Melissa Good - Tropical Storm

“Hey, what’s going on here?” A short, bandy-legged man pushed his way through the crowd that had gathered, glancing at the gasping man on the mat, then up at Dar. “What the hell happened?”

Dar glanced at him. “I took exception to his teaching style,” she answered, deadpan, her eyes taking in the newcomer’s lithe, graceful physique. “It tended to the abusive.”

The man cursed in a fluid language. “Frank, get outta here. I’ve had enough of your damn troublemaking self.” He nudged the man with a toe.

“G’wan, I’ll see what I can do for you later.”

With a venomous look at Dar, the bearded man got up and stalked off, shoving people out of his way. The short newcomer looked up at Dar, setting his hands on his hips as he regarded her. “You know what you’re doing.”

Tropical Storm 307

Dar dusted herself off, and shrugged lightly. “Used to dabble in it,” she admitted, noting the intent and interested look she was getting from him. “I would guess you do yourself.”

“Could be, could be.” The man sighed, then faced the class, who were watching in fascinated interest. “Listen, sorry, folks. I’ll try to get you in a different instructor next week and give you a credit for an extra lesson.”

The crowd broke up, leaving the two of them standing there. Dar met Kerry’s eyes as she was moving away, and winked, getting a mouthed,

“Wow!” back from her.

She and the newcomer studied each other, and the man held out a hand.

“Ken Yamamura.”

“Mmm, you took the state championship two…no, three years ago.” Dar took his hand and gripped it. “Last round, took out that bruiser from Orlando with the red hair.”

He blinked. “Wow. Yeah, I sure did. Um…”

She smiled. “Dar Roberts.”

His jaw dropped and his eyes lit up. “Holy Buddhist Monk in a bottle…I thought you looked familiar!” He told her with delight. “Son of a… Man, I was there when you won the National. I never saw anything like that final bout.”

Dar ducked her head in acknowledgment. “Long time ago,” she said.

“Nice to meet you finally, though.”

“Wow, check this out—just any Wednesday and I have Dar Roberts show up to beat the crap out of my god-damned useless piece of crap brother-in-law.” He sighed. “I gotta get someone else now. I know he’s not worth much, but I thought he’d at least be able to show these newbies some of the basics.”

Dar took a breath, her eyes flicking to where Kerry was waiting, leaning against a towel rack and watching her. “Listen, if you want, I’ll teach the class.

I was going to make Wednesday my regular night here anyway.”

He stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, I’ve just been doing some casual stuff the last few years, I could use the practice.”

“Whooo, I’m not gonna turn that down. Maybe…I haven’t been keeping up the last year either. I pulled a knee out after that last fight, never really set right after that, but if you want, we could work together a little. I could at least give you more of a challenge than these kids.”

Dar considered. “Yeah, all right, that sounds like a deal to me.” She nodded. Her sparring mate on the island was a beginner at best, and she had felt a lot of things slipping lately. Maybe she needed a challenge—knock the rust off a few skills. “I’d like that. Sign me up.”

“Great.” Ken gave her an enormous grin, transforming his elfin face. “I’ll put you on the payroll.”

Dar waved him off. “No, thanks, I’m fine. Use it to get some basic equipment for these folks, okay?”

“Deal.” Ken reached out a hand. “Dar, it’s good to meet you. This’ll be a story to tell around the campfire.”

The term sent a strange prickle down her back. “Glad to meet you, too, Ken. See you next week.” She watched him walk off, then exhaled. What in the 308 Melissa Good hell did I just get myself into? she wondered as Kerry ambled over, offering her a bottle of water.

“Wow.” The blonde woman smiled at her. “That was pretty impressive.”

“C’mon, Kerry.” Dar snorted, then took a long sip of the water. “José could have dumped him on his ass, he didn’t know a damn thing.” She sighed. “What an idiot.”

“Well, but will his replacement be any better?” Kerry queried. “The class seems a little generic.”

“Um…actually, it’s me,” Dar muttered.

“What?” She leaned closer. “Did I just hear you say what I think I just heard you say?”

Dar gave her a sheepish look. “I volunteered. I felt bad for those kids, and if I’m going to be around anyway, what the hell, right?”

“Mmm.” Kerry smiled at her. “Well, then, can I get some private lessons?” she quipped.

