Don't Say a Word

Sixteen

Her new routine was simple. She was kept in the apartment during the day allowed to workout and eat, but unable to do much more. She went on rounds throughout the city with Robert nightly. Honestly it was amazing to watch the man work. He had a network of people that worked for him and his phone rarely stopped ringing from when he got up until he began his rounds. Once he was working they only called for emergencies.

She watched how the Vampires controlled the city. The police department worked for them though she doubted they were aware of who was really controlling them. Politicians were bought out or simply mind controlled. Businesses too were controlled and manipulated one way or another. It was like the mob had taken over Tampa Bay area and it had been going on all this time without her knowing.

It took two weeks before Robert warmed up to her. Realizing that she wasn't just a tramp that Nicholas was playing with helped. He hadn't made any moves on her and she'd helped him a few times when he was out numbered which was great. He also began working with her to make her more combat ready so he didn't have to worry as much, not that he worried he would claim. She was also good at listening in when people thought she was simply part of the scenery, mere mortals unaware of the vampires in the room.

Today, as they were out on their rounds they stopped at a local gym, a boxing gym owned by a Brujah friend of Roberts. It wasn't anything big, a whole in the wall between a gas station and a music store. There was a shower/locker room in the back, a ring off to the side, boxing bags hanging in a row off to the other and weights between them. As Robert spoke with the owner Nicolette roamed around checking everything out.

"You waitin on your man? Don't get too close to the equipment, wouldn't want to break a nail." she heard from the corner and glanced around a bag. College kid, probably twenty was sitting on a chair, covered in sweat a towel draped over his shoulders. She smirked as she walked on. "Is that a new pickup line for you, or does it work on all the guys that work out here?" he laughed pushing up out of the chair.

"Girls got jokes" as he moved closer. Nic had found some tape and was taping her hands when he finally approached her. "You actually look like you know what you're doing, here let me help." He took the tape and finished taping her hands. She looked up at him as he wrapped her hands. Blonde hair, he kept it short probably to control the curls he had. Blue-green eyes and a crooked nose, typical for someone who liked to fight. "Lets see what you've got." nodding toward the speed bags.

She smirked and walked to the bag. "You want me to hit this?" she asked in a tone like she didn't know what to do with it. "Yeah, just real slow one hit at a time. You can do it, it's easy."  She raised her hands timidly hitting the bag at first, waiting for that laugh. He didn't disappoint her, a chuckle escaped him, so she picked up her pace. She was skilled on the bag, it had been a while since she'd been to an actual gym but it was easy to pick back up. She finished with a kick and stepped back hands on her hips. "Something like that?"

He was standing jaw lax staring at her. "Don't let the girl fool you,"she heard from behind. "She's got a few tricks up her sleeves." Nic grinned glancing back at Robert as he came out of the back office. She started to remove the tape. "No, leave it on." Robert placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"Tony wants to see what you can do." She glanced over his shoulder at Tony who was closing up shop. She quirked a brow at him. "Don't hold back." he whispered as he walked to the ring, hand on her bag guiding her. "You want gloves?" she shook her head. "I need my hands free for what I do."

He nodded and held a rope up for her. She removed her shoes, they just weren't right for what they were about to do and stepped up into the ring. When she turned back around there were more men around the ring. She glanced at Robert who was grinning. She frowned at him and began stretching. Tony approached the ring but it was the young man she had been talking to that entered the ring.