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

somewhere.”
    “What?” she sputtered. “I thought you were teaching us how to defend ourselves.”
    “I will. But the first and most important lesson we’re starting with is this: Prevention is better than any defense. If you try to keep yourself out of dangerous situations, you won’t need to worry about the rest.”
    I went on to explain to a dozen frowning women the basics of being observant of their surroundings, walking with purpose, keeping keys handy as a weapon. “If you can deflect an attack by handing over your purse or car, by all means, do it. No property is worth your life.”
    Now they were starting to pay attention. Yes, most people value their lives, but so few truly knew the searing tragedy of loss. That was what propelled me to help in any small way.
    “A girl I know at work was raped by that guy a few months ago,” a young woman near the back spoke up. “Apparently, he was waiting to ambush her by her house. What about then?”
    Good question.
    I nodded once and began my lesson on the first things to do when confronted with an unavoidable attack. Women almost always balked at this one. “I want you to be loud and aggressive.” I surveyed them one at a time. “I mean scream, hit, kick, bite, scratch, whatever you have to do to be a general pain in the ass. Most attackers will not want to mess with you and move on to the next, easier victim.” I pointed out the girl who brought up the question. “Why don’t you come try?”
    “Me?”
    “Sure. Why not?” I pasted on my best, innocent smile.
    As the girl reluctantly made her way up front, Jewel’s gaze caught mine. Fear was written all over her. Eyes like saucers, timid body language. The perfect victim.
    I shoved that thought away and faced the woman in front of me. “What’s your name?”
    “Anna.”
    “Well, Anna, you’re young, blond. You could be this guy’s next victim. What’re you gonna do about it?”
    Dread filled her expression. “I . . . uh . . .”
    “Hey. Don’t be scared. Tell me what you’re going to do to protect yourself.” I held up one finger. “What’s the first rule?”
    “Prevent an attack in the first place.”
    “Right.” Second finger. “And?”
    “Be a pain in the ass?”
    Everyone laughed and I nodded my approval. Then I whipped out and grabbed her wrist, twisting it behind her back. “Uh oh. I’ve got you. How are you gonna be a pain in the ass?”
    She didn’t move for a long moment. The other women stared, their attention riveted now and all joking aside. Eventually, she began to wiggle and try to squirm from my grasp. I tightened my hold fractionally and yanked her closer. “Try again.”
    She caught my meaning and I’d swear I felt temper pulse through her. Next thing I knew, she was flailing like a very angry snake, her free arm reaching behind her to jab at me.
    “Good.” I release her.
    She spun on me, the remnants of fight or flight still on her face.
    “That was pretty good, Anna. Now, if everyone is ready to get started, we’re going to pair up and go over the most sensitive parts to aim for when you’re . . . being a pain in the ass.”
    I waited while everyone doubled up. I valiantly avoided staring to see who Jewel ended up with.
    I used a body chart to talk about the best spots to go for on a man’s anatomy and different ways to hold the hand to do the most damage, depending on the position of your attacker. “Now, I want you guys to try it. Don’t hurt each other. Don’t even hit or kick with real contact. I only want you to get comfortable with aiming for those parts of the body, and at the same time, feel free to be loud like we talked about in the beginning. Go ahead and practice that for a few minutes.”
    Everyone was tentative at first, but it took no time for them to get into yelling and pretending to hit each other, just like a group of roughhousing boys. I stifled my smile and made rounds of each partnership.
    Jewel, surprisingly, had ended up with sweet