Page 68 of Dead Girls Don’t Forget

“You hit like you’re mad at it,” he said, watching the way the bag swung.

I didn’t stop. I shifted my weight, drove another hard cross into the bag, and felt the impact travel up my arm. “Maybe I am.”

His mouth twitched, not quite a smile.

The bell over the door rang.

I didn’t need to turn around. My cat already knew who had just walked in.

Tom looked past my shoulder. His expression tightened. Then, unless I was imagining it, a flash of guilt moved across his face. I furrowed my brows and glanced back just as Jackson crossed the floor toward us. Tom took a quick step away from me, muttered something that sounded like an excuse, and went back to his own bag without another word. I watched him go, still frowning.

Without a word, Jackson stepped in behind the heavy bag and braced it for me.

“Why does Tom look like he’s expecting trouble?” I asked, throwing a jab.

“No idea.”

“Try again.”

The bag thudded under my fist. He braced through it easily.

“Jackson.”

“Harper.”

“Why is Tom afraid of you?”

He let out a slow breath and glanced across the gym at Tom, who was suddenly very focused on his own bag.

“I had a conversation with him,” he said.

“What kind of conversation?”

“The kind that came after your bruises. I told him he wasn’t sparring with you again.”

I huffed and threw the cross harder than necessary. “You are unbelievable.”

“I know.”

“You went around me.”

“Yes.”

No apology. No hesitation.

I was annoyed. I hit the bag harder, letting the sting in my knuckles sharpen every punch until the rest of the room started to blur. Breath, step, impact. The bag rocked under the force. Jackson absorbed it without shifting his feet, steady and silent behind it.

Part of me warmed at the thought that someone had stepped in for me without being asked. I hated that warmth the second I felt it. I threw another hard cross. “Don’t do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Fight my battles for me.”

“I didn’t like the bruise on your jaw.”

The words landed heavier than they should have. I lowered my hands.

“I’ll be careful.”