This chapter was a monster because it spans several chapters of the original story. I thought it was important to see all this from Owen's POV as it provides some pivotal insight and drives the characters actions going forward. Or, at least it's supposed to...I guess you guys will let me know if it succeeds :)
On a side note, I was thinking of posting Before Jurassic World on WattPad and was wondering if anyone could offer some cover art help. The one I made is pretty pathetic so if anyone has some hidden talents in that area let me know...you guys are the best!
Chapter 4 – Fight Club
As I'm sure most teenagers can attest, high school sports rivalries are intense affairs filled with a desire to decimate the opposing school so thoroughly it borders on irrational. Many of these rivalries are so deeply rooted they not only follow teenagers through to adulthood, they are passed down genetically to their children. This borderline clinical hatred for an entire population normally manifests itself in the form of pranks in which the stakes are progressively raised from one year to the next.
My high school was no different, and the soul searing hatred for the Westland High Raging Goats still lingers in my blood today. My junior year of high school our two schools met on the football field in a true clash of titans with the winner earning a coveted spot in the state playoffs. Since I was a captain for our team I took it upon myself to ensure victory by upping the practical joke ante to a level no mere mortal would ever be able to best.
The day before the big game I snuck into Westland High in the middle of the night, and relieved them of their living mascot, Gary the Goat. I loaded him in the back of my truck, took him home and planned to store him in our backyard until after the game. In hindsight, this plan was far from foolproof, but through the eyes of a 16-year-old, jacked up on adrenaline, it was flawless.
Well, flawless until the police showed up at my house the next afternoon politely inquiring if the goat in our backyard was in fact Gary, the Westland High School mascot. As it turns out, sneaking into Westland High and relocating Gary was a crime, two crimes if you wanted to get technical. As if that wasn't bad enough, Gary had decided to turn my mother's prized rose bushes into a midnight snack. By the time the police were done reading the list of offenses, and calling animal control to pick up Gary I was seriously considering begging them to take me with them less they leave me to the wrath of my mother. Considering my father was physically restraining her in order to keep her away from me I thought I'd be infinitely safer behind bars.
In the end, other than a summer spent cultivating my green thumb under my mother's "gentle" tutelage I got off unscathed. What I did learn was that I was impulsive by nature, a fact, which my mother was all too happy to nag me about while I was restoring her roses. Well, I called it nagging. She called it listening to what she said the first time. Anyways, common sense would dictate that as I've matured my impulsive tendencies would have diminished, but as it turns out my ability to simply react without thinking was as ingrained in my DNA as my hatred for Westland High School.
Over the years I decided to just own it. So I like to act without thinking? I think it's fun to be just as surprised by what I do as everyone else. Keeps things interesting, most of the time. However, today that mantra had backfired, slightly, because now I currently found myself feigning sleep on a beach less than two feet away from Jo. I noticed her earlier this morning settling in for what appeared to be a relaxing day spent lounging on the beach, and somehow, without even realizing it, I found myself sitting next to her. OK, if I was being honest I knew exactly how and why it happened. When I'd seen Jo lose her beach cover-up exposing her long, lean body clad in nothing more than a barely there bikini I felt my mouth go dry, and all available blood flow head due south. I hadn't thought about what I would say or even if it was socially acceptable to dive bomb someone else's day off, I simply reacted.
So here I was pretending to sleep while Jo mumbled the occasional curse or heaved a heavy sigh next to me. Faking a nap was the only way to ensure I didn't just ravish her right here on the beach. Which sounded fun, but broke a few laws and got sand in places sand should never, ever be. My evasive tactic did little to distract me from the fact the woman had a body made for sin, and the thoughts currently cycling through my brain were one step up from pornographic. I was starting to think my mother may have had a point about my impulsive nature. Maybe one day I'd address my unresolved issues; today I'd be satisfied if I managed not to drool when I looked at her.
I had to remember my promise; I would build a foundation with Jo first and foremost. I had an inkling that Jo didn't do relationships, and I wasn't willing to be just a one night stand. She needed to trust me, and in order to do that we needed some semblance of a friendship. Thus, my brilliant plan to spend my day off with her. What I hadn't accounted for was the overwhelming effort it took to be near her and not touch her.
Mercifully the shrill ringing of her cell phone interrupted my inner monologue. She answered curtly and promptly shot down the caller's request with a quick, no.
"Is that Hamada?" I asked my curiosity peaked.
"No," she answered. I clearly heard the caller shout my name, and I leaned so far over in my chair I almost fell out earning a reproachful glare from Jo. It was Hamada on the phone and he sounded panicked.
"Owen says no and so do I. Besides, what makes you think…" At the mention of my name again I snatched the phone out of Jo's hand, standing up and turning my back to her.
"Hey Hamada, it's Owen. What's up man?" I inquired. I could feel Jo's penetrating gaze drilling into my back and it took all my effort to focus on Hamada's words. He explained his predicament and in that moment I could think of nothing I'd rather do than assist with hand-to-hand combat. Anything to get off this beach with the scantily clad temptress standing behind me. "Sure thing. Give us about an hour and we'll be there."
