Chapter 31
“Sambo was originally developed in the Soviet Union,” Indi told Drew, Dara, and Ari, taking a sip of her iced tea.
“The word ‘Sambo’ is actually a Russian acronym for the phrase ‘Samozashchita Bez Oruzhiyathat,’ which translates to ‘self-defense without weapons.’ Like Krav Maga, it’s a combination of multiple disciplines.
Unlike Krav, however—which, as you know, was developed in Israel—Sambo is recognized as a specific style of wrestling and a combat sport.
Krav is more geared toward using very aggressive techniques and can involve weaponry. ”
Chuckling, Drew sipped her own iced tea. “I have a feeling Casey and Sabine just might kill us for having this kind of discussion without them.”
“And Kelly?” Ari shuddered. “Jesus, she’ll knock the shit out of us.”
The Infinity operative laughed. “In this day and age of online chat, they won’t be missing much,” she said in her quiet way.
“It will probably take some coordinating of schedules, but we can always find a way to talk, catch up, and discuss things like this. I’m an idiot when it comes to figuring out chat, but Brielle—and I’m sure Trill or Teagan—can make sure we’re connected. ”
That night at Seashells, the APS and Infinity associates were enjoying a relaxing evening together before the Infinity operatives left the next morning to drive back to Tallahassee.
True to their word, Indi and Drew were at a corner table with a few of Drew’s team, Indi loftily telling Shaelyn and Dani this was the “singles safety area,” as Drew gave her a high five, while the rest of the associates snorted and flipped them off.
Now, Dara asked Indi if she could tell them more about Sambo.
“Absolutely. Krav Maga, for example, is considered a lot more unique than other forms of martial arts, as well as one of the deadliest ones out there. Primarily, it’s centered more around physical over-aggression.
Sambo—specifically Combat Sambo—emphasizes grappling and throwing techniques instead of aggression and quick, decisive strikes. ”
“Which is not to say Sambo still isn’t extremely effective,” called Dani from where she was sitting two tables away, smirking.
“I’ve seen Indi flatten an asshole using Sambo while wearing a bikini.
Amazing how dudes think small women who look like her are easy pickings.
” She tut-tutted while those around her burst out laughing.
“Combat Sambo is also known for its dirty tactics.” Indi’s lavender eyes twinkled as she shrugged at the grinning table.
“Anyhow, I’ve been studying Sambo for a long time,” she said, looping a golden curl around her ear.
“My instructor, Pavel Vasilev—who was born and raised in Kazan, the capital of the Volga Federal District and is now one of my best friends, as is his wife, Svetlana—was trained there. Pav emigrated to Florida in the late 1990s. Sambo has become more popular in recent years, and I, for one, am happy to see it gets the exposure it deserves, especially in North Florida.”
Brooke and Blake came over to their table and plopped down.
“I don’t want to hear shit about this being your ‘singles safety area’ either,” she informed Indi with mock disdain, a smirk lingering in the corner of her mouth.
“If I want to crash the party so I can spend more time with you before you go, then that’s what I’ll do.
Suck it up, bitch.” She leaned over and gave Indi a hug, which was readily returned.
“I seem to remember the last time you two were together, it didn’t work out so well,” coughed Blake, examining her fingernails with a grin.
“Shut up, Blake,” growled Brooke with an exasperated huff, smacking Blake in the arm while Indi asked, “Is she always this much of a smartass?”
“You don’t even know, sister. Seriously, you have no damn clue what any of us puts up with every day. It’s amazing she’s still breathing.”
Shaking her head as the rest of the table laughed, Drew asked Indi, “Did you grow up in Tallahassee?”
Indi nodded. “I did. Born and raised. Although I’ve traveled extensively within the United States.
My dad is a nut,” she chuckled. “He is a computer programmer and analyst who’s had his own consulting business for eons.
After his kid was grown and gone, he decided to do something about their empty nest syndrome because it was making my mom a little depressed.
So, he started taking one-year contracts in different cities around the United States.
San Antonio, Albuquerque, Denver, Phoenix, just to name a few.
They’d rent an apartment, he’d work, then the two of them would explore the area on the weekends.
