CHAPTER 17
Ryle immediately shifted, launching a low kick to sweep her standing leg. This wasn’t a killing blow; this was a correction. If she pivots like that, her weight distribution is vulnerable.
Lauren barely caught the shift in Ryle’s weight. She knew the move, but her bruised leg protested the necessary jump. She had to compensate. Instead of moving away, she suddenly darted forward and to the side, closing the distance to get inside his reach.
The kick sliced through the air exactly where her leg had been.
Ryle cursed silently, a flicker of genuine annoyance crossing his face. She was close—dangerously close—and momentarily off-balance. He brought his arms up, not to attack, but to shield his core, pulling his elbow back slightly toward his midsection.
Lauren saw the opening a
