled. “Krav Maga it is.”

Everyone but Ryker laughed.

“I could stand to learn some moves,” Jessa said. “For someone terribly uncoordinated, which do you suggest, Nik?”

Nik sighed heavily. “It truly depends on what you’re wanting. Self defense classes can teach you a blend of Krav Maga, BJJ, and MMA styles. If you’re wanting to protect yourself in the easiest way possible, Krav Maga is the way to go. If you’re wanting the discipline, learning ways to expend the least amount of energy while getting into the dominant position, then BJJ is the route you want to go.” She smiled. “For getting yourself out of a jamb, take a structured self-defense class that gives you a little bit of everything. Get a taste for the different styles. If you decide you want to take it further than that, follow one particular discipline that suits your personality, training style, and time investment options.”

I eyed Nik. “Seriously. How old are you?”

The IT expert smiled. “How old do you think I am?”

“From your looks, very early twenties. Maybe even nineteen. From your skills and the words that keep coming from your mouth? Mid-forties,” I said with a nod.

She laughed. “I just turned twenty-five a couple months ago.”

I whistled long and low. “Damn, girl. Making life your bitch. Yes, queen.” I raised my hand.

She leaned forward, slapped it. “I make it call me Mistress Nik.”

We all laughed.

“No, really. I do,” she said with a straight face.

“Am I letting everyone off at the lofts?” Ryker asked after the laughter died.

I nodded as I turned back around. “I need to get my stuff.”

He smiled. “Damn right you do.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I honestly can’t remember where most of my life is at the moment,” Jessa said. “I feel like we’ve moved places so much that keeping track just wasn’t a top priority.”

I looked at her. “You can stay in my place if you want. I’m obviously staying with Ryker.” I jabbed my thumb in his direction. “So my place is free. You can use or wear anything that will fit you. Eat the food in my fridge.” I winced.

“What? I can’t eat the food in your fridge?” Jessa asked, a smirk on her face.

I shook my head. “I just remembered that Nik unplugged all of my appliances. The apartment is going to wreak to high heavens.” I could feel the bile backing up in my throat at the idea of soured milk and rotten eggs. Hell, everything that had been in the fridge was going to be stinking up my apartment.

“Ew. No. I’ll find somewhere else to stay,” Jessa said, a look of disgust on her pretty face.

Ryker chuckled. “Did the rest of the family unplug their appliances?” he asked as he looked pointedly in the rearview mirror.

Nico sighed. “Yeah. We did. When we upgraded the lofts, we followed Will’s lead