Bodychecking Read Online Free Page A

sighed and stepped onto the rain-slickened sidewalk.
    Hugging the sweatshirt tight to her body, Bella hurried past a boarded-up building looming darkly across the cracked sidewalk. The gloomy brick façade gave her the creeps, and she trotted down the street, cutting across to the other side. She’d be soaked before she got to her car.
    Miserable and desperate to get out of the rain as soon as possible, she decided to take a shorter route back, ignoring the detour, which would take her two to three blocks out of her way but along well-lit streets. Instead, she veered around the corner and into the construction zone, ignoring the “Do Not Enter” signs. She’d cut through here before but not alone. It was exactly the type of area she would’ve told her self-defense students to avoid as unsafe.
    Only Bella was savvy and well-trained in martial arts. She could take care of herself. She had absolute confidence she’d battle her way out of any situation. Even so, a little chill slid down her spine, and she shuddered. Shrugging it off as unfounded, she attributed her nerves to the rainwater dripping down the back of her neck.
    She had very little room to maneuver as she navigated along a sawhorse-lined path made of plywood and concrete with partially demolished buildings on one side and deep utility trenches on the other. She could barely see even with the flashlight on her cell phone.
    “Admit it, Bells, this wasn’t one of your smarter moves,” she muttered to herself.
    She frowned as she swore she heard a noise. Only, how the fuck could anyone hear anything over this incessant rain?
    There it was again. Splashing. Like boots slapping against water-laden concrete and plywood.
    Her heart rate accelerated, and she increased her pace, wishing she’d brought her purse with her Mace in it. Instead, she’d grabbed a small pocketbook. She refused to glance over her shoulder, even as her senses went on high alert.
    She definitely heard footsteps, and they were gaining.
    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck .
    She’d been a careless idiot for taking this route.
    “Hey,” a gravelly voice said from behind her.
    She kept walking, trying to determine how far away this man happened to be and how many blocks it was to her car. She could take off and possibly outrun him. Bella prided herself on her athleticism and her agility. But it was dark and rainy, and the heels on her boots weren’t made for sprinting. Chances were slim she’d make it before he caught her.
    She glanced at her phone, just as it beeped a very sad beep and went dark.
    Shit. It’d been running on battery fumes all night because she’d forgotten to charge it.
    Bella chided herself for being such a coward. She’d been trained for this. She taught domestic violence and crime victims how to defend themselves in situations like this one. She was in control here. Not him. Besides she was being stupid. He was probably harmless.
    “Hey. Security,” he called as if reading her mind. He caught up with her so quickly she realized she’d miscalculated how far away he’d been. She glanced at him as he paced her, slightly behind her right shoulder, his face shadowed by a hoodie and the oppressive darkness.
    He raised a flashlight and shone it in her eyes, temporarily blinding her. He pulled something out of his pocket and waved what looked like a badge. She relaxed a little.
    “You’re not supposed to be down here.” His accusing tone ruffled her feathers. Damn rent-a-cop.
    “I know,” she said bluntly, not inviting further conversation and praying he’d take the not-so-subtle hint.
    She dismissed a twinge of panic. He was just a security guy. That was all, and he was keeping pace with her, probably to escort her out of an area she had no business trespassing through in the first place.
    Yet, no one would hear her scream over the sound of the rain. Squaring her shoulders and utilizing the glare of his flashlight, Bella strode purposely, as if he were no threat at all to her, even