Tiger Mom (Killer Moms Book 4)

by Eve Langlais

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re still there,” she gushed.

  “Macey? Sorry, I mean, Portia?” Flattering that he recognized her voice.

  “Yes. Sorry to ring you so late. I’m sure you’re eager to finish up and go home, but it wasn’t until a few minutes ago as I went through my purse that I realized I couldn’t find my notebook. I am hoping I dropped it in your studio. Probably in your office when I was changing?”

  “Is it black with a rubber band around it?”

  “Yes! You found it.” She exaggerated her relief. “I need it.”

  “I can swing it by to you in about half an hour or so, after I’m done cleaning up here.”

  “That’s too long. I need it to finish up some work I’m doing. I’ll just run over and grab it.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. My dojo is not in a good section of town, especially at night. I’ll do my cleanup tomorrow and bring it now if it’s urgent.”

  Just like Joanna, he thought her too weak to handle herself. “No, you will most certainly not. I’m a big girl, and you shouldn’t be going out of your way. I’ll be by in about ten minutes to grab it. I’ll park right out front if that makes you feel better.”

  “Not really.”

  “I’ll keep my doors locked until the very last second.”

  The remark brought a snort. “As if that would stop anyone. You’re too pretty to be roaming my area at night.”

  The compliment brought unexpected pleasure. But rather than accept it, she tossed it back to him. “I could say the same of you.”

  He sighed. “No one is interested in selling me on the black market.”

  “I wouldn’t be so certain. I’m sure a few of your organs are harvestable.” A tart reply, to which he laughed.

  “Anyone ever tell you you’re stubborn?”

  “All the time. Usually before they agree to what I want.” Because Portia wasn’t a pushover anymore.

  “Let me bring it to you. Please. It would make me feel better.”

  “Too late. I’m already halfway there. See you soon.” Before he could argue, she hung up and simmered over his remark. As if she was too dainty to handle going out on her own.

  Why couldn’t she be smart and dangerous? And why did she care what he thought? Soon, he’d realize just how much he underestimated her, but by then, it would be too late for him.

  She raced down the road and parked across from the strip of stores, noting it was pretty quiet this time of night, with only a handful of vehicles scattered up and down the street. The light shining from the window of his studio meant she could see inside where Ted moved back and forth, wiping down the mats with a long-handled mop.

  He turned as she stepped out of the car, set his mop aside, and headed for the door, pulling her notebook off the counter as he approached. He truly wasn’t keen on having her stick around. So much for the girls’ theory that he crushed on her.

  Portia opened the door and stepped in. “Hi, thank goodness you found my book.”

  He held it out. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” She tucked it into her purse, but she didn’t immediately go. “Listen, Ted, about our past... I’d really prefer it if you didn’t say anything in front of my girls, or talk about it at all, to anyone, actually.”

  “Hiding from something?”

  “No. What makes you say that?” She kept her hand in her purse, fingers wrapped around a syringe.

  “Come on, Macey. Portia. Whatever name you want to use. I’m not stupid. According to some news report, you died in an accident while in China.”

  She went numb inside. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Someone did a good job of scrubbing the articles.”

  Her blood ran cold. He’d been looking her up. How? How had Marie not spotted this during their electronic surveillance? “That was a long time ago.”

  “Does anyone know you’re alive?”

  “No. And I’d prefer to keep it that way.” She pulled out her hand, tucked into her sleeve, hiding the needle she’d slipped into her bag before leaving the house. She’d only get one shot. “Haven’t you ever wanted to start over?”

  “Yeah. I guess you could call this my do-over project.” He swept a hand around the dojo.

  “Well, consider Portia Stalone my do-over, which is why you can’t tell anyone about me.”

  A grave expression creased his face. “Are you in danger?”

  Every minute of every hour, if Ronin ever found out that she lived. She shook her head. “Just trying to get away from my past. So, I’d appreciate it if you could keep quiet.”

  “Will do. But I will say, if you are in trouble—”

  She cut him off. “I’m fine. Thanks. I’d better go and get my work done. It was nice seeing you again.” She went to hug him, which would get her close enough to use the syringe, only the bells over his door jangled.

