Crusade For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 2) by Adrian D Roberts Page A

Twitch?”  Valerie asked the short dark-haired woman.
    “Yes, Ma’am.  Everyone has been enjoying themselves and not even a hint of trouble, but it’s still early.”
    “Glad to hear.  Good work.  I’ll be on the roof and then in the Sun if you need me.”
    “Rather them than me,” it was common knowledge the girls were on Valerie’s shit list.  “I’m still sore from yesterday’s time on the mat.  When you want a lesson to take, you don’t mess about.”
    “What would the point be otherwise?”  Valerie said with a smile as she got into the lift.
    The only security on the lifts was an Enforcer for the time being.  Plans were in place to upgrade them all heavily, but there was only so much Sneaker could afford, even with everything the Crew stole over the past year.  A simple command on the panel sent the car heading up on its anti-grav to the roof.
    Stepping out when the doors opened, Valerie walked down the short corridor and stood next to Shade.  He was leaning against the frame of the entrance.  Out on the flat roof, Deni and Hanna sat huddled in the shade provided by the low wall running all the way around.  The hot sun beat down.  The sweat on their exhausted bodies showed how hard they ran before she arrived.
    “How’d they do?”  Valerie asked the old Enforcer.
    “They did alright.  Three reps up to level twelve.”
    Nodding, Valerie was pleased.  She asked him to make sure they got to at least level ten.  The girls had pushed themselves as far as they were capable of and not held back.   The sprint runs were not easy, a twenty-five metre back and forth, increasing in speed each time.
    Stepping forward, Valerie unbuckled the thigh holsters holding her Mag pistols.
    “Alright, girls.  On your feet.  Time for some unarmed combat practise.”  Placing the guns out of the way, Valerie moved to the centre of the roof.
    “Here we go.”  Deni said as she staggered to her feet and helped up a groaning Hanna.
    “Promise me, next time I have an idea, you’ll just slap me?”  Hanna said with a sigh.
    “Gladly.  No way I want to do this again.”
    They came over to Valerie warily and she smiled at them.  “Usual drill.  Your aim is to hit me.  That’s all you need to do.  One clean hit and you earn tomorrow off.”
    “As if that’s going to happen.”  Hanna muttered, circling to Valerie’s right and Deni to her left.
    Deciding to give them the advantage, Valerie turned to face Deni.  “It’s been done before.  I’m not unbeatable.”
    “Yeah.  I’ll believe that when I see it.”  Deni brought her hands up and moved into a front stance.  Body sideways on to Valerie, feet shoulder length apart and facing forward.
    Valerie was more casual and stood in a relaxed posture, hands by her sides.  Deni came forward slowly and Valerie could feel Hanna doing the same behind her.  That was where the attack would come from.  She didn’t turn to meet it and only waited.  Deni struck first, coming in with a combination of punches. 
    Her eyes gave it away, they flickered behind Valerie and she swept Deni’s attack aside with a sideways block while moving to the right.  She was only a split second ahead of Hanna’s kick.  It was all she needed.  As the girl’s foot found only air, Valerie’s lashed out with a foot and caught her squarely in the stomach.  She pulled the kick considerably and it only winded the girl.
    Trying to take advantage of the distraction caused by Hanna’s failed attack, Deni drove in and Valerie fended her off.  The girls were still learning the art of unarmed combat.  Their moves did not have the precision and tightness of a master like Valerie.  They did have speed and determination.  Unlike Valerie, Deni wasn’t pulling her punches.  There was no point teaching them how to defend themselves, if they didn’t automatically put everything behind it. 
    It was a quick and dirty way of teaching, it got the job done in the quickest way