I hung up the phone, turning around and tossing it back to Jo. She stood immobile, rooted in the sand with a furious expression plastered on her gorgeous face, as the phone went sailing past her and landed with a thud in the sand. I felt my lips twitch as I took in her in. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her brow was scrunched up, and she was breathing heavy. Oh, she was pissed, no doubt about that.
"Better get dressed; Hamada's expecting us within the hour. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to conduct hand-to-hand training in that," I commented, pointing to her bathing suit.
Truth be told, I wouldn't mind if she wore that thing 24/7 while it was just the two of us. But I knew firsthand the type of dickheads InGen recruited for security, and the thought of Jo prancing around in something that covered less than underwear made my blood pressure do funny things.
I saw her confidence falter as she misinterpreted my words, but before I could correct her she took a step forward, tilting her head back so she could look at me. It felt like the temperature on the beach simultaneously plummeted and rose as she got closer, and I was having a hard time remembering what we were talking about. I took a step towards her closing the distance even further, our chests almost touching. I could smell her vanilla shampoo and the nutty fragrance of the tanning lotion she'd applied that morning. It took willpower the likes of which I didn't know I possessed to resist the urge to bury my nose in her hair like a lunatic and inhale the intoxicating scent.
I saw her visibly struggle to swallow the lump in her throat and mentally high-fived myself. At least I wasn't the only one on the sexual struggle bus at the moment.
I couldn't stop the hitch in my own breathing as her eyes drifted down then up my body again. "Get dressed Jo. We got a class to teach." I quickly stepped around her and collected my things. I needed to put some distance between us and get my shit under control.
As I sat in my Jeep waiting for Jo to change so we could go open a can of whoopass on some InGen employees I struggled to come up with rational explanations for what this woman was doing to me. When she was around I was reduced to the mental capacity of an orangutan. I'd never had trouble around women before so this was a new, and not welcome, experience. I was self-aware enough to know that woman found me attractive. My years in the military had exposed me to my fair share of woman who simply used me for my looks, my body or a combination of both. When I was young, woman throwing themselves at me and a few nights of fun were enough to keep me content, but now those types of games didn't interest me.
Impatient to quash this line of thought and get to the training arena I laid on the horn. What I needed was a healthy dose of man the fuck up. Almost immediately Jo exited her camper, slinging a Camelback over her shoulder. She had changed into a pair of long, skin tight, spandex pants that ended just below her knee and a long sleeved Under Armor shirt that while technically consisted of more fabric than her bathing suit left nothing to the imagination. Her long hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun with small strands of brownish blonde hair falling around her face.
As she approached the Jeep I briefly closed my eyes and asked for some kind of divine intervention to get me through this. It would appear it made no difference if she was wearing a bathing suit or a garbage bag as far as my dick was concerned. I was convinced this woman's superpower was reducing me to a quivering mass of uncontrollable hormones. Jesus, I was such a little bitch.
"Didn't know you knew how to drive anything other than your bike," she quipped as she climbed into the Jeep.
"Motorcycle. A bike is something a kids rides," I retorted, my tone clipped. Her little jab at my motorcycle was hardly registering on my radar at this point, but two could play at this game. "Besides, if you want to wrap your arms around my waist we don't need a motorcycle to do that."
I let my eyes travel the length of her body suggestively as her eyes widened in surprise. She tore her gaze from mine and started fidgeting with the air vents muttering a, "Just drive."
I shot her a satisfied grin as I peeled out of her driveway heading towards the training arena. The drive to the park was uneventful save for the startled curses and exaggerated hand gestures from Jo. Who knew she was such a Nervous Nelly?
"Doesn't bat an eyelash at a raptor, but loses her breakfast from a car ride. Interesting," I said walking past her as she tumbled out of the Jeep practically dry heaving.
"You drive like a demented Ms. Daisy! Your license should be revoked."
People are always complaining about my driving, and my response was always the same, did you die? She caught up to me as we walked towards headquarters sporadically passing different people I was acquainted with along the way. I offered up the typical 'hello' or 'how are you' as appropriate, but I noticed Jo remained silent, seeming to not know anyone. Now that I thought about it, other than Hamada, I wasn't sure she knew anyone.
We made our way onto the elevator and I pressed the button for the basement level. The elevator made a chirping noise, and the key card scanner illuminated awaiting authorization. I looked to Jo expectantly as she smirked, whipping out an ID card and scanning it.
"Mr. Grady doesn't have authorization to enter the basement?" she asked sarcastically, covering her mouth.
"Of course I do, I just wanted to know if you did." She pouted, crossing her arm over her chest and turning her attention forward.
"You seem pretty popular around here."
"Jealous?" I taunted.
"Hardly," she responded, not taking the bait. We exited the elevator and I steered us towards the arena where Hamada was anxiously waiting.
Jo's eyes went wide at the sight, "Wow, this place is better than 24 Hour Fitness."
