Eli Knox was smaller, faster, and more sarcastic.
Together, the three men were Iron Forge's competitive core.
They were talented.
They were also becoming a problem.
Mason nodded toward Claire.
“Who is that?”
Eli shrugged.
“New member?”
Trent laughed.
“Not dressed like a fighter.”
Mason watched her for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
“I think she needs a lesson.”
Eli laughed.
Trent did too.
Claire heard them.
She did not turn around.
That irritated Mason.
He was used to reactions.
Fear.
Anger.
Nervous laughter.
People usually gave him something.
Claire gave him nothing.
Finally, Mason walked toward her.
He crossed the mat slowly, making sure people noticed.
When he reached her, he stopped.
“You new?”
Claire turned.
“Yes.”
“To Iron Forge?”
“For tonight.”
Eli laughed behind him.
Mason smiled.
“You train somewhere else?”
“A few places.”
“Where?”
Claire shrugged.
“Different places.”
Mason looked at her hands.
No tape.
No scars that suggested recent competition.
No visible affiliation.
“You got a belt?”
“Yes.”
“What color?”
“Depends on the discipline.”
Eli laughed.
“That's convenient.”
Claire looked at him.
“It is.”
The smile disappeared from his face.
Mason stepped closer.
“You know this is the advanced mat, right?”
“I do.”
“And you're comfortable here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Ray invited me.”
Mason glanced toward the office.
Ray was still talking on the phone.
“He invites everyone.”
“Then you don't have anything to worry about.”
Mason's expression hardened.
He did not like the way she said it.
Not defensive.
Not arrogant.
Certain.
“Maybe you should train with us,” he said.
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
Mason blinked.
“What?”
“I don't want to.”
A few students nearby looked over.
Mason smiled again.
“You scared?”
“No.”
“Then why not?”
Claire looked him directly in the eyes.
“Because I don't want to.”
The gym seemed to become quieter.
It was not the words.
It was the absence of apology.
Claire had not said sorry.
She had not explained herself.
She had not offered an excuse.
She had simply established a boundary.
Mason's pride could not tolerate it.
“Come on,” he said. “One round.”
“No.”
“You don't even know me.”
“That is one of the reasons.”
Someone near the cage laughed nervously.
Mason's jaw tightened.
He looked at Trent.
Then Eli.
The three men exchanged a glance.
Claire saw it.
She had seen that look before.
The look of men deciding that a woman's refusal was not actually a refusal.
Mason stepped closer.
“I think you need to understand how things work here.”
Claire's voice remained calm.
“I understand perfectly.”
“Then step off the mat.”
“No.”
Mason smiled.
“Or what?”
Claire looked at his hand.
Then back at his face.
“Don't touch me.”
For a second, nobody moved.
Mason raised his hand.
It was supposed to be a small gesture.
A touch on the shoulder.
A demonstration of control.
A way of showing everyone that he could move her if he wanted.
His fingers never reached her.
Claire caught his wrist.
Her body moved with his.
One step.
One turn.
One shift of the hips.
Mason's balance disappeared.
He hit the mat hard.
Before he could understand what had happened, Claire was beside him, controlling his arm and neck.
She did not hurt him.
She did not need to.
The position was perfect.
Mason tapped.
Claire released him.
The entire exchange had lasted four seconds.
Nobody laughed.
Mason stared at her from the floor.
Claire stood.
Hands at her sides.
Breathing normal.
Then Eli attacked.
And the night changed forever.
Under Sixty Seconds
Eli moved faster than Mason.
That was his greatest weapon.
He came from Claire's left side, lowering his level and reaching for her leg.
A single-leg takedown.
Clean entry.
Fast execution.
Under normal circumstances, it would have worked.
Claire had already read his movement.
She stepped backward half a pace.
Eli's hands closed around empty space.
His momentum carried him forward.
Claire caught his head and arm.
She turned.
Her hips shifted.
Eli stumbled.
And suddenly Claire was behind him.
Her hooks went in.
Her arm crossed beneath his chin.
The position was complete before Eli understood the mistake.
“Tap,” Claire said quietly.
Eli slapped the mat.
She released him.
He rolled away, breathing hard.
Mason was still kneeling.
Trent stared at Claire.
The entire gym had stopped.
Someone whispered, “What the hell?”
Mason stood.
“You got lucky.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
That one word made his face turn red.
“You caught me off guard.”
“You reached for me.”
“You knew what I meant.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you—”
“Because you touched me after I told you not to.”
Mason stepped forward.
Ray Alvarez finally came out of his office.
“Enough.”
His voice cracked across the room.
Mason turned.
“Coach, she—”
“I said enough.”
Ray crossed the mat.
His eyes moved from Mason to Eli.
Then Trent.
He immediately understood.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered.
Claire did.
“He tried to touch me.”
Ray looked at Mason.
Mason opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Ray's expression darkened.