Chapter 29
I regret agreeing to this almost immediately.
"Relax," Liam says for the fifth time in ten minutes.
"I am relaxed."
"You look like you're about to fight for your life."
"I thought that was the point."
Liam laughs.
We're in one of the training rooms on base after Mason somehow arranged for us to use it for the afternoon.
The place is intimidating.
Black mats.
Mirrored walls.
The occasional soldier walking past outside.
I already feel out of place.
Ava is asleep against Mason's chest in a carrier while he leans against the wall nearby, watching us quietly.
And somehow that makes this easier.
Every time anxiety starts climbing into my chest, I glance at him and feel steadier again.
Like my brain already associates him with safety automatically.
Liam claps his hands together once.
"Alright," he says. "Rule number one. You are not trying to win a fight."
I focus on him.
"You are trying to get away safely. Fast. That's it."
That actually helps.
It makes the whole thing feel less terrifying somehow.
We start simple.
Breaking wrist holds.
Escaping grabs.
Balance.
Nothing flashy.
Just practical movements repeated over and over until they stop feeling unfamiliar.
"Again," Liam says.
I twist properly this time and break the hold cleanly.
His eyebrows lift.
"There you go."
A tiny flicker of pride sparks in my chest.
Across the room, Mason notices immediately.
I can tell by the subtle shift in his expression.
Warm.
Pleased.
The look hits embarrassingly hard.
Liam notices, too, because apparently nothing escapes him.
"Oh my God," he says dramatically. "He's got the proud boyfriend face."
Mason doesn't even look embarrassed.
"Shut up, Callahan."
"I'm serious. One more soft look and I'm charging admission."
Heat floods my cheeks instantly.
I turn away before Mason sees.
Unfortunately, that means I miss Liam grinning directly at him.
"Alright," Liam says after another practice round. "Next thing."
He demonstrates another hold from behind, showing how to break free by using leverage rather than strength.
I immediately tense.
Something about being grabbed unexpectedly twists unpleasantly in my stomach.
Liam notices instantly and backs off without making a big deal out of it.
"We can skip that one for now," he says easily.
Relief hits faster than I want it to.
Before I can answer, Mason pushes away from the wall.
"No," he says calmly.
Both of us look at him.
He walks over slowly, Ava still asleep against his chest.
"You should learn it."
My stomach tightens.
"I don't know if I can."
"You can."
His voice is steady.
Certain.
Not forcing.
Just believing it like it's already a fact.
That somehow makes me want to try.
Liam glances between us carefully.
"You sure?" he asks me, quieter this time.
I hesitate.
Then nod slowly.
"Okay."
Liam looks toward Mason.
"You wanna hold Sleeping Beauty there while I—"
"I'll do it."
The words leave Mason casually.
Like it's obvious.
Both Liam and I blink at him.
"You?" Liam asks.
Mason shrugs once.
"She trusts me."
The simple certainty in his voice makes something warm twist painfully in my chest.
Liam studies him for a second.
Then grins slowly.
"Oh, this is gonna be interesting."
Mason ignores him completely and looks at me instead.
His voice softens slightly.
"Come here."
My heart does something deeply inconvenient.
I step toward him slowly.
Ava sleeps peacefully against his chest, completely unaware that my nervous system is currently imploding.
Mason adjusts the baby carrier slightly before speaking.
"I'm gonna grab your wrists first," he says calmly. "You tell me if you want me to stop."
The immediate check-in settles something anxious inside me.
I nod once.
"Okay."
His hands close around my wrists carefully.
Firm.
Controlled.
But gentle.
Not trapping.
Not hurting.
Just there.
"Good," he says quietly. "Now remember what Callahan showed you."
I try the movement automatically.
Wrong.
Mason doesn't laugh.
Doesn't make me feel stupid.
He steps closer behind me, slightly, lowering his voice near my ear.
"Use your hips more. Don't fight the strength directly."
The closeness completely destroys my concentration.
I can feel his warmth behind me.
The steady rise and fall of Ava sleeping against his chest between us.
God.
"You stopped thinking," Mason murmurs.
Heat floods my face.
Liam bursts out laughing from across the mat.
"Oh, she's hopeless."
"Shut up," I mutter.
Mason's mouth twitches slightly.
Then his grip adjusts again.
"Try again, sweetheart."
The nickname hits like a physical thing.
My stomach flips violently.
I twist properly this time.
And suddenly break free cleanly.
I blink in surprise.
Liam points dramatically.
"There it is!"
Mason looks genuinely pleased.
"Good girl."
Every single thought leaves my brain immediately.
Liam makes the loudest offended sound I've ever heard.
"Oh, that's insane. You can't say shit like that while I'm standing here."
I think I might actually be dying.
Mason looks entirely unbothered by my sudden inability to function.
His eyes stay on mine.
Warm.
Focused.
Dangerously amused.
"Again," he says calmly.
And somehow that single word feels like a challenge for far more than self-defense practice.