Read Online Uprising by Jessica Therrien - Free Book Online Page B

he said with confidence. “I’ve learned enough.” Suddenly I was curious. The idea of William fighting to defend me was . . . sexy. “How?”
    “I learned from my Dad. Don’t let him fool you with his suave I’m-in-a-suit look. He can mimic abilities, so he learned from the best.”
    “Are you two going to fight or what?” Kara interrupted. “I really want to see this.”
    “Okay,” he said. His warm fingers pressed against my upper arms as he pulled me closer. “When your opponent is close enough to throw a punch, nine out of ten times, they will. You just have to know to expect it. It’s best to be in the offensive, throw the first punch, move toward your opponent—”
    “Yeah, I told her all that,” Kara added.
    “But if you find yourself on the defensive,” he continued without acknowledging her, “you try to push the punch to one side with your hand, like this.” His touch was warm as he reached for my arm, extending it toward him slowly, moving his body to the left, my arm to the right. “After you’ve dodged the hit, you use the closest elbow to come in and drive it to their chest.” He stepped forward, pressing his elbow against my sternum softly, then smiled at me. It was hard not to enjoy being close. In a fight, I imagined he would use his ability next. With his eyes inches from mine, he could make me do whatever he wanted. But there was no need to use his power on me. I would already die for him.
    “Okay, forget this,” Kara said, pushing William away from me. “She’s never going to learn with you being all sexy-eyes at her.”
    “Hey, I was born this way. It’s not my fault I’ve got sexy eyes.”
    “Throw a real punch at me,” Kara continued, still focused on training.
    William took a seat on the water’s edge to watch.
    When I came at her with a heavy lunging swing, she followed William’s instructions pushing my fist aside with grace and stopping just before her elbow slammed into my chest. “Got it?” she asked.
    I nodded. “Again.”
    ***
    I trained with Kara every morning for four weeks. William watched, joining in only when he disagreed or had something more to add, but he remained serious. Mac took over in the afternoons, running drills, teaching technique, until it was finally time to make our move. Four weeks of training, the oracle’s guarantee, and I still wasn’t confident.
    “We should probably leave soon,” I said after we’d finished dinner. I began stacking my parents’ old china plates and handed them to William.
    “How d’ya feel about us leaving tomorrow?” Mac asked from the table.
    “We can’t,” I answered simply. “We won’t make it in time. Beverly Hills is a long drive—”
    “Apparently we won’t be driving,” Kara said, turning to
    Mac with surprise.
    He gave her an irritated look. “Mind stayin’ out of my thoughts?”
    “Well?” William asked, running water over the dishes. “A young man’s offered to help us. Name’s Alex.”
    “The messenger,” Kara added. “From the fire.”
    I stopped clearing the table and stood behind an empty chair. “Can we trust him?” I asked.
    “Given that he helped us once, I think we’re good,” Mac answered. “Besides, Kara here can make sure he’s not bluffing, right?”
    “Count me in,” she answered.
    “He offered to help us get past the first gate with the guard tomorrow night, but after that we’re on our own,” Mac continued. “He doesn’t want any part in the rescue.”
    “So why include him, Mac?” William argued, turning off the water.
    I thought about the white pressure that saved us from the fire. How we’d been carried away from the fight in a matter of seconds, ending up in the van far away from any threat. “He’s a getaway plan,” I answered, seeing the uncertainty in Mac’s face. “He doesn’t think we’re going to make it out of there on our own.”
    “We might not,” Kara added.

6.
    THERE WAS NO WAY I could have fully prepared for this night.