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Ares is standing near the window when I come out of the bathroom after double-checking it, even though he already swept it. He is staring at the street below, his hands in his pockets.

“Clean,” I say, and he nods.

I pack the equipment away and stand in the middle of the room. Whoever was here was careful. “Let’s keep this between us for now. I don’t want to worry Vero, not until we know for sure what is going on.”

Ares grunts in agreement, mirroring my mood.

The drive home is quiet, and I know Ares likes to think everything through. By the time we get back to the house, everyone is gone. We leave our bags and set out to see where they are.

As we walk toward the visitors’ side of the island, Vesper passes us, muttering to herself.

“Hey have you seen Vero and Brawley?” I ask.

“They are beating up their new little pet.” She doesn’t elaborate and continues her frantic pace.

Both Ares and I pick up speed. Why would Kayla get in the ring with Brawley? He’s not the kind of man who’d go easy on anyone, not even a woman.

When we get inside the shed, we find Kayla in the ring. She is still in my shirt, with it now tied up at the waist in a knot, and she’s wearing a pair of Brawley’s shorts that look two sizes too big, sitting low on her hips. Vero is perched on the side of the cage, so I lean against the side and watch as Ares stands beside me.

Kayla moves first and jabs at Brawley, but he slides away too fast for it to connect. He adjusts his stance, and she throws another combination. He blocks the first hit and catches the second on his forearm, grinning at her.

“Stop smiling, it’s unsettling,” she snaps, circling him.

“I smile when I’m having fun.”

“Well, I’m not sure how I feel about kicking the ass of a man who is smiling at me.”

Vero cackles from the top of the cage and nearly loses his grip. “She isn’t wrong. You look a little unhinged when you smile like that.”

“I will put your ass on the ground next,” Brawley shouts to him without taking his eyes off Kayla.

“Threats don’t work on me. You know I consider that a good time.”

Kayla fakes left and cuts right, scoring one clean shot to Brawley’s ribs before he catches her wrist and holds it.

He looks down at where she made contact and back up to her face. “That was a good one.”

She shakes her hand out and scoffs. “I didn’t expect it to land.”

“Neither did I,” Brawley says.

I push off the cage, moving to the door, and Kayla sees me when I step through.

“How long have you been here?” she asks.

“Long enough.”

She smiles. “Did you see me hit him?”

“Long enough that I saw him let you hit him.”

Brawley scoffs, but I know the truth. Kayla turns back to scowl at him.

“You wanna get in here and let her take a shot at you?” Brawley snaps.

“I’m not fighting her,” I reply.

Vero makes clucking noises overhead.