Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) Read online

  “Alright.”

  “Where did you train?”

  “Pass.”

  “Who trained you?”

  “Pass.”

  “Why did you stop, clearly you’re still good.”

  “Pass.”

  “Oh come on, you gotta give me something!” He groaned and she smiled.

  “Fine I was trained by my father. He has a gym in LA. I never officially competed but I managed to hussle a lot of money.” She smiled as she said the last and he grinned.

  “I bet, little bitty thing like you. Bet there were plenty who bet against you.”

  “Even you?”

  “Nah I happen to know firsthand how much damage a little bit C4 can do.” She laughed at that. Actually laughed out loud. It felt good, rusty but good.

  “I am more like Nitroglycerin, highly unstable, likely to go off at any moment.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. So was your father a boxer?”

  “Yes.” He waited but she didn’t elaborate.

  “Well…?”

  “Well what?”

  “Who is it?” She sighed and rolled her eyes.

  “Emilio Silva.” His eyebrows shot up and she knew he recognized the name.

  “He was the super middleweight world champion.”

  “Yes he was. He defended his title three times before damage to his retina caused him to retire.” Jace whistled low.

  “I guess you come by your talent naturally. So he opened a gym when he retired?”

  “Yes, he wanted to train inner-city kids like he once was.”

  “That’s admirable.”

  “If you say so.”

  “You disagree?”

  “What I think doesn’t matter.”

  “It does to me.” She looked at him for a long moment. She didn’t like talking about her father, it was always painful, but then it had been a day of purification by pain.

  “I think he is a cold bastard. He wouldn’t officially train me because I am a woman. So I learned everything I could by watching. I trained twice as hard as the men but it didn’t matter.”

  “Is that why you don’t use his name?”

  “No.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Santiago was my mother’s name, they were never married. I was four years old when she died and the state tracked him down to take me. He didn’t even know I existed. Probably didn’t even remember her name.” Lou could hear the bitterness in her voice but she couldn’t stop the flow of words pouring from her mouth. “It was Ellen. My name is Louellen. He’s always called me Lou. Never once said my full name.” Her eyes filled with tears and it pissed her off. “God I sound like a fucking after-school special.” She growled. “I gotta go.” She walked out of the gym and he made no move to stop her.

  Chapter 5

  Lou was ready for personal protection training first thing in the morning. She had a new determination to get through it. To be the best student they ever had go through it. The prospect of being in close contact with the men in the class wasn’t enough to deter her. Not after she had completely humiliated herself in front of the man who had recommended her in the first place. She was sure he had to be rethinking that decision now but she wasn’t going to give him a chance to change his mind. She hadn’t wanted this particular job in the first place but now she was going to latch onto the opportunity. The extra money would help her achieve her other goals that much faster.

  As it turned out she didn’t have to worry about close combat training today. They were doing firearms proficiency. That was no problem for her. She was on very intimate terms with her handgun. She wouldn’t even shower without it. She breezed through both the firing range and the tactical drills.

  “Are we training to be bodyguards or S.W.A.T.?” She asked Colby when they had a break.

  “Got me, I was just wondering who we were going to be guarding that we had to defend with this much firepower. I gotta tell you I am not willing to take a bullet for anyone. The money is good but it ain’t that good.” Lou laughed at that. Again it felt odd but it was better. As if laughing at Jace had broke loose something frozen in her chest.

  Their instructor’s name was Tom McCall. He had instructed them all to call him Mac on the first day. He was another former military man only he didn’t look it. He had long hair pulled back into a pony tail similar to how she always kept hers. She even wondered if his might not be longer than hers. He had told them all he’d been a drill instructor for twenty years so now that he had retired he was letting his hair down.

  “Mac, something came up yesterday but I would like to make up my close combat training if I can.” She said when class was over for the day.

  “No need. Jace signed off on your certification.” Lou clenched her teeth not wanting to draw any attention but one of the men nearby snickered.

  “I bet I know what came up.” He said and the man next to him laughed.

  “If it’s all the same to you I would like to pass the same certification the rest of the class did.” She ignored the obnoxious man telling herself it wasn’t personal. His name was Charlie and he was built like a tank. He looked like he spent every spare second in the gym. She knew size wasn’t the only thing that mattered but apparently he thought it was.

  “Don’t worry we’re all sure you can handle yourself in close quarters.” He said, and again the nearby men laughed. Her traitorous temper undermined her control and she rounded on him.

  “I got fifty bucks says I can take you down.” The other men in the room broke out in a series of oos and taunts.

  “My money is on the girl.” Colby called which opened the floodgates for the others to place their wagers.

  “How ‘bout it big boy?” she taunted, “You wanna put your money where your mouth is?”

  “Anything goes?”

  “Sure why not.” She agreed.

  “I can’t put the family jewels in jeopardy. I got plans for them later.” The other men laughed and one of them called,

  “Yeah you and Rosie Palm.” Eliciting more laughter.

  “I promise no low blows.”

  “Alright you’re on.”

