When I walk into the kitchen, I get the biggest glass of water and drink it quickly before refilling it and sipping it. Thirst temporarily stated, I grabbed my phone and see I have a new message from an unknown number just saying, “Encrypt”.
It’s Trent or Bryan.
“What’s up?” I ask Trent once I get online.
“Couldn’t at least put a shirt on and cover up? My delicate sensibilities are offended.” Trent crosses his arms over his chest and leans back. I was probably a sight to see, Talia’s fingernails had made a trail of pleasure all over my back and her teeth had made marks all over my front. I didn’t mind a little pain with my pleasure, and as it turns out, shereallyliked marking me up.
“Oh, don’t be a jealous lad. It’s not becoming.” I smirked.
“Enjoying the married life, I see?”
“So, so much.”
“That’s good, and I’m very sorry I have to ruin it.” Trent ran his fingers through his red hair. “They set a date for the fundraiser.”
I suck in air, holding my breath for a moment before letting the breath go.
“When?”
“This weekend.” He said sadly. He knew what this meant, what was going to happen and how very likely it was that my sweet new wife could be taken from me.
“Fuck.” I run a hand through my hair, pulling that the loose strands. My mind is overwhelmed with all this means. The plans that we had now have to be put into motion. Talia nowhasto get better at fighting, at learning how to defend herself for infiltrating this fucking fundraiser like she wants. Like Kellan approved.
And when the Skipper says something is going to happen, it’s going to happen.
“I guess I better get make the next few days count then. She’s got to learn how to disarm with a knife, block a blow and at least how to fire a gun. We don’t have the time to teach her how to full out fist fight anymore.” I sigh. She’s going to be frustrated at that, annoyed too. A door hinge opens and I know she’s up.
“I gotta go. Thanks man, let me know exactly when we need to be there and I’ll…take care of the rest.”
“Of course.” Trent says and signs off.
Her soft footsteps pad into the room and I feel her body fall against mine on the couch.
“You didn’t come back.” She says with a yawn, obviously still sleepy and pulled from our warm bed before she wanted to be.
“Trent called.” I lean my head against hers.
“Oh?”
“It’s really time to get to work now.” I tell her.
“Okay,” My strong girl takes a deep breath and pushes her hair out of her face, taking on the look of a warrior. Determined, settled and ready to go. “What’s first?”
* * *
“Again.” I say sharply, my arms folded over my chest as I pace back and forth a few steps behind her chair. I decided to start with gun training, seeing as she’s already been taught how to throw a halfway decent punch.
I’d showed her how to load and unload a gun, put the safety on and off, and was making her do it over and over to build muscle memory.
Talia presses the button and slips the clip out of the gun, pulling the bullets out quickly with her thumb before sliding them back in as quickly as she could and slamming the clip back into the butt of the gun and sliding the top to bring the bullet into the chamber.
“Done.” She said, flicking the safety on and setting the gun down on the table. Rationally, I know she can do this, but she doesn’t have the muscle memory that is required in a high-stress situation when her mind is on something else, like figuring out how to get away from someone.
“Okay,” I take a deep breath and pick the gun and tuck it in the waistband of my pants. “Now, come take it from me.”
Her eyebrow lifts up with a small tick and she bit her lower lip as she looked at me, then looked down to my waistband.
“Not like that.” I smirk at her, “Naughty girl.” She laughs, but lunges for the gun anyway.
