Page 51 of Exacting Vengeance

“Lucky girl,” one of the other women whispered to her partner. “He doesn’t usually pair up with anyone. I’d partner with him any day.”

With his tall, strong build, Victoria had to admit…he was hot.

“As we discussed in previous classes,’ Kyle began, “none of you will ever overpower a man with strength alone. But with the proper technique, even the smallest woman can inflict serious injury to a large man. The key is in knowing where the vulnerable, soft spots are and knowing what to do to them. I’ll demonstrate on my lovely partner, Jack.”

Snickers filled the air as Jack sashayed over.

“Jack is about to be taken unaware by an assailant approaching from behind.” Jack turned his back while Kyle placed an arm around his neck. “This is one method by which attackers take control. At this point you have more options than you can imagine. The goal isn’t necessarily to render your attacker unconscious. It’s to inflict enough pain so he lets you go, giving you the chance to get away. The best time to inflict pain is immediately, when he’s not expecting you to fight back. Don’t lay down and hope he’ll let you go. He won’t. You have to react with overwhelming force and don’t stop until your assailant is on the ground or releases you. That is the most valuable tool I want you to learn here today. You do have the ability to fight back, and you can fight back. Now, Jack has many soft spots.”

Gina coughed. “Not really.”

This comment elicited several giggles, but most of the women remained silent, with stern countenances. Victoria surmised some of them were like her, victims of domestic violence or other kinds of attacks. Not feeling quite so self-conscious anymore, she began to relax and, with each passing minute, realized Kyle was a talented instructor. His voice was strong and clear, while his instructional points were explained simply and were easy to retain.

Jack mocked slamming his foot down on Kyle’s toes. The impact of his foot on the mat echoed loudly, making some of the women up front, including her, jump back a step.

“Stomping your attacker’s toes is one way to distract him enough so he loosens his grip.” Kyle repositioned his arm around Jack’s neck. “The second soft spot is my rib cage.” Using his elbow, Jack imitated a brutal blow to Kyle’s ribs, causing him to release his hold. “The next is a blow to a man’s most sensitive area, and one that I’m sure you ladies are all perfectly aware of. Now, be kind, Jack.” He feigned a forceful hit to Kyle’s groin.

Kyle described other vulnerable areas, including the eyes, the throat and many natural pressure points, such as the area just under the nose. He explained how a woman’s fingers, or even car keys or a pen can be used to jab and apply pressure to any of these areas, inflicting extreme pain.

Jack, Gina, and the other instructors went around the mats, assisting the women in simulated attacks.

“Your turn.” Kyle positioned himself behind her. Heat from his chest radiated straight through her clothes to her skin. Being pressed against all that warm muscle put her body at war with her brain and common sense. “Ready?”

Ready? Not a chance. Not with every square inch of her that he touched on red alert, burning, while he apparently felt nothing at the forced closeness. She blew out a nervous breath. Hitting someone wasn’t in her genetic makeup. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He slid his arm around her neck, tugging her against him and backing her bottom tightly against his thighs. When he tightened his grip around her neck, she stiffened, feeling completely helpless. She understood his intent was to simulate an attack, and that he wouldn’t actually hurt her, but her fears escalated out of control. Panicked, she froze and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Fight back,” Kyle said gruffly. “Remember the pressure points. Pick one, and go for it.” Still frozen, she couldn’t move. “Victoria, please. Do something,” he whispered in her ear. “Confront your fears. Don’t quit on me. Don’t quit on yourself.”

He readjusted his grip. “Lady, I’m going to steal your money and steal your car,” he hissed. “Are you going to let me do this to you, or are you going to fight back?”

She began trembling. “Please, don’t do this,” she said softly.

“He’s coming for you,” Kyle rasped low in her ear. “He’s going to find you. He’ll take away everything you’ve worked so hard for, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

Those last words seeped into her consciousness, reminding her how precious her new life was and how unwilling she was to relinquish it. She began struggling, twisting in Kyle’s arms but not enough to extricate herself. All the tactics she’d learned moments ago were a distant memory.

“Use what you learned,” he prodded. “Hurt me. Hurt me, or he’ll hurt you!”

She fisted her hand, pumping it upward, then down with as much force as she could gather and jabbed her elbow sharply into Kyle’s ribs. Instantly, he released her. She spun to see him massaging his side.

“Ouch,” he said, grinning. “You did it.”

Her chest heaved at the effort it took to escape her would-be assailant. Gradually, she perceived her triumph. The adrenaline charging through her system made her feel powerful.

Everyone else in the room clapped, making her face heat. But that triumphant feeling remained. Maybe it had been worth coming here after all.

“Are you okay?” she asked Kyle. This was a demo, and she really hadn’t meant to hit him so hard.

“I’m fine.” His smile broadened. “You did good. Don’t ever underestimate yourself.” He tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, sending a shiver of awareness skittering up her neck.

When their gazes met, she couldn’t stop the grin forming on her lips. He, of all people, understood how deeply meaningful this one little symbolic mock-triumph was to her. Funny, how he was the one person who knew. Funny…

And frightening.

As he launched into another demo, the triumphant feelings she’d experienced moments ago flip-flopped, and her stomach churned.

It was dangerous for him to know so much about her. She ought to stay away from him. If only everything he did and everything he said, would stop making her fall for him all over again. Maybe more so now.