Free Sinners and Saints by Ambear Shellea Page A

but I have always known. This way, I can at least enter in on my own terms.”
    “ Okay. Know this, Vylette, if you change your mind, you can leave the Mission Program at anytime, no questions asked.”
    “ Noted. Thank you.”
    “ Okay, are you ready to tell your uncle about your decision?”
    “ I am. Damn, Lewis was right...can we keep that between us, though.”
    She laughed along with him.
    “You can try, but I assure you, he knows. That is why he told you beforehand. I told you, he is very good at what he does and his talents are many.”
    Just as they reached the door it flung open and she came face to face with her smiling uncle and Lewis. Her uncle eyed them both before he asked what she knew he was waiting to hear.
    “Well, Vylette, are you joining us? It is okay of you don't want to.”
    In that moment, it seemed as if everyone was holding their breath. She walked up and hugged her uncle close, taking the moment to inhale his cigar aroma stuck to his clothes. She always loved that smell, it always reminded her of home. She pulled away and smiled.
    “ Yes, uncle, I have decided to join the team.”
    Hugs and cheers all around.

Chapter 14
     
    She arrived at 7:54 a.m. in the training room and surveyed her surroundings. Men and women from fifteen to forty were dressed and stretching, readying themselves for today's lesson. Next thing she knew, she was getting grabbed from behind and slammed onto the mat she stood on. A man's face came into view, his voice very audible.
    “ Rule number one, recruit, always be ready!”
    She glared at him as he removed his hands from her. As she got off the floor, she noticed he had turned back to address the group and was not paying attention, she kicked out and nailed him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
    Smiling, she retorted, “Back atcha.”
    “ Touché.”
    Stepping back in case he planned to attack her again, she watched him get up from the floor wearing a smile of his own. “What is your name, recruit?”
    “ Vylette. Vylette Echo.”
    “ Nice to meet you, Vylette, please take your place in one of these rows with the rest of the recruits and we will begin.”
    A little brunette next to her piped up, “That was a ballsy move! He is the instructor you know.”
    She turned to the girl. “What’s your name?”
    “ My name is Brianna.”
    “ Well, Brianna, never let anyone assault you, no matter who they are. Just because he is the instructor doesn't mean he is going to make things easy for us, therefore, I am not going to make it easy for him either. The world is full of asshats, while we are in this class, that instructor represents all those asshats. If you can't defend yourself against him without thinking, how do you expect to do it out there?”
    She loved to see the looks on people faces sometimes. Her favorite was always li ke the one Brianna wore now, those confused expressions that begged the question, “Is this chick really crazy or just a weirdo?”
    Surprise, surprise, the answer is both .
    She smiled at Brianna and turned to the instructor as he began the lesson.
    “Today we are going to pair up and go over what you have learned in the last month. Remember the moves, the names are less important than the moves themselves. Keep in mind the moves that break bones or maim your opponent should only be done full force when your sparring partner is in full gear, so for those moves practice with care. Now, starting from the left, turn to the right and that is your partner for today...”
    Damn, this again?
    She sighed when the instructor turned and looked her dead in the eyes.
    “ Echo, you will be training with me today. Since you’re new, I need to evaluate you to determine what you need to be taught. As you heard, these recruits have been here training for a month. This is your first day. So, if you will walk to the big mat at the far end of the room, I will meet you there.”
    She glanced behind her and spotted the mat.
    Well, shit! Looks