Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

occupied, a full bar, and members in the middle of the room
dueling it out, dressed in their white protective gear and
helmets.
I spotted Rika right away. Her body was unmistakable in
the tight pants.
She lunged for her opponent, landing her point right in his
heart, and I heard him growl and back away before setting
himself up again.
I wanted to go over there and drag her off now, but I
wasn’t supposed to be in here, Michael having had them
cancel my membership two years ago. I was barely able to
sneak in at all.
I watched the way she stepped and retreated, rolling her
wrists and swinging her arm. Like choreography. Methodical.
It was like chess with strategy, but also like a dance. GGraceful
and statuesque.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, leaning against the
wall and watching her, but she finished, and I didn’t even
know if she’d won. Keeping her mask on, she put up her foil,
and walked to the other side of the room, ascending the stairs.
I followed.
They didn’t have a female locker room here—or they
didn’t the last time I was here—so I imagined she changed in a
private room.
I climbed the two flights of stairs, and once at the third
floor, I stepped quietly down the hallway. Doors lined both
sides and I was unsure of where she went.
There were offices, a library, a few bedrooms, and on the
right, I passed a billiards room, the door open and Rika leaning
on the pool table with her back to me. I stopped, seeing her
staring at a collection of weapons hung on the wall.
“Michael didn’t want me to come tonight,” she said.
I smiled to myself. Couldn’t sneak up on her anymore.
“He knew you knew my routine,” she continued. “But
lately, and with as happy as I am with so much in my life, the