I glanced down at her as her eyes traveled over the various features Simon had taken the liberty of outfitting. I'd say one thing for that man, he spared no expense. When he'd approached me a few months after my arrival and asked for my input in building this training site I'd expected pushback on any, if not all, of the equipment. I was surprised when he not only approved everything I'd asked for; he'd even added some extras. Obviously, he had more money than he knew what to do with because I was pretty sure half this stuff never got used. There were rich people and then there was Simon.
I spotted Hamada jogging up to us looking relieved we were finally here. I wondered what he would have done if Jo hadn't answered her phone?
"Thanks for doing this guys. I really appreciate it," Hamada said, offering me his hand, which I shook in greeting.
"I missed the part where there was a choice," Jo quipped.
This woman was about a subtle as a gynecologist wearing a gas mask.
"Ignore her. What's the plan?" I directed at Hamada as Jo shot daggers at me.
Hamada's eyebrows rose into his hairline, but he ignored our verbal taekwondo match, turning and walking towards the mats lining the center of the arena.
"I'm going to use you two to demonstrate several offensive and defensive maneuvers by the numbers while I explain it as we go," Hamada said, glancing between the two of us. "We'll then break them up into teams to practice with us monitoring and calling out adjustments as needed."
"Works for me. The faster we get going the faster I can get out of here," Jo said shrugging.
I nodded somewhat hesitantly as I glanced at Jo out of the corner of my eye. The thought of going up against her in hand-to-hand combat, even if it was by the numbers, didn't sit well with me. She looked almost delicate next to me. Well, delicate until she opened her mouth. Hamada didn't have any reservations as he turned, calling the group of 20 InGen employees together.
"Alright everyone knock it off, we're ready to get started. We are going to cover some basic and advanced hand-to-hand moves today. Owen Grady and Josephine King are going to assist." Hamada pointed over to us as he spoke. "Owen is former Navy and current trainer for the Velociraptor program."
All at once the eyes in the room swung towards me as the InGen employees attempted to size me up. My history with the Navy ensured most people assumed I knew how to handle myself. My affiliation with the raptors firmly planted me in the "this guy's mentally unstable" camp. In real life these two attributes are not all that handy, but when instructing hand-to-hand combat it was the equivalent of hitting the jackpot.
"Jo is former Army and F.B.I., and is overseeing security at the park. Listen to what they have to say because they know what they're doing," Hamada finished.
I couldn't keep the surprise off my face as I looked at Jo. I'd always known she wasn't your ordinary woman, but the fact she was former military and F.B.I. was a shock to be sure. I was quickly reassessing my stance on us being mismatched now that I had a little insight into her background. At the very least I was interrogating her further at the conclusion of our WWE SmackDown.
I heard a few murmurs rush through the ranks as Hamada spoke. For her part, Jo looked like a general inspecting her troops with her spine stiff and her face impassive. I could tell this wasn't the first time her qualifications were scrutinized before a group of men who felt they were superior simply due to anatomy. Given her former employment I'd be willing to wager it happened on a daily basis.
With introductions finished the two of us turned to face each other as Hamada began outlining the first of many basic tactics. I was designated the aggressor, so for every offensive move I employed Jo retaliate in time with a defensive maneuver according to Hamada's instructions.
If I thought sitting next to her half naked on the beach was a test of wills it was nothing compared to this. The sheer logistics of hand-to-hand combat required I touch parts of her body that were literally threatening to short-circuit my brain. I could feel every inch of her pressed up against me as our hands became intimately familiar with each others body. She was all soft curves and lithe movements to my hard edges and brute force. We were moving around the mat in a synchronized dance that my dick was all too eager to remind me would work well in the bedroom. Our bodies simply fit together, and I swear I almost hugged Hamada when he called for the first break so the guys could practice the moves with their partners.
Jo and I stood still, staring at each other for a moment before we both simultaneously turned and stalked off in opposite directions. Most of the pairs had decent enough form, but it was glaringly obvious that InGen was cutting some serious corners when it came to recruiting security. Most of these guys lacked the rudimentary hand-to-hand skills necessary to subdue a toddler who was cranky after missing an afternoon nap much less act as a resident security force on an island inhabited by prehistoric dinosaurs. What's worse is some of them actually thought they knew what they were doing, and that was dangerous.
After about twenty minutes Hamada called the group back together to introduce another, slightly more advanced, technique. Jo stood with her back pressed against my chest as Hamada outlined how she was going to break the chokehold I was about to put her in. I took a calming breath as I wrapped my arm around her throat, hooking it under her chin. I blame what happened next on an old fashion misunderstanding.
"Just let me know if you need me to ease up here, OK?" I whispered softly, my lips brushing up against her ear as I tightened my hold on her throat. Her hands instinctively wrapped around my forearms pulling down in an attempt to lessen the hold and create a pathway for air. Her entire body was pressed against mine as our height difference forced her on her tiptoes.
I felt her shiver, either at my words or my accidental brush of her ear I'm not sure, but I couldn't help the satisfied smile the response elicited. At this point the entire exercise ran completely off the rails. I hadn't meant for the encounter to sound so chauvinistic or sexual, and in my defense practically kissing her ear was an accident brought on by sheer proximity. Did I enjoy the response it got out of her? Yes, yes I did. So, sue me.
