25. Josephine
Josephine
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Harper asks.
After Dante, Sebastian, Enzo, Luca, and I devised a plan for tomorrow night, I made it crystal clear I was not sitting at home and waiting like some damsel in distress.
It’s not who I am and they know it. I am more than capable of protecting myself, and if I felt like I was going to be a hindrance I wouldn’t do it.
And after some initial protesting from Dante, Sebastian, and Luca, Enzo helped me convince them. We came to the agreement that Sebastian and I would both come with. Sebastian would stay in the van and monitor from his computers, and if the situation gets too intense I will go back with him.
I also promised them I would prove how skilled I am at defending myself. Which Enzo has seen on more than one occasion.
Every time he comes with me to the gym I don’t miss the proud expression on his face as the two of us spar.
I’ve never beaten him, and he’ll never just let me win, but I’ve come damn close. Which is why I think he’s so confident in my going with them tomorrow night.
Dante and Luca spent a few hours with me in the gun range, which I didn’t even know they had in this building, and they were pleasantly surprised at how good my shot was after a few minor adjustments.
Now the five of us are at the boxing gym Enzo and I regularly attend with the entire Donovan-McDermott clan in tow. Enzo made sure to call ahead of time so the owners could close the place down. We figured it was better safe than sorry. Enzo made sure to pay him well for his time.
When I decided I was going to be showing them my moves this afternoon, I figured what better time to give Harper a lesson or two.
Because in this area, I know I won’t need any adjustments.
“You’re alright, Baby,” Ronan encourages her. “Joe knows what she’s doing.”
“You’ve got this. I promise you’re not going to hurt me.” I hold up my pad-covered hands.
“Okay,” she says hesitantly and gets in her stance.
“As hard as you can,” I remind her.
She takes a deep breath before perfectly executing the combination she’s been practicing for the last twenty minutes.
“That’s it, Mo Grá. Again,” Mac says.
Harper does it. Again, and again, and again. And she doesn’t stop until she’s out of breath.
Pulling the pad off my hand, I pat her on the back. “Atta girl. That was really good.”
“Yeah?” she asks panting.
Finn hands her a bottle of water. “Considering this was the first time you’ve ever done this, you killed it, Love.” He kisses her on the temple, sweat and all, and Harper beams with pride.
I wink at her before tossing the pads to Enz. “Wanna go?”
“Do I ever. Let’s show these goons just who they’re dating.”
As per usual, Enzo doesn’t spare me. We do combination after combination at lightning pace, forgoing the sparring for a different day.
Figured it’s best to save as much of my energy as possible.
And, much like Harper, by the time I’m done sweat is dripping down my body.
With my hands on my knees, I look over to where Dante, Luca, and Sebastian were standing. All of them eyes wide. “Told you she could handle herself,” Enzo says proudly.
“Yup.” Luca nods. “She’ll be fine.”
We all mill around for a bit while the guys fill in Ronan, Mac, and Finn. The three of them promised to be on standby tomorrow night should we need them.
“Hey,” Harper says as I throw my T-shirt back on over my sports bra. “Could we do this again?”
I smile widely at her. “Girl, we can do this whenever you want.”
“Really?” she asks excitedly.
“Really,” I assure her.
She looks over at the guys, then back at me, and says quietly, “I think you’re good for them.”
“Really?”
Harper nods. “Really.”
“You know, I genuinely can’t tell you the last time I had an actual friend.”
She bumps me with her hip. “Well, you’ve got one now. Who knows, before you know it we might be sisters-in-law.” I choke on my sip of water and she just laughs. “Easy there tiger.”
Dante’s concerned expression finds mine as I continue to cough. “You okay, Amore Mia?”
“Yup,” I choke out as my new friend continues to laugh. “So good.”