Chapter 4

We walked for what felt like miles through tunnels. There was no conversation, just walking. I was okay without chatter. How a person handled silence said a lot about them. Some couldn’t handle quiet. The restless ones never made good fighters; their focus was all over the place.

We stopped by two doors, I followed them in. It was a huge dojo-style gym. The wall of practice gear was outstanding. I turned to see the other twin and a blonde woman watching a woman on the mat. She was doing some very well practiced Tai Chi moves. She performed them with an elegant grace, it was amazing to see.

It took me a minute to see she was almost to the end of the standard twenty-four moves. Kicking my shoes off, I stepped over to the side of the door out of the way and picked up the move she was on, then followed through the push and stepped in time to her move. It had been a long time since I’d had the time to concentrate on the gracefully disciplined moves. I did the last three poses until we ended on the final position. I bowed to her after she finished, and she returned it.

“That was perfect. Your form is very well disciplined.” I went back over to my shoes.

She paused a moment looking at me, probably because of my banged-up face. “Thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to hold me in check with those.”

I started to smile, then my lip stopped me. “Your form needs no corrections.”

She smiled. “You instruct?”

I shook my head. “Not tai chi. I’ve used it to help students learn focus or defense moves, but my style is more—” I glanced at the wall of practice tools, “violent.”

Slipping her boots on, she came over. “I’m Alona.” She gave me a small smile. “I’d love to see the moves at a faster pace.” She shrugged. “I could never quite manage it.”

I touched my ribs. “I’m Autumn. I’d show you now, but I’m a little banged up and wouldn’t be able to do it justice.”

Alona glanced to the twin with the goatee. “You should have called me.”

“Beloved, I don’t like to interrupt your peaceful moments.” He motioned to me. “There was nothing to tell as of yet. Aside from the fact that she messed up some of Hubert’s guards.”

The smaller blonde spoke up. “I ran down to the cells to check it out.” She grinned. “Nice work.”

I shrugged, “they started it.” I glanced to Michael and motioned to the wall. “May I?”

He nodded, still standing beside the door with an odd look on his face.

I went over and walked along the wall, then turned around. “This place is like a slice of heaven.”

Troy looked at Daxx and raised an eyebrow.

“All you need is a few bags and padded poles to make this room perfect.”

Michael motioned to the door. “We should go, the others will be waiting.”

One twin gave the other a quick look, then started for the door.

Alona went to the bearded one, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her into his side, a look of concern on his face.

“I’m fine,” she smiled up at him. “That’s my bleeding compassion, not from her.”

He kissed the top of her head. “There will be no bleeding anything on you. Emotions or otherwise.”

I turned and followed them out the door.

I stayed at the back and listened to the obvious couples talking as we walked. It took a moment to notice the tattoos they had on their left arms, if I wasn’t mistaken, they matched. It was different, but not the strangest thing I’d seen couples do. At least it was just a pattern and not each other’s name. I’d seen that often enough, then when they broke up trying to cover the name of their ex always proved to be a challenge.

Michael was a few feet ahead of me, but his posture told me he was completely aware of how many steps behind I was the entire time.

They turned and went in a door, I followed then stopped to see a huge table with chairs lining both sides. Large portraits hung on the walls, all of couples. They all looked happy and regal, like they could have been royalty. I waited until everyone sat down then took the chair closest to the door. It was a habit that I would probably never break. You never knew when you’d need a fast exit.

A petite redheaded lady came in carrying a tray. She set it on the table, paused for a moment and looked at me, then turned and went back into the kitchen. A few glanced at me as they began heaping their plates up. I was bit taken back by the amount of food they were going to eat. The lady came in again with more trays.

Michael glanced down the table at me and motioned to the food.

I nodded. “I’ll wait until everyone has theirs.”

Bethany smiled down at me. “You met Alona and Daxx on the way here,” She motioned to a dark-haired woman beside Arius. “This is Paisley.”

She turned and smiled at me. “Sorry, I completely forgot to introduce myself.” Glancing around the table, she shook her head. “I’m still getting used to this family thing.”

I nodded. “Autumn.”

The lady came out of the kitchen again, this time she only carried a plate and was coming toward me. I looked to see if anyone else was watching, they all were.

“Here you are, love.” She gave me a sweet smile. “That’s broiled, no oil.” She pulled a bottle of water out of her apron and set it in front of me.

I looked down to see a huge chicken breast and vegetables on the plate. “Oh, you are a dream.” I told her, trying hard to smile without splitting my lip again. Using my foot, I shoved the chair out at the corner of the table. “Grab a seat.”

She turned and looked to the faces watching us from the other end of the table.

I looked at Michael, then Troy. “It’s all right if she sits?” No one moved. I shrugged and motioned to the chair. “Yeah, go for it.”

She sat down. “I’m Mitz, dear.”

I nodded and picked up my fork. “That’s going to be hard to say until my lip goes down, without spitting.”

Mitz gave me a compassionate look. “That’s fine, love.”

I motioned down the table. “Do you want some coffee or tea?” I started to get up.

She touched my hand, “No, I’m fine. But thank you.”

I sat down again and looked at the others, they were watching, but didn’t seem upset. “You should grab a plate and take a break.” I pointed to the door. “You’ve set a few speed records flying in and out of there.” I held my hand over the plate she brought me. “Do you want some of the chicken? It smells amazing.”