  “Oh, shit,” Ted muttered as he shoved her behind him. She might have protested, but chose instead to observe why he suddenly appeared so tense.

  A trio of men walked in. Gang toughs by the swagger, she’d wager. But it was the one in the middle that caused her to pause.

  A man who should be dead. An old acquaintance who would probably recognize her. She tucked closer behind Ted, using his body as a shield, hoping the man had not gotten a good look at her face.

  Then she prayed to a deity that didn’t listen.

  Chapter Four

  Fuck me. Ted didn’t have to glance behind to realize Portia had stiffened, probably in fear. Just his shit luck, Taotie would show before she had a chance to leave.

  “You’re early.” Ted tried to draw the thug’s attention to him.

  “Am I early or just in time? Who’s that hiding behind you? I wasn’t aware you had a girlfriend. You seem more the type to be best friends with your hand.” Taotie’s gaze strayed past Ted.

  “She’s no one,” Ted quickly said, not liking Taotie’s interest. Worse, though, he could sense Portia’s coiled tension. He had no way to reassure her that Taotie wouldn’t touch her. Just scare her a bit to make himself look big. Or so Ted hoped.

  “No one?” Taotie repeated in a mocking tone. “Is that any way to talk about your lady friend?”

  “She’s a customer and was just about to leave.”

  “She stays,” Taotie stated.

  “Why? She has nothing to do with our business.”

  “Everything that happens in this neighborhood is my business.” Taotie shifted to his left, and Ted almost moved to match him, only he knew it would just make things worse. For some reason, Taotie was determined to force Portia out of hiding.

  And he discovered why a moment later when Portia stepped out of his shadow to say, “Hello, Chen.”

  “Shit,” he muttered. Didn’t take a genius to see that they knew each other and had not parted on good terms. Was Taotie the father of her children? That didn’t seem right. She was much too smart to have hooked up with a low-class thug.

  “Well, well. It is you. Macey Munroe.” Taotie cocked his head. “You almost fooled me with the hair. And your face. Have you gained weight?”

  “I would ask the same of you,” was her cool reply.

  “It’s been a while.”

  “Not long enough.” The tight control in her voice was the only thing that betrayed her angst.

  Taotie wore a different tracksuit than the previous night, but the smirk held the exact same arrogance. “My lucky day.”

  “Who is this?” Ralph asked, confused by the exchange. Then again, Ted would wager it didn’t take much to muddle him.

  “A dead woman. Who is not very dead, as it turns out. Tell me, Macey, were you even on that helicopter when it crashed?” Taotie queried.

  “What do you think?” Macey didn’t cower before Taotie. Brave even as it was stupid. The thug wasn’t one to tolerate what he considered to be disrespect.

  Taotie’s expression hardened. “You fucking cunt. You tried to kill me.”

&n
bsp; “Me? I wasn’t the one with the gun.”

  Ted blinked. What the fuck was happening?

  “Holy fuck, is this the broad you were telling us about? The one that got you kicked out of China?” Ralph’s gaze went wide.

  “This cunt conspired with a bitch to kill me and escape,” Taotie confirmed.

  “Actually, I had nothing to do with what happened. But can’t say as I minded either,” Macey declared.

  “Because of you, I almost died.” Taotie’s face twisted with rage.

  “Oops.” She offered a non-apologetic shrug. “Unfortunately, a necessary thing given you wouldn’t have stepped aside so I could escape.”

  “The whole reason I was placed as your guard was because Ronin knew you were thinking of running.”

  Ronin. Ted stored the named for later. The unfolding drama couldn’t be missed.

  “Can you blame me? He treated me no better than a prisoner.”

  “Living in the lap of luxury,” Taotie spat.

  “Luxury?” Rather than show meekness, Macey’s chin lifted. “He bought me clothes to hide the bruises he left. Showered me in jewels as if that was supposed to make me forgive his abuse.”

  The hands by Ted's sides tightened. It was getting harder and harder to listen.

