Chapter 2
~ Present Day
Jace ducked low,blocked his face with his gloved fist, and stepped in for a hard left hook. He moved back, eyes fixed on the heavy boxing bag, and came in for another round.
Jab hit cross.
Jab hit cross.
Jab block hook.
He bounced on the balls of his feet, knees soft, breaths fast, fists ready for another round. A quick glance at the mirror showed that Logan was pulling off his gloves.
“Done already?” Jace asked through a grunt.
Jab hit cross.
Jab hit cross.
“You’ve got a meeting tonight with Sutton, don’t you?” Logan asked.
Jace stopped mid-jab, straightening in alarm. “What time is it?”
Logan shot a glance at the wall clock. “Nine-thirty. Your appointment’s at ten, right?”
Jace cursed under his breath. “We better hit the showers.” He tugged his gloves off and motioned to the locker room. Luckily, the facility was on Sutton’s California estate, but it would still take a short drive to get to the mansion itself.
Regular people met for 10:00 meetings all the time, but those appointments usually took place in the a.m. Sutton, on the other hand, AKABatmanamong retired Navy SEALs, kept a rulebook all his own. After working with the guy for several months, Jace had learned to stop being surprised. The vigilante protection work was right up Jace’s alley, and it came with enough pay and perks to make it worth his while and then some. Even if he did have—as Mindy so elegantly pointed out in her Dear John letter during his service overseas—a taste for danger, Jace was still kicking, and that was all that mattered.
With thoughts of his next appointment on his brain, Jace rushed through his shower, stuffed his workout clothes into his bag, and met up with Logan once more as he exited the locker room. “Is your woman going to want to mount my head on the wall for giving you that shiner?” Jace asked with a grin. A fresh breeze picked up, thick with salty air as they pushed open the double doors.
Logan shook his head. “Tsk, if youhada woman, I’d be asking the same thing.”
Jace chuckled before turning his face toward the ocean and pulling in a deep breath. Twilight had given way to a full moon, its silver glow dancing on the gentle waves to the constant, lapping hush.
“Good luck at the bat cave, Scorpion,” Logan said.
“And good luck toyouwith those aching arms, Iron Man. You were really straining tonight.”
“Mine won’t be sore at all,” Logan said as he strode toward his SUV. “But I’ll call over to headquarters and tell Agatha you’ll be in need of a heat and ice regimen while you meet with Sutton. I guessshe’llhave to play the role of your woman for now.”
Jace shook his head. “Don’t you dare, dirt face.”
Logan only laughed as he climbed in and roared up the engine.
Jace sank into his new Audi Sports Coupe, a luxury he justified after accepting the job with Sutton. Sure, one of the perks included a souped-up SUV identical to Logan’s, complete with bulletproof glass and all, but that was for work. Sometimes, Jace mused as he revved his way onto the windy, private road, a man had to play.
With the top down, Jace cranked up the song, Kryptonite, singing along as the rapid wind mussed his hair. He zoomed by the property’s guest pool, not to be confused with the master pool, and pulled into the parking area behind the home at 9:58. Two minutes to spare.
Agatha cracked open the door before Jace could knock. With a wry grin, the self-proclaimedcheeky womanpulled an icepack from behind her back and offered it to him.
Jace shook his head. “I’m going to kill Logan.”
“I figured the young chap was up to something,” Agatha quipped, her English accent in full force. “That’s how the two of you seem to operate.” She glanced at the icepack in question. “Want me to put it back now?”
Jace nodded. “Yeah, but keep it handy for Iron Man after I give him a good slug.”
“Righto,” she said with a laugh. “Come on in. Sutton will meet you in his office.”