I didn't get the chance to rectify the situation because as soon as Hamada finished his explanation of the maneuver Jo was a blur of motion. One second I had her firmly pinned and the next I felt a sharp pain slam into my foot. My right foot shot up off the ground in response, but before I could recover I felt her elbow strike my stomach knocking the air out of my lungs with an "Ompf".
The consecutive assaults caused my arm to loosen, but I was confident I still had a decent enough hold on her. Per the norm these days, she proved me wrong yet again as she twisted and ducked with the grace of a prima ballerina completely releasing herself from my hold. I blindly reached out for her with my left hand, but she effortlessly sidestepped my advance. Dancing to the side she used my momentum against me as she twisted my arm up and over her head while simultaneously dropping down on one knee.
I was unable to stop my momentum as I felt my body tumble forward. Jo twisted my arm causing me to flip ass over teakettle, my back hitting the mat with a loud slap. For the second time in less than 30 seconds the wind was knocked from my lungs. As I lay on the mat unsuccessful trying to suck in oxygen I remarked on how quiet the gym currently was, and wondered if I should try to get up and find my balls. Nothing's more humbling than getting your ass kicked in front of witnesses.
"Let me know if you need any help getting up, OK?" Jo said sweetly, peering down at me.
Hamada cleared his throat, yelling for everyone to pair up and get to work. Jo smiled brightly before heading off towards a table that held towels and bottles of water. It took more effort than I'd like to admit, but I was able to scrape myself off the mats. I considered scrounging around for my dignity, but was pretty sure it was a moot point.
"That was mean," I told Jo as I reached for my own water. Truth be told, I wasn't upset about her little display. I was impressed. Clearly, I had underestimated Jo. That was a mistake I would never make again.
"You deserved it."
Probably.
Jo winked at me as she made her way back out into the groups studiously trying, and failing, to recreate what they had just witnessed. I was adjusting the chokehold on one pair when I heard voracious laughter erupt a few groups away. I saw Jo whirl around with murder in her eyes. The guy she was addressing had his back to me, but clearly he hadn't been paying attention when Jo was handing me my ass earlier. She was undoubtedly a woman not to be trifled with.
"I was just saying that if you ever want to blow off some steam I got about eight inches in my pants you can start with sweetheart," he responded, complete with some self explanatory hand gestures.
Hamada seem to realize the situation the same time I did as we both starting making our way towards Jo. She seemed to be debating the merit of bitch slapping the guy, but must have decided he was too much of an oxygen thief to worry about because she turned away without addressing him further.
I saw the guy lift his hand intending to slap Jo on the ass and my blood boiled in my veins. He was going to die; it was just a matter of how at this point. Before I could reach him Jo spun around, quickly grabbing his hand at a pressure point. She wrenched his arm up and back, forcing him to his knees as he cried out, "You bitch! Let me go!"
She released his hand, stepping back just as I planted myself in front of her. The guy looked up from his spot on the floor and paled slightly as he saw me, but continued to hurl insults at Jo.
"I suggest you calm down," I hissed at him, every fiber of my being was pleading with him to make a move.
He got to his feet ignoring my threat as he peered around me at Jo. "You landed a lucky shot. I guarantee you in a fair fight I would smoke your ass."
My muscles felt ready to snap, and I took a step towards him. I may have appeared somewhat calm to the casual observer, but on the inside I'd already maimed this guy three times. I was now ready to make it official, but before I could Jo stepped forward.
"You think you can take me Cole? Prove it," she spit at him.
Here I was, only hours ago, thinking that out of the two of us I was the impulsive one. Boy, had I been wrong. The entire time I'd been taping her knuckles and helping her into her MMA gloves I'd attempted to talk Jo out of this harebrained scheme, but she was like a dog with a bone. I agreed 100% this guy needed his ass handed to him, but he was a few fries short of a Happy Meal so stepping into an unsanctioned fight on our day off wasn't really the best idea.
"Do you have any self-preservation instincts?" I questioned as she stepped back flexing her fingers in the gloves a few times, bouncing up and down on her toes.
"Not really."
It was official. She was crazy.
"That guy is unhinged and has about 60 pounds on you."
She looked utterly unfazed by my proclamation. "If this is your idea of a pep talk I gotta tell you, it needs work."
I grabbed her by the shoulders almost shaking her in an attempt to get her to take this seriously. "Goddamnit Jo, this isn't a joke!"
"I know this isn't a joke. That guy is batshit crazy, believe me, I know. He shouldn't even be on this island. I can handle myself," she barked, shaking out of my hold as she narrowed her eyes.
Hamada jogged up, stopping to glance between the two of us clearly not knowing how to handle the tension. "Jo, you don't have to do this. I'm pretty sure with Rogers' behavior today I have enough of finally give him his walking papers."
Jo rolled her eyes, throwing her arms into the air in exasperation. "Not you too Hamada. Does anyone think I can win this fight?" She eyed both of us, daring us to voice our doubts. "You aren't giving this guy his walking paper's Hamada, I am. I don't care what goes down. Don't' stop this fight."
