Rev (Jack 'Em Up #4) Read Online Free Page A

Work off some of that tension. I’ll get them signed in and ready for you.”
    He knew me well. I nodded, thankful, and took off for the punching bag in the back corner. It was silent back here, which was what I needed to get myself in the right frame of mind to deal with a room full of women tonight. Normally, JD and I sparred until I was exhausted, but tonight I had to be social. As in speak.
    I let my mind be lulled as I jabbed at the speed bag, my rhythm getting faster and fiercer, more instinctual. I began to bounce again, my arms still beating the bag into submission. I don’t know how long I was at it, but sweat was rolling down my face when JD finally got my attention.
    “They’re all here and in the back room.”
    My hands dropped, my breath scissored in and out of my lungs. “Okay. Thanks.”
    He offered me a water bottle then spun away.
    I chugged half the water then wiped my face with the bottom of my shirt as I headed to the back. Time to get this show on the road. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, then swung open the door. Women’s chatter filled my ears, but was quickly silenced by my appearance.
    I glanced around, trying to keep my face neutral, if not pleasant. “Good evening, ladies . . .” As my gaze swung around the room, I backtracked and froze. What was she doing here? I swallowed, looked away then back again to be sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me.
    Nope.
    Jewel Jackson was in my class, alone in the back corner, her platinum hair in a high ponytail, her eyes uncertain. She offered me a tiny wave, as if not wanting to be busted for knowing the teacher. Something in me uncoiled and warmth filled my belly.
    She was here.
    I cleared my throat and moved to the front of the room. “I’m assuming you’re all here for the gym’s Safety First self-defense class. If so, you’re in the right place. My name is Micah Christian, and I’ll be your instructor for the next few weeks.” I talked a little bit about what we’d be covering in class, but my eyes were continually drawn to Jewel. I hated speaking in front of people, and I’d only agreed to teach this class because of her. She’d never come before now, but I would never ask why. Thank God she finally realized she needed to protect herself from that douchebag who liked to prey on blondes.
    “Are we gonna learn how to choke someone out?”
    “Uh . . .” I faced the frail, older woman in the front row. She was eighty if she was a day. “Mrs . . . ?”
    She smiled, showing perfectly white partials. “It’s just Mildred. Used to be Mrs. Wallace, but I’m a widow.” She eyed me up and down like she was starving and I was a juicy steak. “Free as a bird now.”
    I gaped. I was being hit on by the queen of the cougars.
    Rather than let grandma make me uncomfortable, I bent and set my water bottle on the ground, then indicated for her to come to the front of the class.
    She smiled and obliged, the other women catcalling. I even caught Jewel smiling.
    I stood behind her so my front was pressed to her back. “Trust me?” I whispered.
    She wiggled and nodded. “Go ahead, teacher.” There was a definite flirty bite to that last word.
    I ignored it and whipped my arm around her neck in a simulated chokehold. I felt her tense in front of me, but I made sure she had room to breathe. The other women gasped.
    “Now,” I said sternly. “More important than learning to choke someone, is learning how to get out of an unexpected chokehold and protect yourself. Go ahead and try, Mildred.”
    She fumbled to grasp onto my holding arm, her feeble attempts desperate but weak. After a minute, I released her and let her move back to her place in the front.
    “So, what did you learn, Miss Mildred?”
    “That our teacher smells divine.”
    The women laughed. I did not. “What else?”
    Her smiled dropped. “That I’m weak. I couldn’t have gotten away.”
    “Okay.” I gazed around at the wide-eyed women. “Now we’re getting