Unraveled (26 page)

“That when we’re all together we look like a band of Vikings. I heard you say something
like that to Knox. We can’t help it that we’re all tall, blond haired, and blue eyed.”

She laughed. “I’d never complain about that.” She looked up at Knox. “I’m rather fond
of my Viking.”

Knox couldn’t help but kiss her. When he raised his head, he saw his mom smiling at
him. And why were there tears in her eyes?

Rick squeezed Lisa’s shoulders. Then he said, “Girls, didn’t you have something to
show Shiori before we head to the restaurant?”

Vivie tugged on Shiori’s free hand. “Remember that dress I tried on? Knox bought it
for me! Isn’t that the sweetest thing ever?”

“The absolute sweetest,” Shiori agreed.

He fidgeted under Vivie’s look of adoration.

“Anyway, Mom found the perfect shoes for it. They’re like glass slippers! You’ve gotta
check them out. I totally look like a princess.”

His sisters led her away, chattering a mile a minute.

Rick grinned at him. “Way to go, Knox. She is a beautiful woman.”

“That she is.”

“I’ll make sure the girls don’t get sidetracked. They’ll riot if we don’t feed them
soon.” Rick kissed his wife on the back of the head before he walked away.

While Knox appreciated Rick giving him time alone with his mother, he wasn’t sure
he wanted it. He studied her as thoroughly as she’d studied Shiori.

Tall and thin, Lisa Lofgren Christensen was a striking woman. Her shoulder-length
blond hair framed her angular face. He’d inherited her big blue eyes, and if anyone’s
eyes could smile, it would be hers. Happiness radiated from her, and he could hardly
remember her as the overworked single parent she’d been to him. She’d aged well, looking
more like forty-four than her current age of fifty-four. “Am I in trouble?”

“Can’t a mother be happy that her boy has finally found the one woman meant for him?”

“Mom.”

She moved forward. The metallic lettering P
ROUD
A
RMY
M
OM
on her T-shirt glittered in the fading sunlight. “Thank you for bringing her here.
It eases my mind.”

“Why would you have doubts about her?”

“Any doubts I had are gone after seeing you two together.”

He sighed. “You know you’re not making any sense, right?”

She laughed and hugged him. “Or I’m making perfect sense and you’re playing it cool.”

How did his mother always know?

“Talk to me, son.”

“I’m so crazy about her it’s kind of scary,” he admitted.

“I imagine it is.”

“So you got any motherly advice for me?”

“Yeah. Don’t be a jackass and screw this up.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep.” Then she stepped back. “Let’s round up the troops and head out. I’m starved.”

“Like mother, like daughters,” he joked.

She poked him in the chest. “Just for that, I’m sitting by Shiori at dinner and telling
her embarrassing stories from your childhood.”

The front door opened and his sisters raced down the steps with Shiori strolling behind
them.

“I thought by now they would’ve outgrown their need to run everywhere,” Knox said
to his mom.

“You didn’t outgrow that until you left the service, smarty.”

Zara elbowed Vivie aside to speak first. “Can Shiori show us how she got you to submit
to her?”

His gaze narrowed on his girlfriend. What had she been talking about with his sisters?

When Shiori reached him, she slipped her arm around his waist. “I tried to tell them
the techniques I used on you that first day we met at the dojo are jujitsu black belt
secrets, but they didn’t believe me.”

He pushed her hair behind her ear. “Well, I can’t have you giving away our secrets,
now, can I?”

Her golden eyes turned solemn. “I’d never do that, Knox.”

“I know.” Just as he lowered his mouth to hers, Rick blasted an air horn, startling
them away from each other.

His sisters laughed hysterically.

Rick grinned. “I knew this would come in handy one day, but I never thought I’d have
to use it on you, Knox.”

“Bring it along to dinner, Dad,” Vivie suggested. “These two play kissy-face all the
time.”

Knox lightly whopped his sister on the butt. “Get in the truck, brat. And no, you
don’t get to pick the music we listen to.”

“Then I’m riding with Mom.”

Shiori shook her head. “Sneaky move, Shihan.”

He smiled. “It works every time.”

*   *   *

LATER,
after they’d returned to his house and were curled up in his bed, Shiori said, “Thanks
for today. I had a great time with your family.”

“I told you there was nothing to worry about.”

“Your mom is sweet. Now I know where you get it from.”

He snorted. Sweet. Right.

Just when he thought she might’ve drifted off, she said, “Why don’t you talk about
your time in the army?”

That’d come from out of left field. Knox shifted his arm and trailed his fingers up
and down her spine. “Some of it I can’t talk about because I dealt with classified
information.”

“Ooh, international intrigue.”

“Which is code for lots of paperwork,” he said dryly.

“Where was your home base?”

Sometimes he forgot her father had served in the armed forces and she’d lived on military
bases. “Fort Benning, Georgia. Then my . . . unit, for lack of a better term, which
was part of the thirteenth CSSB, was transferred to Fort Lewis/McChord in Washington
just as I was getting out of the service.”

“Were you ever in war zones?”