She shook her head and stood up. Leaning down she kissed the top of my head. “Thank you, but I’m fine. Enjoy your food. Let me know if you need anything else.” Her eyes briefly looked at my face again, “You’re a refreshing heart.” Then she hurried from the room.

She’d kissed me. I looked around at the others, then had to look at my plate. Emotions I didn’t deal with much started to bubble to the surface. “She’s sweet.” I nodded, hoping they were looking at their own plates again.

It was silent for a few minutes, the clank of forks hitting plates, not much else.

“Okay—I can’t sit here for a minute longer in this quiet.”

I looked up to see Daxx was talking.

“I saw what you did to those guys. Where did you learn to fight like that?”

I held up my hand, so I could chew and swallow. “Sorry. Mouth is a bit tender. Chewing is a workout.” I rolled my eyes. “Well, when I was young—” I shrugged, “like nine or ten, around there, I’d hide up in the—” I frowned. “I don’t know what they’re called. The old buildings have them near the top, they’re like a ledge with an overhang.” I looked to see Crissy nodding. “New shiny skyscrapers don’t have them…”

“They’re great in bad weather.” She nodded.

I pointed to her. “Right? You have to share it with the birds, but…”

She smiled. “It keeps the rats away.”

“Exactly.” I glanced to the others to see them looking from Crissy to me. From the expressions, the women seemed to get it, the men didn’t look impressed. “Any way, I found this one, it was perfect. The wind from the bay never hit it.”

Crissy nodded again; she knew.

I grabbed the bottle of water and opened it. “This isn’t going to be pretty.” I joked and carefully took a sip slowly, so I wouldn’t drool it all out with my lip. Swallowing, I put the cap back on and set it down. “So, I found this sweet spot across from a martial arts school—I’d dive for dinner…”

“Fish?” Rafael asked.

I smirked, then held my lip for a second.

Beth and Crissy both turned to look at him. Alona and Daxx both grinned.

“Oh, you’re cute.” I told him. “I meant dumpster diving.”

“You ate other people’s garbage?” Michael looked horrified.

I shrugged. “I was ten.”

Crissy looked at him. “You can find tasty food sometimes.”

I nodded. “Right. Restaurants are the best locations.

She grinned. “Those banquet halls.”

“Oh, the best desserts there.” I nodded, then looked to see everyone watching me. “So, I’d hole up and watch classes for all these different fighting styles.” I shrugged. “Then I’d practice—it’s a great way to stay warm.” The expressions around the table ranged from startled to understanding, so I continued. “When I was twelve or thirteen, I went to the teacher in that school and asked him if I could beat his best fighter, would he train me? He agreed.” I shrugged again. “So, I did.” I noticed no one was eating. “Sorry, I talk too much when I’m nervous or around a lot of new people—” I motioned around the table. “The size of you guys equals a lot of people.”

Victor leaned back, his hands on the table. “That’s fine, please continue.”

I let my gaze touch on a few of the others, they seemed interested. “Okay, ah, when I was seventeen, I became one of his instructors. When I didn’t have a class, I’d hit the streets and show young kids how to defend themselves,” I sighed, remembering some of those kids. “Teach them how to have a chance out there.” I paused, needing another sip of water.

While I was wrestling with trying to drink and not embarrass myself, Michael shoved back from the table and went out into the kitchen. I was capping the bottle when he came back out and down the table. He stopped a few feet away and held out a straw. I took it. “Oh, thanks.” I nodded and opened the bottle again and put the straw in, taking a bigger drink. When I was done, I pulled the straw out and set it beside my plate and capped the bottle once more. “Thanks, that’s much better.” I cleared my throat. “I was an instructor for five years, then the sensei died—the school shut down.”

“That’s incredible.” Alona said quietly. “That you help the kids on the street.”

I opened my hands and held them up. “When you live it, you know what it takes to survive it.”

She nodded and sighed. “I don’t miss that.”

“Neither do I.” Beth said quietly.

Crissy shook her head. “It’s nice knowing I get to eat every day and be warm and dry.”

I nodded. To look at these women, you’d never know they’d been on the streets. “It is. I can’t find them homes, but I can give them chance.”

Michael had been watching me without looking away. He pushed his plate away and leaned his arms on the table. “What have you been doing since the school closed?”

I licked at my lip, trying to keep it from drying out too much. “I bounced around for a bit, trying to find my footing elsewhere. No other schools want a street rat teaching their privileged students. Then I found old Joe at the gym…”

“At Joe’s Bronze Ring?” Crissy asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“He’s nice, he let me sit inside when the weather was really cold.” She nodded looking excited.

“Yeah, he’s a peach. I give him a hand with light training for his guys and he sets up fights on the down low for me, you know? I split the winnings with him and he lets me crash in the old storage room.”

Michael frowned. “Wait. You fight for a living?”

I nodded. “Girls gotta eat.” I shrugged, “I don’t have any other life skills and I get my choice of showers after it closes.”

Michael turned to look at Troy, then to Chase.

Both twins turned to look at me.

“I think until we figure out how you were taken, you should stay here.” Alona said softly.

I looked at Michael. “I totally forgot, you wanted to ask me about that.” I waved my hand to the plate in front of me. “The food distracted me.”

He shook his head. “That’s fine. If you’d like to eat, go ahead, we can talk when you’re finished.”

I looked at the food on my plate, then back to him. “Are you sure?”

“I insist.” He looked back to the twins, then around to some of his brothers.

I waited to see if the others started eating again, before picking up the fork.