Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 189

It looked more like a museum than a home,

Austyn headed straight for the study.

Two tall, burly figures clad in black from head to toe stood guard outside the double mahogany door. Both were wearing hip holsters. The McCarthy Patriarch

One of them stepped forward with his right arm raised like a barricade.

'Master has given an order not to be disturbed.'

Austyn stood toe to toe with the man.

'Darius, are you going to stop me?'

Kai recognised Darius Jackson.

The soldier trained under Austyn years ago.

He won the hand-to-hand combat contest in his first year and defended his championship title for as long as he remained in the army.

After he left, Master McCarthy personally recruited Darius into his security detail.

Darius shifted his feet. "Sir, I-'

"Don't "Sir" me, Austyn said. 'I'm not your captain anymore. The man behind that door is your boss now."

He narrowed his eyes. 'So you're not going to let me in?!

Darius looked down. 'Sorry."

Austyn nodded. 'Okay then."

He took off his coat and tossed it to Kai, who caught it with both hands.

Then he removed his cufflinks, and, pausing at the sight of the Timex watch on his left wrist, removed it too.

He handed the watch to Kal.

Then he rolled up his sleeves, revealing two sinewy arms.

Kai stepped back, out of the range of harm.

He said a silent prayer for the two guards.

Those guys were doomed.

Austyn rotated his wrists.

He had left the army years ago, but he'd taken its rigorous physical fitness training regimen with him.

His mesomorph physique retained not an ounce of excess fat, and his muscles, though not bulky like a bodybuilder's, were well-defined and powerful.

Austyn crooked a finger at Darius. 'I haven't done a sparring practice with you guys for years. Come on, let's see if you've got it.'

Darius was reluctant to go up against his ex-captain. 'Sir, you

A list flew at him before he could finish.

Austyn moved lightning fast.

He threw a left hook followed immediately by a right jab, then an uppercut aimed at Darius' jaw.

Darius reacted fast, dodging the first blow and parrying the second with his left hand, but he was not fast enough.

Austyn's fist connected with the bodyguard's nose bridge with a dull 'crack

Blood spurted out.

Darius had no time to wipe the blood away, preoccupied with fending off his ex-captain's relentless attacks. The McCarthy Patriarch

He was well-trained by Austyn, but the student could not defeat the master.

In another ten moves, Darius was on the floor, panting hard, bleeding-

Austyn put the second guard out of commission as well.

He rolled down his shirt sleeves and said to Darius. 'You' netting rusty. If I'd used as much force as I did back in the

army days, you'd be dead right now."

Darius didn't reply, having the wind knocked out of him.

He knew Austyn was right, though.

He might have won sparring contests in the army, but Captain McCarthy was forged in the crucible of Hell Weeks and actual combat. 'Kal, stay here.'