Page 85 of Smokescreen

CHAPTER 37

Why couldn’t I have stayed in sales?Olive asked herself as fists continued to fly. Her life would have been a lot simpler—and much more boring.

Reid, thankfully, was an adept fighter, so she didn’t have to worry about him. In fact, he seemed worried about her.

But he’d never seen her fight before either. Her training for situations like these had been brutal—but necessary.

For every swing Edgar took, Olive was prepared with a countermove.

After going on for several rounds, Olive knew she needed to switch things up. She hopped on Edgar’s back and wrapped her arms around his throat, obstructing his airflow.

Edgar pounded her arms, trying to loosen her grip.

She didn’t let up.

Jon was preoccupied with Reid and couldn’t help his cohort.

Running out of air, Edgar staggered backward.

A moment later, he slammed Olive into the rocky mountain cliff behind the building.

The air left her lungs . . . but she didn’t let go.

Then Edgar went in for a second try.

This time the impact made her grip loosen.

The move afforded the man the opportunity to throw her off his back.

Olive slid down the rockface to the ground. Pain stretched across her back, and she winced.

But her eyes never left Edgar. The man doubled over, coughing as he held his throat and tried to catch his breath.

Olive glanced at Reid. He’d knocked Jon onto the ground after a hard punch.

She exchanged a glance with Reid, and they both nodded to indicate they were okay.

She pulled herself to her feet and hurried toward Reid, ready to continue this fight if she had to.

Before they could, a door opened behind them.

A housekeeper stepped out of the room next to the cleaning cart. Alarm filled the woman’s gaze when she saw the four of them.

Olive looked back at Jon and Edgar, hoping they didn’t turn their fury on this innocent woman.

“Get back inside!” Reid shouted to her.

The woman scrambled back into the motel room and slammed the door.

But their trouble was far from over.

Both Jon and Edgar stood upright and stared down Olive and Reid.

The men’s hands were fisted, and they hunched as if ready to lunge at them again.

Jon kept letting out low growls.

Olive stood braced for any sudden attacks. “Who are you working for?”