In Too Deep

Thirty One

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Her back hit the mat with enough force that knocked the air from her lungs. Nova blinked up into the ceiling, trying to catch her breath while she heard the bellowed laughter of Vicious from behind.

Weez, the man Vicious brought her to came into her view and looked down at her, hands on his waist, and arched a brow. "I didn't hit you that hard, and you went down so fast. That's embarrassing."

Vicious laughed harder at Weez's comment, urging Nova's desire to throttle both men. Compared to her, Weez was thrice bigger. He couldn't expect her not to go down so easily. She was tiny! He was huge! What part about that was so hard to understand?

She grabbed the hand he extended to her, yanking her up to her feet. Around them, the gym wasn't alive with noise and activity like she had expected. There was no one else except the three of them. The gym was closed for today, so she could be taught how to fight by the gym owner, but it felt more like she was getting her ass beat up while the guy she was screwing around with laugh at her expense.

Wiping the sweat away from her forehead, she turned around to face Vicious, who was lounging on a chair with one leg resting on the armrest and the other on the ground as he ate from his bags of chips, which emitted a crunchy sound every time he took a bite.

"I just don't understand why you can't be the one to teach me how to fight," she growled because this was unfair. If he expected her to learn anything, he should have sent someone her own size, or twice her size, and not someone who could break her arm in one go.

He shook his head and grinned. "Because it's fun to watch, and you can't find anyone better than Weez. You're welcome, doll. Maybe try paying attention and stop zoning out in the middle of the fight, and you won't get your ass kicked."

She flipped him off despite being right. Her thoughts were still stuck on what happened yesterday, and the fact that the FBI had interrogated her, and how close her life came to being ruined.

Nova never thought she would find herself in an interrogation room. It had been scary, but she was glad Ben hadn't been there because he would have seen how livid she was. Bastard. He was such a coward. The least he could have done was show up and interrogate her himself, not send his colleagues. And to think she almost considered going out with him. But he had to know right now the chances of that happening were zero.

"You have zoned out again, Nova."

"Sorry," she muttered to Weez, turning around to face him. "It won't happen again. I'll try to be here."

He moved with lightning speed, hitting her first on one knee, then her shoulder with slaps that had her groaning out. "Do you think your attacker is going to wait until you've finished zoning out and then alert you that he's coming for you?"

Nova crouched down to breathe. She could hear Vicious munching on his chips, and she wanted to punch him in the face so he would feel the pain her body was feeling right now. Weez crouched as well, his dark eyes watchful and amused.

"Doing good there?"

She gave him a thumbs up and rise, assuming her position. She paced around him before going in to hit his shoulder, but he twisted around and rammed her back. Nova went down on her knees.

"Come on, Nova. You're doing great!" Vicious yelled with an encouraging cheer that sounded more like he was trying to hold back another laughter, and not boost up her courage. She blew a strand out of her hair and glared at him. "Don't look at me like that, baby, I ain't the one knocking you down to your knees. Although I do like you in that position."