more or less gave her a really aggressive bear hug. But I’d surprised her.
“Pix!” Grandma said.
I’d knocked her off balance.
“I’m not sure this kind of behavior is called for.”
We tumbled to the ground and, yes, like a girl, I went for the hair. I grabbed handfuls with the intent of banging her head against the concrete floor beneath us. But I did not factor in the fact that she actually knew how to fight. She was all martial arsty-fartsy and I had been in only one fight my entire life, and that was with a girl my own size. Brooklyn. We got into a catfight in the third grade, and as much as I hated to admit it, she kicked my ass.
“Bill,” Grandma squeaked, “do something. This is quite uncalled for.”
I quickly realized I didn’t stand a chance. It hit me when she easily maneuvered over me and dragged an arm behind my back to hold me to the ground. But the one thing I had on my side was anger. Just because she’d wanted to be me her whole life and she would’ve loved to have the gifts I have didn’t give her the right to talk about what it was like to be me. Or, more important, talk about my parents and what they had done.
I knew that all too well. I was there.
“Bill, really!”
I scrambled out from under her and brought my legs around until I had her head in a scissors hold. She clawed at my arm, then at my legs when I’d locked her down and tried to slam her head into the cement again. Before I could manage it, I rose into the air. I felt an arm around my waist as I was lifted up and back against a solid chest.
“Okay, Rocky,” Jared said, the humor in his voice apparent.
But adrenaline was rushing through me at light speed. I swung my arms, trying to get another piece of her until he wrapped his other arm around mine. His mouth was at my ear then, warm and sensual when he whispered, “Do you want a spanking, young lady?”
I stilled instantly, the thought of the Angel of Death bending me over his knee causing a second wave of adrenaline, only in other areas.
Oh.
My.
God.
I was into BDSM.
He chuckled at my back.
“That was exciting!” Brooklyn said, her face flush with, well, excitement. “You were totally holding your own.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised and feeling an odd sense of pride as Jared lowered me to the floor.
“Totally! Unlike the time I kicked your butt. You were pretty pathetic that time.”
“Yeah, whatever. You sucker-punched me.”
“Dude, I told you I was going to hit you.”
“Yeah, but I thought you were just talking crap. I didn’t expect you to follow through.”
Kenya stood and brushed herself off. She turned to me, her chest swelling with something I hadn’t expected. Pride. “Better,” she said, a mischievous grin lighting her face. “Much, much better.”
I would never figure that girl out.
“Now that the MMA exhibition fight is over,” Mac said, one corner of his mouth twitching, “can we hear more about this new talent of yours?”
I looked around at everyone. My family. Members of the Order. My best friends on earth. Embarrassment rushed through me like a wildfire, scorching my insides. “Sorry,” I said.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Kenya stood again, her stance aggressive. “Don’t you dare run back to your hidey-hole.”
“What are you talking about, Kenya?” I asked, becoming frustrated.
“You got spunk, girlfriend.” She backhanded my arm in camaraderie. “Let it shine.”
“You don’t have to make fun of me.”
“No, I mean it. That girl that just showed up? The one who tried to kick my ass? That’s who you are. Deep down inside. And that’s who you need to be if we are going to do this. So, chin up, Balboa.”
NO PRESSURE
After things settled down, I explained exactly how I did what I did. Mac was worried about the possibility of an honest-to-goodness concussion, so Jared and Cameron brought out one of the cots we had set up in the archive room.
“She might have a concussion already,” Brooke said. “She hit hard. Either her head split or the floor. Not sure which.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not as hardheaded as you are. And by the feel of things, it was my head and not the floor.”
“Then you gave it a run for its money, I can tell you that much. Quite the combatant today,” she added with a soft laugh.
Grandma lowered the lights a little as Jared took