Claiming The Prize Read Online Free Page B

all six, loop a medicine
ball in between your legs in a figure eight pattern while in a semi
push-up position. You'll repeat the entire group until you get five
finished rotations and end with a twenty-minute deep stretch. Most
of this I took from the workout schedule you sent us. I added a few
things that Anto thought would boost your results, but since not
much is changed, you'll have it down in no time.”
    “ I will begin right away, and I'll let
you know if I have any concerns.” Drago said.
    “ Great. The Friar will be around soon. He'll be taking notes, so if you think of anything, just let him
know. I'll see you later.”
    “ I hope to see you later,
also.”
    His admission left Grace more eager for later
than she ought to be.
    The Friar wanted a daily session with the
Slovak, so Grace had rearranged the schedules to accommodate this
request. The Friar, thinking that Drago's weakest area of expertise
was wrestling and jujitsu grappling, wanted to focus on improving
there. Of course, Ike agreed. Zadrovec warranted an hour of their
time exclusively on top of the usual attention they gave
trainees.
    Afternoons were to be split up into workouts
by days. Mondays and Wednesdays would be crazy-cardio days. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays brought striking and technique
sparring sessions with St. Clair followed by strength training and
bag and mitt work. Saturdays would be altogether different. Drago
would begin with a four to five kilometer run. Then Guy would work
on leg striking and movement strategies with him before specific
leg strengthening exercises would be worked. The afternoon training
would be determined by Guy's perception of what was necessary from
his observations and team feedback. Drago did not yet know that Guy
saw something special in him. No other fighter had been given as
much of his time. Not only was Guy with Drago an hour or two each
weekday, he was devoting his entire Saturday to this fighter.
    Drago worked through the morning routine, and
Ike and the Friar were more than pleased with what they had to work
with over the next six months. Grace's notes were many for the
wrestling and jujitsu coaches, but she admitted only to herself
that her interest was proving to be more than clinical. Anticipating the afternoon's sparring match, the minutes ticked by
too slowly. By noon Grace had ordered supplies, paid all
outstanding invoices, and completed her meeting with the fighters
whose schedules had changed. The gym shut down until three o'clock,
but, thankfully, today was her own jujitsu session with the Friar. This would eat up one hour and live grappling another. She hoped
her partner wouldn't be Carson after last week's incident, but, of
course, neither Ike nor the Friar knew about it, and Grace didn't
want them to.
    She headed upstairs for a quick lunch of
sliced apples, black grapes, yogurt, and walnuts. Guy was not
inside, so Grace set out his lunch and settled at her desk. The
soft knock on the door frame roused her from her thoughts on the
upcoming clash between the two fighters, revealing Drago at the
threshold, almost as if she had conjured him with her mind's
wanderings.
    “ May I come in?”
    He waited for her answer before crossing into
the room.
    “ Of course, please come in.”
    “ I haven't had a chance to shop for
food, and I cannot drive yet in your country. I was hoping you
might take me...,” he noticed her lunch. “I see you are eating. Possibly later then?”
    Grace had already gotten up and headed toward
the small fridge and cabinet.
    “ How about you eat lunch here today,
since I have class shortly? We can shop this evening after my team
meeting, if you'd like.”
    The broad grin she was developing a fondness
for spread across his face.
    “ I appreciate your help, Grace. As soon
as I am able, I will sit for the exam to gain a temporary license. Then I will purchase a vehicle. Your father will help me with this,
he says.”
    Again, that deep voice speaking heavily
accented