“You do your fucking job and don’t touch them unless they give you permission. And when given permission you use the methods you’re taught so you’re not disrespecting me. Your damn master. Do I make myself clear?” she snarls.
“Yes, Master Ny,” they say in unison.
“Well, shit. The anger is still fresh,” Jace murmurs.
“Marone. You’re still talking. Why?”
“Good,” Ny replies to the girls below. “Anyone has a problem with that. You come see me. If you can beat my ass, I’ll let you have at them.
“I won’t be your problem. I’ll be theirs. And trust me, neither of them wants those problems.”
Ny lifts her gaze and glares at us. “How did I get in the middle of this?” Jace asks, his accent slipping out.
“That’s our crazy woman. That’s how.”
Ny sighs like the madwoman she is. “But there’s not one of you in here who can whip my ass so let’s get to this training. Watch and learn.”
Music fills the training room, and my lips curl up into a smile. Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” blares through the speakers. I look at Jace and he nods. I start to take my cuff links off and place them in my pockets.
Turning, we head for the stairs that lead down to the main floor. I remove my watch and then work on the buttons of my dress shirt.
Nyla
I lock eyes with Essence’s little friend, Joann. She’s another one who thinks it’s wise to try me. I’m going to teach her right now, I’m nothing to play with.
I’ve got something for Essence too. I’m going to bring that bitch’s head back and hang it from one of these wooden staffs in the middle of this training gym when I find her.
It’s the disrespect for me. It’s not like they don’t know the rules. Essence has been trying me since day one.
The fact that Gio is protecting her is what has my blood on fire. Jace fucked up when he allowed the disrespect to happen. He should have blocked that cum rag from getting near Gio in the first place.
Joann steps up as if she can beat my ass. I wave her forward with a smile. “Oh, you really trying it, I see,” I say as she takes a staff from Kamiko. I twirl the one in my hand and take a stance.
The others around us are watching in silence. I’ve been pissed for weeks and not keeping it a secret. I’m glad Gio is here to see the problem he’s created.
I’m going to give them all a good show. It will be years before another one of them tries me. I move lightning fast as I attack.
Joann yelps as I crack her ass in the back with the staff. Her back bows, bringing a smile to my lips. She’s too slow.
She’s not thinking of anything I taught her. Too cocky for her own good. I move on tempo and attack again.
I spin around her and swing. She blocks the first hit, but I spin the staff behind my back and catch her with the second.
Something behind me grabs her attention. A quick glance tells me my entire class is looking at the same thing. I walk backward to reposition myself to see what has their attention.
I frown as soon as I see them. Gio and Jace are sauntering their big asses down the stairs, Jace is shirtless and Gio is still coming out of his dress shirt.
At twenty-six, there’s no mistaking they’re grown-ass men, no more transitioning from boys into men. I’m almost five-ten and they tower over me. Both stand at six-five and are fine as fuck. Gio is around two hundred and ten pounds and Jace has to be about two hundred and forty-five. All muscles and solid sexiness.
Gio gets to the bottom of the stairs and kicks off his dress shoes, then pulls off his socks. Jace comes out of his construction boots and rolls up the bottom of his jeans.
Ming hands them both staffs as Gio gestures for them. Joann has the nerve to attack as if I’m not aware of my surroundings. I crack her across her stomach, sending her backward.
She falls into Gio, who steadies her. She glares at me and charges at me again. I pop her in her ribs on each side and spin away.
Gio stands with the staff planted in front of him. “You’re not going to beat her like that,” he calls to Joann. “You’re ignoring the beat. Catch the rhythm.”
He starts to rock his hips on beat. I narrow my eyes at him. He slides a foot out and drags his toes across the floor in front of him as if drawing a line, then throws the staff out at his side, taking a stance.
“Come, like this,” he says to Joann.