As the three of us made our way towards the mat it was clear that Cole had seen one too many UFC fights. He was running around the impromptu circle formed by the rest of the employees occasionally shouting or throwing punches into the air. He looked like a complete asshole.
Jo stepped into the center of the mat and calmly listened as Hamada outline the rules for this illegal cage match.
"Hey man, you want in on the action?" one of the InGen guys asked apparently having taken up the role of the bookie.
I kept one eye on Jo as I asked, "What are the odds?"
"6 to 1 Cole wins by a landslide," he answered with a laugh.
I cut my eyes to his and his laughter died in his throat. "Were you guys watching earlier? She's no amateur."
"I know, but I just figured she caught you off guard. Besides, Cole's a beast."
I was now certain there was no IQ requirement to work security at InGen. Jo's initial assault on me earlier may have caught me slightly unawares, but I'd recovered quickly and tried to respond, but hadn't been able to in time. She'd beaten me fair and square.
"Put $20 on Jo," I told the guy. He seemed surprised, but scribbled it down and continued making his way through the crowd.
Hamada was apparently done reading from the rulebook, and had no sooner stepped off the mat before Cole charged at Jo. He clumsily swung his right arm around telegraphing his intentions. I knew Jo would have plenty of time to avoid the blow, but I couldn't stop the twisting feeling in my gut at the thought of her hurt. She easily ducked under his arm slamming her fists into his kidney with a blistering one-two punch as she passed by.
Jo pivoted around taking up her fighting stance as Cole reared around to face her, gingerly touching his kidney. He looked capable of physical harm as he assessed the damage Jo had inflicted on him in just a few seconds. He came at her again a mass of flailing arms, an obnoxious battle cry and no technique. He may have had no training, but what he did have was pure, unadulterated rage. He set free a barrage of lefts and rights that had my heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone in the gym would be able to hear it. My fists were clenched so tightly at my side my knuckles ached.
Jo ducked and countered connecting strike after strike with his face and body. His right eye was already cut and blood was oozing down his face, but thus far he'd been unable to land a single blow on her. She was a vision out on the mat; a perfect combination of grace, power and technique. As the one-sided match continued I could tell Cole was tiring. Jo was making him chase her around the mat, and his hulking form was fatiguing quickly as time wore on.
Jo seemed to be waiting for something as she danced around him landing a heel strike to his calf before jabbing him in rapid succession in his already bloodied eye. She was playing with him and I felt a smile tug at my lips as I watched her. Cole was clearly exhausted at this point, and I noticed his hands slip down to chest height just before Jo assaulted his midsection with two quick left handed jabs. Cole crumpled into himself in an attempt to protect his body leaving his head vulnerable as a result. I knew what she was waiting for now and he'd just given her an opening. She was about to end this fight.
Jo reared back, delivering a punishing uppercut that sent Cole stumbling back in a daze. He tripped, falling onto his back and didn't get up. I tipped my head back and laughed as Hamada patted me on the shoulder smiling. Jo was defiantly a force to be reckoned with.
Panting slightly Jo made her way over to him, and offered her hand to help him up. I thought she was going above and beyond at this point. I'd have left the bastard on the floor to rot. He seemed to debate accepting her help for a few seconds before grabbing her hand as she hoisted him back on his feet.
As soon as his feet were under him he swung a brutal right hook that connected with the side of Jo's face with a sickening crunch. The force of the blow snapped her head back as she went down on her back hard.
"Jo!" I shouted as I attempted to make my way onto the mat. Hamada physically restrained me, urgently reminding me about our promise to not stop the fight.
"I don't give a fuck about that," I yelled at him. "Look at what's going on out there."
Cole was on top of Jo raining down punch after punch as she attempted to protect herself as best she could from such a vulnerable position.
"Just wait," Hamada told me, still attempting to keep me off the mat. "Trust me, I know her. She can handle this."
I couldn't understand how he could stand by utterly calm as Jo took a beating not five feet from us. Not for the first time I wondered what these two had been through together?
I turned my attention back to the mat just in time to see Cole deliver a hammer fist to Jo's mouth with such force a gush of blood rushed down her chin as a cut opened up. I was just about to throw Hamada off me when I saw her start to move.
To the untrained eye it looked like she was accomplishing very little by planting her right foot on the ground close to her own hip, but I saw it for what it was, she was going on the offensive. In order for it to work she'd have to be fast and precise. Cole had her essentially pinned down and outweighed her by enough she'd need the element of surprise to be successful.
It happened fast, she placed her left foot on Cole's hip while bucking her hips up and backwards creating the precious space she needed. Cole was oblivious to the change as he continued to rain down punches firmly seized by bloodlust, and Jo used it to her advantage. In a motion so fast it was hard to track, and was only accomplished by years of practice, she used the foot positioned at his hip to push him back. He was immediately dislodged from on top of her as he pitched backwards, eyes wide with shock.
