An Act of Obsession (Acts of Honor Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

face level with mine. His eyes widen as he takes a visible gulp.
    “You know what happens to mouthy little kids who don’t know when to keep quiet?”
    He shakes his head.
    “They get their little asses kicked.”
    He gives me a shaky smile, his head tilting to the side as he pats my shoulder. “Hey, come on now. Where’s that sense of humor, huh?”
    “I don’t have one.”
    “Well, with all that money you have you should buy yourself one.”
    Everyone laughs again, Sarge being the loudest of all. “That was a good one, kid.” He wheezes between breaths. “Stupid, but funny.”
    Benny continues to smile, as if his humor will get him out of this.
    “Let me tell you something. Your body can take blow after blow, you can get knocked down time and time again, but as long as your heart is still beating, you’ve survived. It isn’t until they’ve broken your mind and killed your spirit that you’ve lost. Take it from me, kid, the blow to your chest hurts a hell of a lot more than any fist that will knock you on your ass.”
    He stares back at me, his smile long since vanished. I look at all the other kids to see matching expressions on their faces.
    “There are different fights and challenges you’ll go through in your life that will knock you down. Only a warrior gets back up and keeps fighting, in and out of the ring.” I bring my attention back to Benny, who I still have dangling in front of me. “You got me?”
    He nods.
    I place him back onto his feet. “Good. Now go give me fifty push-ups and next time watch your mouth.”
    “Aw man!”
    As he follows the order, I address the class again. “Let’s talk about what I just said. Something you all need to remember if you want to survive in this sometimes screwed-up world. Your mind and heart are the most powerful tools you possess. Use them wisely. If you can get out of an altercation without using your fists, then that’s what you do. Pick and choose your battles.”
    “What if you have no choice?” Jacob Morris asks, the black eye he sports proving he wasn’t given one.
    “Then you do what you need to do to survive and you don’t stop until you’re the one that’s walking away. But only if it’s your last option.”
    He nods.
    “All right. Pair up and let’s start.”
    While everyone grabs a partner, I spot Cooper walking out of the office from his talk with Jaxson.
    “Hey, Coop, wait up a sec, will ya?” I glance over at Sarge. “Can you take over for a moment?”
    “Yeah, I got it.”
    “Thanks.” Jumping down from the ring, I head over to where Cooper waits by the door.
    “Slade,” he greets me, extending his hand.
    “Hey.” I accept the gesture. “I’ve been meaning to call and ask you about that girl you sent here.”
    The one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
    “Girl?” He frowns.
    “Yeah. Lia.”
    His eyes widen in surprise. “Lia’s been here?”
    Now it’s my turn to be confused. “You didn’t send her?”
    “I told her about the self-defense class happening this weekend, but I didn’t think she would come before then.”
    “She came in here Monday night and asked about getting private lessons. I’ve been working with her after hours.”
    “Really?” he says, still in shock.
    I nod.
    “Honestly, I didn’t think she would come, but I’m glad she did.”
    “What’s her story?” I ask, cutting right to the chase.
    It’s clear he knows what I’m asking but he feigns ignorance. “What do you mean?”
    “You know what I mean. She’s jumpy as hell and seems terrified of everything.”
    “Have you asked her?”
    “No.”
    I’ve been making sure to keep our lessons focused strictly on self-defense. Something about that girl messes with me, and makes me feel shit that I shouldn’t be feeling, especially with her. But I’ve been dying to know what the hell her story is. What has made her so scared? She raises every protective instinct I have and whoever put that fear in her, I want to fucking