Exit Wounds

Chapter 6/19

Veronica grunted as the punch hit her hard in the stomach. Air was forced from her lungs and they burned as she gasped to refill them. She twisted around and slammed her gloved fist into the back of her opponent's padded head. They bounced away from each other and Veronica held her fists up, waiting for an attack. They were a floor up from her office. Veronica had used this floor as their personal gymnasium to keep herself and Eli in shape. It was filled with exercise equipment and she even had a shower installed. The room that she was currently in was the dojo. It was a large room with a mat covering most of it. Padding was secured along the two walls touching the mat-covered floor, making the walls a little softer. Today was Krav Maga day and she was getting her workout. Her loose tee shirt showed the sweat and little glimpses of her bra underneath. Her yoga pants were closer to leggings, clinging tightly to her legs, but they gave her full movement. She and her opponent were both barefoot.

"You're dropping your right shoulder too much, V." The older man said while watching her body closely. He was tall, Middle-Eastern and spoke in a soft accent. He had dark brown hair which was cut close to his head in the back, but it stuck up wildly a inch and a half on the top. He was wearing a tight tee shirt and camouflage cargo pants.

"I'm trying to psych you out, Zeke." Veronica laughed through her panting breath and adjusted her shoulder appropriately. She waited and attacked Zeke, punching and kicking. Zeke blocked the attacks, swinging his leg around behind Veronica and sweeping her legs out from under her. Veronica landed hard on the mat. "Jesus! You are fast." Veronica whimpered and rolled back. She stood and rubbed her bruised behind.

"You are improving, V." Zeke offered as he gave her room to stand. Veronica knew he wasn't trying to leave bruises but teach her how to fight, and more importantly, how to win.

"Maybe you are just getting old." Veronica smirked. She had liked Ezekiel Mizrahi since the moment she first met him three years ago. He knew what he was doing and could teach her without making her feel inferior. He taught her that her small stature could be an advantage in a fight as well as in an escape. During these training sessions, the two became friends. He had helped out on a couple cases over the years, but Veronica tried not to call him in if she didn't really need him. He was overkill most of the time.

"For that, I'm going to kick your ass for an extra ten minutes today." Zeke chuckled, shaking his head in a disapproving manner.

"And if I use those ten minutes to kick your ass?" Veronica got closer to him and started to attack. She was starting to feel cocky and had to mentally remind herself to pull that back. Zeke would see through it and use it as a lesson. She already learned it years ago.

Zeke defended himself. He tried another sweeping kick, but Veronica kicked at his leg and stopped it. She growled and continued her barrage of blows. Zeke stepped back off the mat. A whistle was blown.

"Nica gets the bragging rights for pushing you off the mat this week."

Veronica grinned wide. "Damn skippy, I do! Thanks, Gavi." She smiled to the younger of the two men. Gavi Mizrahi was closer to Veronica's age. His accent was even less than Zeke's, sounding more American than Israeli.

"Anytime, Nica." Gavi smiled sweetly. He was sitting against the wall with his legs out, a laptop on his lap. He was in a short sleeved dress shirt with a tee shirt underneath. He had on jeans that came down and mostly covered his sneakers. Gavi looked like a model with his lean body and handsome face. It was his dusty, blue eyes that people really noticed.

"I'm shocked you caught that, brother. You haven't looked up from the screen in twenty minutes." Zeke chuckled while he adjusted his gloves.

"Nica wants these financial reports sooner than later." Gavi shrugged. "Her wish is my command." Veronica knew there was little truth in that. She paid Gavi to work for her. Although, if he wanted to get paid, he granted her wishes.