Jo wasted no time, grabbing his right forearm as he attempting to restrain her again. She executed a roll to the side, positioning his arm between her legs as she held onto his wrist. Her legs were now firmly planted over his chest with her right thigh pinned just below his chin locking in the arm bar submission. She leaned backwards with his arm firmly in between her legs using his chest as a fulcrum, arching her hips as she pulled his wrist towards her chest.
Having experienced an arm bar submission myself this was right about the time you tapped out or broke your arm. It was simply physics and rest of the men in the room were shouting at Cole to tap out. Jo stopped moving, but didn't release her hold.
"Tap out Cole. It's over," she told him, straining.
"Go to hell you mother fucker."
Not exactly how'd I'd address someone who was currently in a position capable of removing an appendage, but to each their own.
Jo arched her hips up as far as she could at the same time as she pulled back on the arm she had pinned. I felt myself cringe as the pressure visibly built in his joint; this guy was just too stupid to live. Cole convulsed violently right before an audible snap reverberated through the room signaling the tendons and ligaments in his arm had torn free, dislocating the joint at the elbow. An agonizing scream erupted from his lips as he battled the pain while trying to remain immobile.
Jo immediately released him, rolling to the side. I surged forward, physically removing anyone who was in my path as I made a beeline for Jo. In the background Cole was hurling obscenities at her as he was carried out of the gym.
When I reached her she was still sprawled out on the mat as she gingerly touched her face trying to assess the damage Cole had inflicted. The sight of her beaten and bloody almost made me throw up on the spot. I hauled her onto her feet quickly, ignoring her gasp of surprise.
Placing my hands softly on the sides of her face I slowly turned her head left, then right, examining the damage. The guilt in my gut weighed heavily on me as bitter acid built in the back of my throat. Her face was a myriad of black, blue and yellow as the bruises took shape. Her lip was cut, but didn't look like it would require medical attention as the bleeding had already stopped. My hands drifted over every cut and bruise as I tortured myself with the knowledge that this was my fault. I was the one who'd agreed to help, I was the one who'd crashed her lazy Saturday off and made her come here. I felt physical ill at the thought.
"That was the hardest thing I've ever had to watch," I admitted, swallowing back the bile in my throat.
"I thought I did pretty well all things considered."
She was trying to alleviate my concerns and I appreciated the effort, but it wasn't going to work. I didn't think I'd ever be able to erase the scene of her on the ground being beaten or the sight of the aftermath. I feared it was seared into my brain permanently, and knew it would fuel plenty a nightmare in the future. I silently vowed to do anything and everything in my power to keep her from something like this in the future.
Her face softened as she took in my pained state. She gently placed her gloved hands against my chest, lightly curling her fingers around my shirt. "I'm OK Owen," she reassured me. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, and felt some tension leave my body.
"Jesus Jo, I forgot how terrifying you could be," Hamada remarked as he joined us. Needing to do something I systematically starting taking off her gloves and hand wraps. When I finished she cautiously probed the cut on her lip, wiping away the excess blood. She pressed her fingers to her temples in an attempt to stave off the headache that had to building.
"I'll wait for you at the car?" she asked me. I nodded in response and she turned to Hamada. "I want my money."
I watched her retreat towards the exit before turning to Hamada who was already handing over a wad of cash.
"I'm not sure how to feel about all this," I admitted as I examined the cash. I felt equal parts proud and disgusted with what had occurred today. "Did anyone other than me bet on her?"
Hamada eyed me critically, "You seem to genuinely care about her so I'm going to let you in on something. To say Jo's had a difficult past would be an understatement. I've known her for years and she's only told me bits and pieces, mostly by accident." He sighed heavily, a faraway look in his eyes. "I won't betray her trust by telling you anything. Whatever she decides to tell you is her decision, but she's not someone who trusts easily so if you aren't serious about being a part of her life, whatever that may look like, leave her alone."
"I'm serious," I told him without hesitation.
He nodded his head before continuing. "I thought so, but you need to know that it won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination. She's not use to having people to depend on, who care about her, so she'll push you away. She'll try to leave you so you don't have the chance to abandon her. Just take it slow OK? I know I sound like some overprotective brother, but she'll need time to process everything that's happening."
I stopped walking, glancing at Hamada. "What exactly do you think is happening?"
"Please, don't insult my intelligence. When the two of you get together I swear the atmosphere in the room changes. I've never seen anything like it and frankly it makes me nauseous. She's like a sister to me." We continued walking towards the car as I pondered Jo and Hamada's friendship. It went deep, that was for sure. "Just make sure you do right by her or I'll make sure you disappear."
I stopped abruptly checking to see if Hamada was serious. He was facing me, stone faced, no traces of humor in his eyes. I nodded briskly and he returned the gesture before turning to leave.
Before he could walk away I called out to him, "Why didn't you bet on Jo?" Hamada seemed to have absolute faith in her so the fact I was the only one to put my money where my mouth was struck me as odd.
He smirked, "Because I knew it wasn't a contest. It didn't seem fair to take my men's money when I knew for a fact she'd wipe the floor with him." I couldn't help the huge smile his statement provoked.