  “Whine, whine, bitch, bitch,” Taotie mocked. “Such a hard life. He would have given you everything. But then you supposedly died in that crash, and Ronin went ballistic. Guess who was left behind to deal with it? He blamed me for everything. I was the one who got the brunt of his punishment.”

  “Couldn’t have been that bad, given you look fine,” was her tart reply.

  Ted could have winced. Talking back wouldn’t help the situation.

  “Fine?” Taotie barked. “I was shot in the head!” He shoved back the thick hank of hair that usually covered his forehead, showing a puckered mark.

  “A little bit too much to the left, judging by the scar. I can’t believe she missed.” Macey shook her head. “She’s not usually so careless.”

  Ted blinked. She didn’t just say that.

  She did. And wasn’t done. “Guess you had more empty space rattling around inside that fat head than anyone would have imagined.”

  Ted almost took a step back. Why did she deliberately antagonize?

  To his surprise, Taotie didn’t fly into a rage, but with a wave of his hand, his friends fanned out. The man smiled, and a knife slipped into his palm. “The doctors claim I am a living miracle.”

  “Have to say I’m surprised to see you alive. Ronin doesn’t usually tolerate failure.” She seemed determined to make Taotie snap.

  He’d never heard of this Ronin guy, but if she was willing to pretend to be dead, it couldn’t be good.

  Taotie’s hands curled into fists. “I suffered his displeasure. For the first two weeks, I was in the hospital. Ronin came by every day just so he could tell me I should have died instead of you.”

  “Why didn’t he kill you?” She sounded almost curious.

  “Because he wanted me to suffer. Because of you,” Taotie spat, “I spent months in a hospital, a dirty one because Ronin wanted me to hurt. Whenever I got close to healing, he’d send someone to beat me up. The only way I got it to stop was by escaping China. Starting over. I had to claw my way back up, and even then, only made it as far as running a two-bit operation in America.”

  “You should aim for higher in life. Maybe, I don’t know, try getting a real job that doesn’t involve breaking any laws or helping an asshole hold a woman prisoner.” Macey just wouldn’t stop.

  Ted didn’t know if he should admire her or ask if she’d forgotten to take some meds.

  “Fuck you,” Taotie spat.

  “I see your vocabulary hasn’t improved much.” She shook her head.

  “Let’s see how well you talk once I’m done with you.”

  “You won’t be hurting me.” A statement that only served to confuse Ted. She seemed way too calm.

  “You’re right, I won’t. But I have a feeling I know someone who will. Wait until Ronin hears you’re alive. Maybe returning you will appease him.”

  “I am not going back, and you won’t be telling him anything.” Macey stepped closer to Taotie, hands tucked behind her back. Ted noticed that she had a needle in her hand.

  Hold on, why did she have a needle?

  “Bitch, you keep talking like you have a choice. In case you didn’t notice, I’m the one holding all the cards.” Taotie gestured to his posse. “Once I return you, I won’t have to stoop to working shit jobs with morons.”

  “Hey!” Ralph protested.

  “Shut the fuck up. I wasn’t talking about you.” Taotie’s gaze slid to the newest member, who scowled.

  “You better not be calling me dumb,” asserted the dumb third wheel.

  Ralph rolled his eyes and cuffed the guy. “Shut up.”

  While they bickered, Macey’s hand with the syringe dropped to her side. She palmed it as if to hide it. What did it contain? She was a doctor. Perhaps some kind of sedative, her equivalent of a pepper spray for protection? Please don’t let it be something contagious that burns the skin.

  “You really should have made better choices, Chen. Unfortunate that you never learned, because now I’m going to have to act when I’d rather not.” She shook her head, almost sadly.

  “What are you going to do? Call the cops? Go ahead. They won’t touch me,” Taotie taunted.

  The truth. Ted couldn’t help but feel sorry for Macey. A woman who’d escaped her abuser only to have a fluke of fate have her run into someone that would notify this Ronin fellow. This wouldn’t end well for Macey.

  Unless he stepped in.

  Usually, he stayed out of conflicts. Especially when violence might occur. It was all too easy to succumb to the adrenaline and react with deadly force. Harder to deal with the consequences.

