Bound (Mastered 1)

“I was surprised to see so many people there. Who knew the devil’s music wrapped in angel’s wings had such a strong following?”

Amery elbowed him. “Not funny.”

“Although I wasn’t sure if I was disappointed or relieved there weren’t any animal sacrifices onstage.”

“Says the Buddhist with an altar in his practice room.”

“It’s not a Buddhist altar; it’s a Shinto shrine. And if you noticed, I didn’t buy a CD, but I was in the minority, so they are doing well, at least on the merchandising side.”

“I’m happy he’s successful doing what he loves. Not everyone is so lucky in their working lives.”

He kissed her temple. “We are.”

“For as long as it lasts for me.”

“Meaning what?” They cut across the street and walked past abandoned buildings that lined both sides of the block. Showing up late to the event meant all the prime parking spots close to the venue had been snapped up, so they’d parked several blocks away.

“Meaning I’ve been scrambling to find new business. With so many places taking their graphic needs in-house, not only have I lost clients, but it’s harder picking up new ones. I’ve tightened my belt as much as I can, but unless things pick up soon, I’ll have to let Molly go.”

Ronin stopped and faced her. “Amery. Why haven’t you told me this?”

“Because it’s hard to admit, especially to someone who’s running a successful business. I doubt you’ve got downward trends like in the line of work I’m in.”

“I’ve had some pretty lean years and done what I had to, to make ends meet.” He brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Besides line me up a million-dollar client?” she joked. Then she kissed the frown on his mouth. “Kidding. One good thing is even if I have to close up shop and go to work for another company, I won’t lose my apartment because of the storefront rental income from Emmylou and Chaz. It’s just I feel guilty about Molly.”

A metal clank echoed and she spun around to see where the noise had come from. But there weren’t any streetlights and the area was completely deserted.

How could that be? For as many people who’d attended the show, there should be more people heading back to their cars. But the sidewalk was empty and no cars zipped by. She got a little creeped out in the eerie silence. “Are we going the right way?”

Ronin looked around. Frowned at the darkness. “This doesn’t look right. We must’ve gotten turned around and exited on the wrong side. My car is the other direction.”

They reversed course. Right after they crossed the street, two guys stepped out of the shadows.

Amery almost screamed, they’d slunk out of nowhere so fast.

“I see we got us some tourists in our neighborhood,” one guy said to the other.

“Know what we do to tourists who find themselves ‘lost’ in our neighborhood, bro?” the other guy said.

“We charge them a finder’s fee.”

“So pay up, motherfuckers.”

Fear slammed into her.

The two guys moved in uncomfortably close. She heard a noise and looked over her shoulder to see two more guys spread out behind them.

They were f**ked.

Then Ronin put his mouth on her ear. “Stay behind me and out of the way.”

“I don’t like you whispering to your bitch, so knock that shit off and pay the f**k up.”

Ronin said nothing. But she noticed he’d maneuvered them so she was behind him and his back was to the wall.

The Hispanic guy taunted, “Don’t got nothin’ to say, ése? We’re insulting your woman and you’re gonna stand there and take it?” Then he leered at Amery. “Got a mind to prove to you what it’s like to be with a real man, puta. Make him watch how I can make you scream.”

Laughter echoed around them.

“None of that yet, bro.” The other guy gestured with his chin to Ronin and crossed his arms over his chest. “Hand over your wallet, watch, and everything in your pockets. Do it fast.”

Ronin didn’t budge.

Which pissed off the black guy. “You deaf? Or you need an incentive to do what the f**k we tell you?”

“I’m not deaf. I’m also not handing over my wallet. Here’s your warning to back off.”

“Back off? Or what? You’re outnumbered, dumb f**k.”

“Got ourselves a real hero here,” the other guy drawled. “Let’s see how tough you are.”

Please no. What if the guy had a gun? Or a knife?

The Hispanic kid moved in on Ronin’s right side as the black guy came at him from the left. She wasn’t sure where the two other guys were. She just knew that four against one were shitty odds and she couldn’t get to her phone to call 911.

Everything happened in slow motion—but also lightning fast.

Ronin stepped forward as the Hispanic attacker came at him. He delivered an open-handed strike to the guy’s nose and swept his feet out from beneath him. The guy hit the ground hard and howled in agony, clutching his broken nose.

The black guy didn’t spare his buddy a glance; all his rage was focused on Ronin. He held his arms up and in front of his face and performed a couple of shadowboxing moves. But as soon as he led with his right hand, Ronin grabbed it, twisted the dude’s arm entirely behind his back until something popped. The guy yelled—as much from pain as the fact that he also found himself on the ground eating dirt.