I slowly made my way to my Jeep as I observed Jo with her feet up on my dash, her eyes closed. Her cuts and bruises looked even worse in the glaring afternoon sun, if that was possible. I deposited our bags into the backseat before climbing in and handing her the cash.
"Here, you earned it."
She cracked her eyes open, turning to observe the roll of cash. She attempted to smile, but grimaced when the cut on her lip reopened. My grip on the steering wheel tightened, but I remained silent as she studiously counted every bill.
"Did anyone bet on me?" she asked sounding slightly offended.
"I did." I didn't tell her that Hamada hadn't wagered simply because he knew the outcome was never in question. His faith in her was unshakeable.
"Technically as the fighter I'm entitled to a share of your winnings, you know?"
She was trying to lighten the mood and I appreciated the effort, but I wasn't ready to joke about it. Hell, I'd probably never be ready to joke about it because it simply wasn't funny. It didn't take long for Jo to succumb to exhaustion in the passenger seat as we made our way home.
"Hey, we're here," I said, gently shaking her awake outside her camper. She was momentarily disoriented before rubbing her eyes and climbing out of the Jeep. I saw her wince as she pulled her backpack out of the backseat and I swear I felt the pain too. I didn't want to let her out of my sight so I made yet another impulsive decision.
"Have dinner with me."
I wasn't positive I'd said it out loud at first because she simply turned and looked at me with a blank expression on her face.
"Huh?" she asked confused. I exited the Jeep and made my way over to her.
"I asked if you would have dinner with me tonight," I clarified. "You know food, sustenance, something other than potato chips."
I thought the potato chip quip would get a reaction out of her, but she looked even more confused. If I didn't know better I'd wager she couldn't understand why I'd asked her out.
"You want to have dinner? With me? Tonight?" I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing she was so adorable. I knew if I made her feel stupid she'd shoot me down and probably never talk to me again. Jo was normally nothing but 100% confident in everything she did so to see her fumbling with a simple dinner invitation was mesmerizing.
"Yes."
She hesitated only slightly before answering with a soft, "OK."
"See you at seven o'clock Jo. Make sure you put some ice on your face," I smiled at her as I retreated back to my Jeep.
I know Hamada had told me I needed to take it slow when it came to Jo, and that was exactly what I intended to do. This dinner would simply be a chance for the two of us to spend time together and get comfortable. As much as I wanted it to be more I knew Jo wasn't ready for that so I needed to keep the brakes firmly pressed tonight, no matter what.
I spent the rest of the afternoon prepping for dinner. I was outside at the grill flipping the steaks when I noticed Jo standing halfway between our houses. She was standing in the grass talking to herself and I smiled despite myself. I watched her continue her internal debate before shaking her head briefly and taking a few tentative steps forward only to abruptly stop, and repeating the entire process. It was the funniest thing I'd witnessed in a while. I decided to give her some privacy as she struggled with her walk and turned back to the grill. A few minutes later I heard her climbing the porch steps.
"I was wondering if you were going to make it over here," I teased.
"Well, I'm here. What's on the menu?"
"I'm just finishing up with the steaks. I already have the salad, bread and homemade macaroni and cheese on the table. Hope that's OK?" I was really hoping Jo was a woman who actual ate. It would be sacrilege to waste my mom's macaroni and cheese.
"Yeah, that sounds delicious," she beamed at me. "Anything I can do to help?"
"Nah, I got it. Just take a seat and pour yourself some wine if you want."
She poured us both a glass of red wine as I grabbed the steaks off the grill, setting one in front of Jo. Her eyes went wide and I swear I saw drool.
"Did you make all of this?" she asked.
"Yeah, but don't be too impressed. It's just steak and salad. Now the macaroni and cheese is another story. That's my mom's recipe. Go ahead, dig in," I told her, gesturing to the table.
She wasted no time heaping out generous portions of everything onto her plate. She was practically shoveling the food into her mouth, and I wondered if she ever ate anything other than her potato chip sandwiches. I was overcome with crushing desire to care for her, even though I was sure she'd hate the idea. She abruptly stopped eating when she realized I was watching her.
"Were you not serious when you said it was time to eat?" she asked, her voice small. She visibly shrank in her seat, dropping her eyes to the table. It was such an instant transformation I blinked a few times to verify what I was seeing. Hamada's words regarding Jo's past rang through my head, and I suddenly realized the gravity of what he'd divulged. I didn't recognize the person sitting in front of me, but something dark and hidden within her had caused this drastic transformation. I absolutely hated it.
In an effort to break her free from whatever was haunting her I reached across the table, lifting her chin. "I'm sorry Jo. Yes, please eat. I wasn't, I just…the women I've shared meals with normally just push their food around the plate while they prattle on about this diet or that. It's just refreshing to see someone actually eating, especially since I slaved over this all afternoon."
My speech seemed to do the trick because she smiled tentatively before picking up her fork and continuing with her food. I joined her and we settled into an easy conversation. I told her about my parents, my brother, joining the Navy, and even how I came to work at Jurassic World. She was a good listener and I found myself willing to share almost anything with her.
