I offer a sweet smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "I'll be there in five. Don't keep me waiting."
As I turn to walk away, I hear Mateo mutter something in Spanish that, from the little I know of the language, sounds suspiciously like a prayer for Declan's soul. Good. Let them be off-balance for once. Let them wonder.
For the first time since waking up in that hospital bed in New York, gasping for breath, I feel a spark of my old self returning. The Jade who refuses to be a victim, who doesn't hide, who takes what life throws at her and throws it right back.
If Declan Reid thinks he's going to have an easy time molding me into his idea of a properly behaved client, he's in for a surprise. Little Doll might be haunting my nightmares again, but in the daylight, I'm still Jade Sinclair.
And it's time to remind everyone, including myself, exactly what that means.
6
DECLAN
"I'll be there in five. Don't keep me waiting."
Jade's words hang in the air as she turns and walks away, her copper ponytail swinging with each confident step. The three of us watch her retreating form in stunned silence.
"Dios mío, te compadezco," Mateo mutters, crossing himself dramatically.
"What just happened?" Ethan asks, his brow furrowed.
"Looks like I'm giving a self-defense lesson," I reply, keeping my voice neutral despite the fact that I'm as surprised as they are. After three days of her avoidance, Jade Sinclair has suddenly decided to engage. And on her terms, not mine.
"Now?" Ethan's eyebrows climb higher. "We're in the middle of security protocols."
"She's the client," I shrug, already moving toward the pool house. "And it's about time she started taking her security seriously."
"Have fun with the Ice Queen," Mateo calls after me. "Try not to get frostbite."
I ignore him, entering the pool house to change. Five minutes. A clear challenge. She thinks I'll be late, that I'll make her wait to establish some kind of dominance. She doesn't know me at all.
Four minutes later, I'm pushing open the door to the gym, a converted guest suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the canyon, top-of-the-line equipment, and a generous area covered in training mats. Jade is already there, stretching in the center of the mat, her long legs extended in front of her as she bends forward.
"Let's get something straight," she says, straightening and crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm here because I want to be, not because you demanded it."
"Noted."
"And I expect to be treated like any other student, not a fragile doll."
I register her choice of words: doll. Her voice falters slightly on the word, just a slight tremor.
"I treat all students according to their abilities," I respond, moving to stand across from her on the mat. "Which means we startwith the basics."
A flicker of something... disappointment?... crosses her face before her neutral expression returns. "Fine."
"First, stance." I demonstrate, feet shoulder-width apart, weight balanced. "Solid foundation is crucial."
She mirrors my stance with practiced ease, her form nearly perfect on the first try. Interesting.
I motion her to the center of the mat. "We'll start with stance and weight distribution. Basic moves."
She rolls her shoulders. "Lead the way, sensei."
I ignore the sarcasm. "Feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly. Keep your center low."
She follows without protest.
I circle her, correcting her posture with the lightest touch to her elbow, her hip, the small of her back. Every point of contact buzzes through my fingertips. I'm trying not to notice.
