Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

know what came up.” He said and the man next to him laughed.
    “ If it’s all the same to you I would like to pass the same certification the rest of the class did.” She ignored the obnoxious man telling herself it wasn’t personal. His name was Charlie and he was built like a tank. He looked like he spent every spare second in the gym. She knew size wasn’t the only thing that mattered but apparently he thought it was.
    “ Don’t worry we’re all sure you can handle yourself in close quarters.” He said, and again the nearby men laughed. Her traitorous temper undermined her control and she rounded on him.
    “ I got fifty bucks says I can take you down.” The other men in the room broke out in a series of oos and taunts.
    “ My money is on the girl.” Colby called which opened the floodgates for the others to place their wagers.
    “ How ‘bout it big boy?” she taunted, “You wanna put your money where your mouth is?”
    “ Anything goes?”
    “ Sure why not.” She agreed.
    “ I can’t put the family jewels in jeopardy. I got plans for them later.” The other men laughed and one of them called,
    “ Yeah you and Rosie Palm.” Eliciting more laughter.
    “ I promise no low blows.”
    “ Alright you’re on.”
    They relocated to the gym so that they could use the ring. Charlie took his shirt off and postured, flexing and posing amid the boos and hisses of the spectators. Lou changed into her work out clothes and stretched out before climbing in the ring.
    “ There’s no time to stretch in a street fight.” Charlie called from the ring.
    “ Low blows are permissible in a street fight too.” She called back and he laughed. When she finally got in the ring with him it was significantly different than it had been with Jace. For one they weren’t wearing any safety gear and for another he seemed to think this was a big joke. As before she bounced around on the balls of her feet. This almost felt familiar to her. She had hustled more than one over confident man this same way. When her first kick connected with the side of his head he finally seemed to take her seriously. She danced away from him. Causing any blows to glance off and most importantly not letting him get a hold of her. She landed a couple of bruising blows of her own waiting for him to make the move she knew he would. Finally he did, he lunged at her trying to get his arms around her. She spun out of his grasp and jumped onto his back. She wrapped her legs around his chest locking her ankles. At the same time she put her arm around his throat in a sleeper hold. No matter how he twisted and turned he couldn’t get a hold of her or dislodge her. Eventually the lack of oxygen caused him to fall. She released him and hoped back to her feet. The room had fallen silent for a moment until Colby cheered. Then everyone seemed to unfreeze and Charlie came to.
    “ You couldn’t just take my word for it?” Everyone fell silent again when they realized it was Jace who’d spoken. Lou waited to see if he was going to be angry but he just shook his head. “The next time you decide to spar on company property, everyone better have their safety gear on. Oh and sports betting is illegal in California.” He called over his shoulder before he left. Charlie sat up shaking the cobwebs from his head.
    “ Good news boys, the family jewels are still intact!” He said. The room broke out in raucous laughter and Charlie met her eyes and smiled. She knew she had earned the respect of at least one man in the room.
     
    “My new secretary is a man!”
    “ I thought you said the term was administrative assistant.”
    “ Fine my new administrative assistant is a man.”
    “ Why are you whispering? Doesn’t he know he’s a man?” Jace rolled his eyes even though he knew Ethan couldn’t see him through the phone.
    “ Would you be serious for a minute? Norma did this on purpose just to punish me. What the hell am I supposed to do with a male