  They relocated to the gym so that they could use the ring. Charlie took his shirt off and postured, flexing and posing amid the boos and hisses of the spectators. Lou changed into her work out clothes and stretched out before climbing in the ring.

  “There’s no time to stretch in a street fight.” Charlie called from the ring.

  “Low blows are permissible in a street fight too.” She called back and he laughed. When she finally got in the ring with him it was significantly different than it had been with Jace. For one they weren’t wearing any safety gear and for another he seemed to think this was a big joke. As before she bounced around on the balls of her feet. This almost felt familiar to her. She had hustled more than one over confident man this same way. When her first kick connected with the side of his head he finally seemed to take her seriously. She danced away from him. Causing any blows to glance off and most importantly not letting him get a hold of her. She landed a couple of bruising blows of her own waiting for him to make the move she knew he would. Finally he did, he lunged at her trying to get his arms around her. She spun out of his grasp and jumped onto his back. She wrapped her legs around his chest locking her ankles. At the same time she put her arm around his throat in a sleeper hold. No matter how he twisted and turned he couldn’t get a hold of her or dislodge her. Eventually the lack of oxygen caused him to fall. She released him and hoped back to her feet. The room had fallen silent for a moment until Colby cheered. Then everyone seemed to unfreeze and Charlie came to.

  “You couldn’t just take my word for it?” Everyone fell silent again when they realized it was Jace who’d spoken. Lou waited to see if he was going to be angry but he just shook his head. “The next time you decide to spar on company property, everyone better have their safety gear on. Oh and sports betting is illegal in California.” He called over his shoulder before he left. Charlie sat up sh
aking the cobwebs from his head.

  “Good news boys, the family jewels are still intact!” He said. The room broke out in raucous laughter and Charlie met her eyes and smiled. She knew she had earned the respect of at least one man in the room.

  “My new secretary is a man!”

  “I thought you said the term was administrative assistant.”

  “Fine my new administrative assistant is a man.”

  “Why are you whispering? Doesn’t he know he’s a man?” Jace rolled his eyes even though he knew Ethan couldn’t see him through the phone.

  “Would you be serious for a minute? Norma did this on purpose just to punish me. What the hell am I supposed to do with a male admin?”

  “Jace relax, it’s the same as having a female assistant. He will answer your phone and schedule your meetings. It’s not a big deal. Quit being a sexist homophob.”

  “Oh my god do you think he’s gay?”

  “I don’t know. Again does it matter?”

  “Well it does if he hits on me!”

  “Jace,” He could hear the laughter and exasperation in Ethan’s voice. “Everyone knows you’re completely heterosexual. Besides all of your assistants make, to quote the handbook, unwanted sexual advances toward you.”

  “But this is different.”

  “Why?”

  “Well when a beautiful woman hits on you it’s… flattering.”

  “Isn’t it flattering to have a man hit on you?”

  “No.” Jace grumbled. Ethan burst out laughing and Jace hung up on him. He stared at the door. The possibility that Norma would hire a man hadn’t even occurred to him. His friend Adam had a male assistant he reminded himself. He drew a breath and pressed the button on the intercom on his desk and asked the man to come in.

  “Good morning, again.” He said rising from his desk and offering his hand to the other man. When he had come in and found the man at the desk outside his office the man had only managed to say that he was the new assistant and that his name was Seth Samuels. The young man had a fresh faced eager look about him and Jace figured he was a recent college graduate. He invited the man to tell him a bit about himself and Seth confirmed his suspicion. He had in fact just graduated with a degree in business. The job market being what it was he was simply looking for a way to get his foot in the door. He assured him that Norma had trained him and he was familiar with all the systems. By the time Seth left Jace felt a little better about his new assistant. Though he still had no clue whether or not he was gay.

  “You’re still dropping that left.”

  “I am not.” She didn’t stop, making him wonder if she’d been expecting him. He kind of liked the idea that she had. “You looking to spar again?” She asked.

  “You kidding? My ribs are still bruised, but as soon as they’re healed I’ll be looking for a rematch.”

  “You just name the time and place.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” He stepped up on the treadmill and began an easy jog.

  “Can I ask you something?” She stopped working the bag and grabbed a water bottle as she walked toward him.

  “Guess it wouldn’t quite be fair if I barraged you with a bunch of questions and you didn’t get to reciprocate.”

  “Did you sleep with your assistant?” He stumbled and nearly tripped on the treadmill. He hit the kill button and stepped off.

  “Wow you go right for the jugular don’t you?”

  “Sorry should I have warmed you up with something easier? What is your favorite color?”

  “Yellow.”

  “Great, so did you sleep with your assistant?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” She turned and walked back toward the bag squirting water in her mouth.

  “That’s it, just okay?”

  “Sure. You could’ve said it was none of my business. You could have lied but I kind of get the impression you don’t like lying. So I believe you.”

  He smiled, he had to appreciate her logic. “I don’t like lying, I don’t like being lied to. I think it is a sign of respect to speak the truth.”