"What about you? Is your family terrified knowing you work with dinosaurs?" I inquired. I was genuinely intrigued by her and found I wanted to know anything and everything.
She looked away from me, running her hands through her hair. I had the distinct feeling she was stalling, but wasn't sure why.
"Um…well. No, not really," she stuttered.
"Care to elaborate?" I didn't want to push her too far, but I wanted her to know she was safe with me. She could trust me, if she wanted to.
She bit her lip as she searched my face assessing the wisdom of opening herself up to me. "I mean, I don't have any family so I don't have to worry about anyone not liking the idea of me being here."
"You have no family?" I probed. Suddenly, the bits and pieces of Jo seemed to be falling into place before my eyes.
"No, I have no family. I was orphaned at birth and grew up in the foster care system in Houston. I aged out when I was 18, and had to do something to get off the street so I put myself through college by joining ROTC, eventually serving in the Army. When I was done with that the F.B.I. came calling."
She finished in a rush, sitting back awaiting my reaction. I had the distinct impression she was use to people shunning her or feeling sorry for her after. I was feeling neither as I gazed at the incredible woman sitting in front of me.
"You're amazing," I admitted.
Her brows furrowed at my admission. "Thank you." She said it more like a question and I smiled back at her.
"So, you were holding out on me." I knew peeling back the layers of her past tonight was a bad idea so I decided to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "Former Army and F.B.I., I guess you really are a little G.I. Jane."
"First of all, I'm not a little anything," she bristled.
And just like that the self-assured, take no shit Jo was back. We talked for a few more hours about our respective military service and my childhood. It was nice to confide in someone who understood what it was like to serve a purpose greater than themselves. She seemed to particularly love the stories regarding my childhood, and I could only guess it was because of all the experiences she'd missed out on.
I could tell she was hurting from today so I walked her towards the edge of my property. "I had a great time tonight Owen, thanks," she told me smiling.
"How's your face feeling?" I questioned as I examined her.
"It's not as bad as it looks. Nothing some Motrin and a bag of frozen peas can't fix."
That was a load of bullshit.
"If I never have to watch you take a beating like that again it will be too soon," I told her, taking a step closer.
She sucked in a breath; her eyes darting down to my lips then back up again. "I think I did most of the beating thank you very much."
"That you did Josephine."
I had every intention of keeping this dinner as platonic as possible, but something about Jo disarmed me in the best way possible. Hamada's warnings to take it slow evaporated into mist as I closed the distance between us, brushing my lips against hers.
It felt like I was dying a slow, sweet death as she responded, kissing me back. I gently grabbed her hips pulling her against me until our bodies were flush. It was torture having her so close yet still so far away. I was overpowered with the need to worship her body as her hands drifted around my neck. She smelled faintly of vanilla and the sea, and I knew if I let myself I could get lost in her forever.
She moaned lightly as my tongue slid across her lips and that was all it took to snap me out of the trance. What the fuck was I doing? I had promised myself I would take this slow. I would earn her trust and show her that I wanted more than a quick tumble in the sheets. She had trusted me tonight with secrets she almost never disclosed if Hamada was to be believed, and here I was taking advantage of the situation. I felt sick with disgust.
Abruptly I pulled back stepping away from her. She looked confused at the sudden change in my mood, but didn't press the issue. I shoved my hands in my pockets, muttering an unintelligible goodnight as I turned to leave.
The look of utter betrayal on her face felt like a knife twisting deep in my gut. I was suddenly reminded of the old adage, you can't unring a bell. I hoped with every fiber of my being that wasn't true.
LynxOnSmoothies: Thanks for the great review! I'm glad seeing things from Owen's perspective makes things clearer in regards to the original story. I hope you enjoyed the fight scene and aftermath from his viewpoint as well. It was a whooper of a chapter. Thanks for reading!
Korraismygirl: Traveling for work is the worst and I don't have my personal computer when I do, hence the delay. So sorry (again) :) That is so sweet of you to say that I could get published. I would LOVE that...what a dream come true to do something like this for a living. I can dream, right? Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks for reading!
thakidiscbac: Your review gives me life :) I'm glad you are enjoying the story and thanks so much for reading/reviewing!
BlueEyedPisces: Guess what, I spelled Pisces right the first time...go me! Travel is the worst, but I'm suffering through it with as much dignity as my twin toddlers handle sharing. Anyways, I'm so glad you liked the date. It was a hoot to write as I just imagined all the awful things anyone's every experienced on a date. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
jahoney: Writing from an Alpha male perspective is different, but if I need guidance I just look to my husband for inspiration...LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed the date. I hope the fight scene and aftermath lived up to the hype. Thanks for sticking with me, it is very much appreciated!
angelicedg: Thanks! I loved that last line too. I feel like it really embodies Owen's feelings towards Jo in general. I hope you liked this chapter, it's a lot to take in, but I felt like seeing it all play out through his eyes was crucial. Hopefully you feel the same :) Thanks so much for reading and reviewing...it keeps me going.