  Standing up to Chen and his minions would result in him losing his business, maybe even his life. Blackmailing thugs couldn’t allow anyone to question their power.

  But not acting put Macey in danger.

  Damn the rusty hero inside him that creaked to life. “Leave Macey alone. Pretend you never saw her,” Ted said, finally interrupting their verbal duel.

  “Don’t get involved,” Macey stated.

  “I’d rather not, trust me, but I’m also not the kind of asshole who can stand by and let him take a woman by force. It ain’t right.” It was one thing for Taotie to threaten Ted. It bothered him seeing it directed at someone else.

  “Chen is my problem, not yours.”

  “Listen to the cunt. This doesn’t concern you. Stay out of it.” Taotie eyed him briefly, his gaze flat and deadly. A man motivated by greed.

  “How much to keep her safe?” Ted asked, mentally tallying how much he could afford.

  “More than you can pay,” Taotie declared. “Speaking of paying…” He eyed Ralph. “Mustn’t forget to collect. Handle him while I take care of the woman.”

  Ralph cracked his knuckles. “You heard the boss. Time to pay up, karate man.”

  “It’s not karate,” Ted muttered.

  “You can call it whatever the fuck you like, I don’t care. So long as you pay the money you owe us,” Taotie snapped. “Now, get the cash and hand it over before I get really pissed and put you in a cast.”

  “Move.” Ralph shoved Ted, but he planted his feet and rocked with the blow.

  He had his eye on Taotie, who’d grabbed Macey’s arm, snapping, “Let’s go.”

  She glanced at the hand on her body. Having seen her ability to defend during his class, he knew she was capable of throwing it off, but she didn’t remove it.

  Was she afraid to fight? Now wasn’t the time. Going with the thugs wouldn’t end well for her. Ted ignored Ralph and said in a low growl, “Leave her alone.”

  She peeked at him. Expression calm. Too calm. “It’s okay, Ted. I can handle Chen and his friend.”

  “That’s what she thinks,” guffawed the thi
rd dummy with a grab of his crotch that earned him a slap from Taotie.

  “No touching her. Not until I talk to Ronin and see what he wants to do.”

  “Who is this fucker, Ronin? And why are you so eager to suck his dick?” muttered dummy, earning himself another slap.

  “Let’s go get the dough.” Ralph prodded Ted.

  Ted glanced at Macey, who’d tucked a hand into her purse. Where was the panic? What had she done with that needle?

  “It’s in the back,” Ted lied as he moved towards his office, hating that he appeared the coward in front of Macey. However, he knew three against one wasn’t the type of odds he wanted to attempt. Not when he could rid himself of one problem right now.

  He waited until Ralph had cleared the door to his office before he moved, yanking Ralph close, wrapping an arm around the man’s throat and kicking the back of his knee, bringing him to the floor. The chunky guy struggled and sought to get out of Ted’s grip. And failed, because sometimes size didn’t mean shit. It was all in the technique.

  It took longer than Ted liked before Ralph stopped twitching. Ted held on for an extra moment before pulling some belts from his drawer. He trussed the unconscious fellow quickly, hand to foot, then crept to the partially ajar door and listened.

  He heard nothing. Had they already left?

  He pushed the door open enough to peek through, wondering if Taotie or his third had remained behind. The dojo appeared empty. Ted stepped fully out and crossed the room, his bare feet silent on the mat, aware his body was illuminated to anyone outside looking through the window, making him an excellent target.

  The glass didn’t shatter with a bullet, and he could have cursed as the bell tinkled when he opened the door. He needn’t have worried.

  Nothing moved on the sidewalk. He looked left and right, noticing the other stores closed already for the night except for the everything mart on the corner which sold cigarettes, booze, condoms, and snack food. Everything you needed to live.

  He saw no one, heard nothing. Yet he doubted they’d gone far. He scanned the parked cars, three in clearly marked spots, the one right across from his dojo the kind of SUV he could see Macey driving. Not one of them had lights on, or an engine running. None were the familiar Honda Civic he was used to seeing Taotie drive. Had they left? He’d assumed they’d wait for Ralph.