Love and Betrayal

Chapter six

    Drake laughed at the small woman in front of him as she lowered into a fighting stance. She thought she could actually take him. He cracked his knuckles and then tried to grab a hold of the woman. Dani easily ducked under his arm and then kicked him in the armpit. He grunted and stumbled sideways, his face lighting with anger. He tried to grab her again, a little more serious this time and again, Dani ducked under his arm, kicking him in the back of his knee. He stumbled again and growled. Dani smiled at Drake as she toyed with him. She was pissing the stupid lumbering bastard off and it was funny. This time when Drake came at her, he was being serious. He swung a large right hook at her and she blocked it, spun around and throat punched him. Drake stumbled backwards coughing. She was a slippery little b***h. Their fight went on like this for a little while. He landed a few hits on her. One in the ribs and in the face. He smiled when she wiped blood from her lip with the back of her hand and her expression darkened. Across the room, Aaron stood up but Kajika put a hand on his arm and shook his head. Kajika knew Cross better than anyone so Keener just stood there, still as a statue. 

The fighting was getting intense and Dani was pissed. Tired of playing with the brute, she changed her fighting styles fluidly, Drake couldn’t adapt. Ready to put an end to it all, Dani roundhouse kicked Drake in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards and landed in a Muay Thai offensive position. Drake caught himself on the table and she stalked towards him. She moved like lightning, hitting Drake all over the place. She kept hitting him on his weak points and was enraging him. Drake roared and tried to hit Dani but couldn’t. He looked around and smiled. Drake reached over and grabbed a small child that was standing too close and shoved them at her. Dani caught the little girl before she could get hurt and Drake used that distraction to grab Dani around the waist, squeezing tightly. Dani groaned at the pain but used the opportunity to elbow Drake in the neck, hard. When he let go of Dani, he stumbled back. Dani ran at him with a war cry. She used a table to launch herself at Drake. She landed on his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his neck. She elbowed him right in the middle of the top of his head. Blood spurted out and then she used his weight to flip him over. She landed in a standing position, Drake’s head in between her legs. She stared down at him, her face hard a stone, as she flexed her legs and twisted them. The crack of Drake’s neck breaking echoed in the silence of the cafeteria.

Keener smiled as Dani took Drake down. He was a mountain of a man and she was poetry in motion. Even fighting, she moved with the grace of a dancer. He had seen her switch fighting styles fluidly, one flowing into the other. He could only imagine how amazing she’d be fully armed. Now he understood why Kajika wanted her alive and on their side. The fight ended with Dani standing over a dead Drake. She was breathing heavily and looked like an avenging angel with Drake’s blood splattered all over her. She walked back over to their table and sat down next to Nate, who’d moved out of her seat. “ You didn’t have to do that.” Nate said, sneaking glances at Dani. She looked him in the eye, her face serious. “ Yes, I did. It isn’t right to pick on the weak. I won’t stand for it.” She said and then she pushed her plate of food in front of Nate. “ here kid, you can have mine.” She said. Nate was going to argue but Javier stopped him. “ Cross doesn’t take care of someone for no reason kid. Don’t argue, just accept it. You’ve got her in your corner now.” He said and Nate nodded a little stunned. He took a bite of the sandwich in front of him and his eyes filled with tears. He’d joined with Kajika because he’d had no one and wouldn’t have survived on his own. He’d never thought someone would ever protect him and he felt accepted. “ I’m Nate.” He said holding his hand out to Dani. Dani drank the last of her coffee, wiped her bloody hand on her pants and took Nate’s hand. “ Dani. Make sure you eat well and get some rest. Tomorrow,I’m going to start your training.” She said and got up. She squeezed Javier’s bicep and walked out of the cafeteria. Aaron looked between Dani, Nate and Javier, who had a huge smile on his face. “ What was that about?” he asked. Javier chuckled and finished his own coffee. “ She was telling me I don’t have to explain anything Keener, She’s with us.” He replied and walked out.