  “I have to agree with that.” She looked into his dark eyes and wanted to whisper all the truths rolling through her mind, slowly. She gave herself a mental slap. What was the matter with her? She never had thoughts like this.

  “Just for the record. I have never slept with one of my assistants. Diane was a very disturbed individual. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize just how disturbed until I found her in my office naked as a jay bird.”

  “You’re kidding?” Lou gasped. “I didn’t think anyone ever did that in real life.”

  “Neither did I! Shocked the shit outta me!” He laughed and Lou busted up with him. For the first time since she couldn’t remember when.

  “So level with me, naked woman in your office, weren’t you a little tempted?”

  “Not even a little. It was a naked crazy woman. Do you know what happens if you sleep with a naked crazy woman?” She shook her head smiling. “Your rabbit gets cooked.”

  “Your rabbit?”

  “Fatal Attraction? Haven’t you seen it? Well you should rent it.”

  “Hmm I don’t think so.”

  “Okay fine, take my word for it. You don’t sleep with crazy women. If you do, you wind up with things glued to places they shouldn’t be.” Lou laughed at the mental image that created.

  “I will remember that if I ever get the urge to sleep with a crazy woman.”

  “You should. It’s good advice.” He chuckled. Suddenly her stomach growled loudly. She was mortified. His grin told her he had heard it.

  “You haven’t eaten yet.”

  “I ate.” She looked at the clock, “Ten or so hours ago.”

  “It’s been about that long for me too. Let’s go grab some food.” She looked as if she were about to refuse and he quickly added, “purely platonic, you being an employee and all. I won’t even offer to pay.”

  “Oh you can pay. We’ll talk about work and you can expense it.”

  “Fair enough.” He laughed. “Do you want to take a shower first?”

  “No, I don’t shower here. You’ll just have to deal with me in my work out clothes. There is a diner on the next block they have served me in my work out clothes plenty of times.”

  “Lead the way.”

  The night was cool and clear. They walked the short distance to Ruby’s Diner. Though it was a twenty four hour place it was mostly deserted. Lou chose the booth in the corner. The same one she always sat at so she could put her back to the wall. Jace sat across from her. A heavyset woman in jeans and a black shirt with a name tag that said Cheryl, showed up to take their order.

  “The usual?” She asked and Lou nodded. The waitress looked at Jace and he shrugged.

  “I’ll have her usual too.” The waitress took their menus and headed off to put in their orders.

  “Wow, I didn’t really see you as the salad type.”

  “Is that what I ordered?” He wrinkled his nose and she giggled.

  “How do you think I keep my girlish figure?”

  “I’ve seen how, by burning thousands of calories every day.”

  “So is that why you moved me into personal protection? Because you figured I was in shape enough?”

  “Partially.”

  “What’s the other part?” He smirked and she was suddenly on edge. He had done it for some personal reason. “Look if you think I am going to sleep with you out of some misguided appreciation…”

  “Whoa, slow down there sugar.” He put up his hands in surrender. “No need to jump right to the worst conclusion. I told you I don’t sleep with employees.” She managed to rein in her temper, barely. “I admit my reasons were selfish, well business minded selfish. Do you know how many times a week we get requests for female bodyguards? Now don’t get that sour look on your face, it’s not a fetish thing. We have a lot of young female clients. They want a body guard that can blend in at some swanky shop down town. Or at some A-lis
t party. The big guys that we have on payroll stand out for what they are. Don’t get me wrong, they are a great deterrent but not always what the client wants.”

  “Do you do permanent assignments?”

  “Sometimes. Not usually. You’ll probably end up with the visiting starlets. Probably have to go to a lot of parties.” He smiled and she rolled her eyes. “The company will give you an expense account for wardrobe of course. Our accountant is a real hard ass. I am sure you’ll give him a heart attack. For the men we only have to buy one tux and they are good for everything. Somehow I don’t think it will be the same for you.” He chuckled and she rolled her eyes.

  Jace grinned when the waitress placed cheeseburgers in front of each of them.

  “Salad huh?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.

  “Nah I am a red meat kind of girl.” She grabbed the ketchup bottle and doused the fries on her plate. She offered him the bottle but he shook his head.

  “Nope, that’s where you’ve lost me.” Not wanting to give him the opportunity to barrage her with questions again she turned the tables on him. She asked him where he’d grown up, North Carolina, she asked him about all the sisters he’d mentioned. He told her he was the baby and his four older sisters still treated him as such. He told her he had eight nieces and two nephews all still in North Carolina. She was of course suitably impressed. They sat there talking long after their plates had been cleared away. They split an ice cream sundae and still they sat there talking and laughing.

  Lou never wanted to go home but this time it wasn’t for the usual reasons. Eventually the subject rolled around where she didn’t want it.

  “How is it you’re single? You work in a male dominated field. You must have guys hitting on you all the time. You probably have to beat them off with a stick.” He meant it as a compliment she knew that but she felt that familiar sick sour feeling fill her stomach. She didn’t meet his eye.

  “I am good at deflection.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “What about you? I’m sure the naked woman in your office isn’t the only woman throwing herself at your feet.”