Her younger cousin, Ava.

That was why Lena had come.

Ava had wanted to join Blue Ridge.

Now she looked pale.

Lena asked:

“You okay?”

Ava shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

Fair.

Daniel stood.

“Lena, before you leave, I want Rachel to check your neck.”

“I’m fine.”

“Probably.”

He paused.

“Still.”

Lena looked at him.

Then nodded.

“Okay.”

Good.

Cole watched.

He hated how calmly everyone was moving around him.

As if his explanation was no longer needed.

He looked toward the stranger one last time.

“You got a name?”

The man smiled.

“Elias Ward.”

Cole waited.

Nothing.

“Supposed to mean something?”

Elias shook his head.

“No.”

And that was the first smart answer anyone gave that afternoon.

Twenty-seven minutes earlier, Lena Brooks had not expected to touch the mat.

She had come to Blue Ridge Combat Club because Ava wanted to try the teen grappling program.

Ava was sixteen.

Quiet.

Smart.

Six feet tall in combat boots but somehow still capable of looking twelve when unfamiliar adults spoke too quickly.

Lena’s older sister Monica had asked:

“Can you go with her?”

Lena answered:

“Why me?”

“Because you know martial arts.”

“I knew martial arts.”

“Same difference.”

“No.”

Monica gave her the older-sister stare.

“You trained for fifteen years.”

“Twelve.”

“You had belts.”

“Everybody had belts.”

“You had medals.”

Lena had looked away.

“Not anymore.”

Monica noticed.