“I always managed to fly out to where they were at least once or twice, so I got to see a lot more of America than most people typically do. Dad’s retired now, and it’s nice to have them home, although my father still gets itchy feet from time to time.
That’s where I get it since I’ll travel anywhere at the drop of a hat if Shae and Dani need me to.
” She looked quizzically at Drew. “What about you?”
“Whimsy-born and bred, not much different than you,” she told Indi.
“My parents are still here in the house I grew up in, although my little brother lives in Houston with his wife and their two kids now. Thankfully, they visit a couple of times every year, and Mom and Dad make a trip to Texas every three or four months.”
“You sound close.”
“We are. Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“Nope, just me. After Mom and Dad had me, they never wanted any more. They were perfectly happy with their brood of one. Of course, because my dad can be an utter lunatic, he constantly tells me any sane person would have stopped after I showed up.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes in mock exasperation as the table sniggered.
The night wore on, with everyone chatting and laughing, until Bryn called a halt to the festivities at about eleven.
“Four-thirty comes early, and Shae told me they want to hit the road about six,” she told everyone as they rose and prepared to go.
“We’ll meet outside in the morning to give Infinity their send-off before we get to work.
” After hugs and cheek kisses all around, the teams moved toward the entrance.
“Shaelyn, Dani, Indi, I’ve said it before, but thank you again for everything.
As sorry as we are to see you go, we also know there is a pile of people in North Florida who are missing you something fierce.
Take care, reach out anytime you need because you can be damn sure we’ll be doing the same.
APS and Infinity Security make one hell of a team, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both of us. ”
?ω?ω?ω?
“Hello, lover. I hear you’re looking for me.”
“My moonchild managed to join me at the witching hour, I see. No fear, baby?”
“Of you? Please. I’m not a threat to you, and you know it.
As a matter of fact, there is nothing about you or your—establishment, shall we say—that much worries me.
What I am currently involved in is far outside the realm of your interests, so you should find me quite boring.
If I find myself in Purgatory again, for any reason, it will be easy to ignore me, just as you have always done in the past. Now, why did you want to see me? ”
“Shall we play a game?”
“Ooh, how delicious. Is that why your handsome self lured me into a private room, so you can have your wicked way with me?”
“I’m not sure you will totally enjoy what The Shadow will do to you when I catch you, my moonchild.
But, for now, earning ten points in our game will be enough for you to escape me.
You will earn one point for every untrue statement I make, whereas I will earn one point for every true statement I make.
Whoever reaches ten points first is the winner. Agreed?”
“How will you know if I am being truthful or not?”
“Frankly, I won’t. However, you don’t strike me as the kind of woman who lies just for the sake of lying.”
“And if I win, you will no longer make it your business to find out what I am doing? I’ll be free of you? Although I suppose that means that if you win, you’ll expect me to come clean about everything I am currently doing.”
“Nothing so mundane. Yes, if you win, you no longer need to worry about The Shadow or her associates on any level. But if I win? I have your permission to hunt you and take you down. And when I catch you—and you had better believe I will—then you will accompany me to my lair, where you will tell me every single detail about what you are involved in. Because I highly doubt my establishment and I won’t take an interest in what you are tangled up in. ”
“You just gave me the shivers, lover.”
“I’ll ask again. Are we agreed?”
“I accept your terms.”
“Then let’s begin. First statement. Your interest lies in the illegal body brokering and trafficking racket currently taking place in the Tampa Bay area.”
“True.”
“Next statement. You weren’t particularly interested in the area body brokers until Rob Kilgore led you to them.”
“False. Perhaps Mr. Kilgore had his uses, but that wasn’t one of them as far as I was concerned. I had already been aware. That’s one point apiece.”
“The illegal body brokering business in west-central Florida is much larger than you knew.”
“False. There has never been any question of how large or how far the reach of some of those brokers is. The only surprise has been in the identity of the perpetrators. That’s two to one in my favor, lover. You really aren’t doing very well.”
“Your interest in the illegal body brokering and trafficking racket is recent, within the last year.”
“Hmmm…let’s call that one both true and false. We’re hovering around the year mark, but I was twitchy for several months prior to that, for reasons. Are you sure you would like to continue?”