“Sure,” her companion agreed. “You finished here?” She glanced around.

“I think I promised a hot tub, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Ugh.” Kerry stretched out her arms. “After that climbing thing and those exercises, yeah, I’d love that.” She put her towel over her shoulders, feeling a welcome tingle of anticipation. “Besides which, I’m starved.”

Dar chuckled, and grabbed her own towel. “I can do something about that, too,” she teased gently. “C’mon.”

They retrieved their bags from the locker room and exited the gym, walking out through the well-lit parking area toward where they’d left their cars. Dar knew she was in trouble as they turned the corner of the building, and she felt, rather than saw, shadows heading towards her, the wind bringing a scent of anger and sweat.

“All right, bitch, now we’ll see who’s tough!” The bearded man surged forward, another, shorter figure behind him.

IT WAS AN instinct bone-deep, and Dar obeyed it, pulling Kerry behind her and putting her body between the threat and her companion. She was facing two men, and the darkness kept her from seeing them fully, but her senses were enough for her to react as the closer one swung a dark object at her. She dodged the blow, letting it carry her opponent around, then went for the tough stuff, as her father would have said, and nailed him in the crotch with a powerful knee. He squealed like a pig and dropped to his knees, then she took advantage of that by kicking him in the face.

His friend almost got her, though. He was faster and had time to move in while she was fighting with the other man, and he got in a blow to her kidneys with a piece of steel pipe. Dar felt half her body go numb for a frightening moment, then she let loose with a clumsy, but effective right cross which got past his surprised defenses and bloodied his nose with a crunch.

It gave her enough time to catch her breath and her balance, then she set her body and whipped up a roundhouse kick that nailed her opponent in the jaw and sent him sprawling. “Any more, and I call the cops,” Dar managed to get out. “And I guarantee you’ll be courting girlfriends in the Dade County Tropical Storm 309

Jail in under a half hour.”

“You got my ass fired, you bitch.” The closer man groaned, holding his crotch.

“You got your ass fired, buddy,” Dar responded, taking a step back and feeling Kerry’s hands touch her. “Don’t go blaming it on me.”

The man climbed to his feet and glared at her. “Not just me’s got a problem with you. Better watch your back, ’cause someone’s gonna put a knife in it.” He stumbled off, pulling his companion with him.

Dar watched them go, then let her body lean slowly back against the wall, very aware of concerned green eyes that were studying her in the dim light.

“Morons.”

“Are you okay?” Kerry whispered. “Jesus, Dar, those people are crazy.

Maybe you should have called the police.”

Dar gingerly felt her ribs, then sighed. “No thanks. I’m not in the mood to be spending a couple of hours doing paperwork, I’ve got better things to do.”

She picked up her towel and bag, then nodded toward their cars. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.” She glanced around, spotting a shadowy figure watching them from under a tree nearby. Dar strained her eyes, but she couldn’t make out the features, and she finally turned away with a grim look.

They quietly parted as they reached the car lot, and Kerry went to her car, unaware of the pale blue eyes that watched her until she was safely inside.

Only then did Dar open the door and slide into the leather seat of the Lexus with a stifled groan. The ache in her side throbbed painfully and she sat a moment, leaning against the steering wheel before she straightened up and started the car, putting it in gear and following Kerry’s taillights out of the parking lot.

A grudge? Or something more. The man’s words bothered Dar, and she briefly wondered if some co-worker had taken the opportunity to get back at her. Someone like José, for instance. Would he be that stupid? That venal? The executive sighed. He was that stupid, yes. And hotheaded on top of it. Maybe the chance had just been too much for him to pass up. A couple of bucks slipped to an already pissed-off moron and no dirt on his hands. With a sigh, Dar tried to put it out of her mind and concentrate on something more pleasant.

Who happened to be driving just in front of her, moving the Mustang through the relatively light traffic with casual skill. They would use the hot tub, that’s for sure, then have a light dinner, and her strawberries were waiting—no way was she going to waste time going to the doctor’s for a few bruises. Hell, she was tougher than that.

KERRY STRETCHED OUT stiffened muscles as she got out of the car, and waited for Dar to lock the Lexus before she joined her companion for the short walk up the stairs. She had her overnight bag with her, and she slung it over her shoulder, following Dar inside and letting the smell of clean wax and wood fill her lungs as she stepped inside.