“I got stationed in support outposts in combat zones, but never saw any combat. The
luck of the draw, I guess. A couple of my buddies were deployed to those shitholes
every other year.”

“You sound like you’re sorry you didn’t see action.”

“Not really. I mean, it is war. It’s ugly and brutal. There’s a dynamic of almost
dying together, or seeing others die, that binds those guys in a way I can’t comprehend.
So yeah, I took my share of crap about not being a ‘real’ soldier.”

“Did it bother you?”

Knox had to think about that for a minute. “Maybe at first. But
the guys who lived through the horrors of war dealt with the aftereffects for years.
After I out-processed, I moved on from being a grunt and haven’t looked back. It put
things in perspective for me.”

She made a purring sound when his fingertips brushed the curve of her ass. “Are you
in contact with any of your fellow soldiers?”

“I keep in touch with the two guys I worked most closely with during my last enlistment.
They’re both working for telecommunications companies.”

“And you’re Shihan at Black Arts.”

“No doubt I have the better job.”

“Were they surprised when you didn’t find a job like theirs?”

“After I got out, I’d decided to live in Denver to be close to my family, but I couldn’t
find a job. I ended up working as a security guard and moonlighted at Twisted part-time.
That’s where I met Ronin. He offered me a temp position at the dojo as he tested my
skills.” Then all that crap happened with Naomi and he moved up to a full-time position
at Black Arts.

“How did you keep up with jujitsu training when you were in the army?”

“I was mostly stationed stateside, so I trained at the martial-arts studio in Fort
Benning.”

Shiori rolled onto her stomach and looked at him. “Your mom is really proud of your
service.”

Knox blushed. “If not for her putting me in jujitsu when I was a surly fifteen-year-old,
I probably would’ve gone to jail.”

“I doubt it. You’re too honorable for that.” She leaned over and rubbed her mouth
across his nipple. “Let’s play a game, soldier.”

“I guess we’re done talking.”

“I’ve got a better idea on how to use my mouth.”

He groaned. “Is this another one of your
rewards
?”

“Yes.” An evil laugh drifted up as she scooted her body down the mattress. “Let’s
see how long you can stand at attention as I
polish your pole.” She settled between his thighs and licked his cock from root to
tip. “You up for that?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

When she finally let him come, a full hour later, she’d wrung him out so completely
he couldn’t even salute.

ENERGY
in the entire dojo had been running high in the two weeks since Maddox had officially
rebooted the Black Arts MMA program. Inside the training room “Mad” Maddox would give
Sensei Black a run for his money with his intimidating persona. Except where Ronin
was icy-eyed and expressed his disapproval with cool detachment, Maddox was hot-tempered
and yelled at the top of his lungs if something met with his disapproval. On the second
day of training, Knox feared Deacon and Maddox might actually kill each other. But
they’d figured out a way to work together.

Fisher and Ito fit right in, and they couldn’t say enough good things about the new
trainer. While Knox was relieved things were off to a great start, his fear that his
skills weren’t needed in the MMA program had proven true. Maddox asked his opinions
on everything—except training. So Knox devoted his time to running Black Arts and
working with Blue and Katie on the rescheduled smoker in two weeks.

They’d secured a new sponsor, and that asswipe Steve Atwood had agreed to provide
two fighters for the bout. Knox wished Ronin were here so they could both see the
look on Steve’s face when the Black Arts fighters made a clean sweep of the fight
card on fight night.

But Knox’s great mood vanished the instant he walked into the Black Arts office and
saw the man sitting on the edge of Shiori’s desk. Sitting way, way too close to Knox’s
woman for his comfort.

He affixed his “fight face” in place before he moved in behind Shiori. That’s when
he noticed who the asshole was.

Max Stanislovsky.

One of the richest men in Denver. Ronin’s sometime pal, sometime nemesis. A man with
ties to gambling, prostitution, nightclubs, sex clubs, real estate, and construction
crews.

Knox didn’t doubt the rumors about Max being a key player in the Russian mob. All
the Cold War had done was expunge some of the undesirables from Russia, and they had
set up shop in the United States. And unlucky for Coloradans, the population and the
climate was reminiscent of Russia, so many of them flocked to the Centennial State.

Ivan had some kind of love-hate relationship going on with his father, but in this
case the apple had fallen far from the tree. Ivan was a good guy, a hard worker, and
had the potential to do well as a pro MMA fighter, especially now that Maddox Byerly
had signed on to train him.

Knox realized he’d been glaring at Stanislovsky and attempted to play it cool. “Max.
What brings you to Black Arts? I’m sure you know Ronin is out of the country.”

Max’s eyes narrowed at Knox’s use of his first name. Before when he’d dealt with Max,
he’d called him Mr. Stanislovsky. But that was before Ronin had left him in charge.

“Yes, I was telling Ronin’s lovely sister about my visits to Japan. It’s been a few
years, but I’ve always found Japanese women so very . . . intriguing.”

“We’re like women everywhere else, Max. We’re overloaded with work and family.”

Max leaned closer. “Your grandfather should not have put you in such a position. Working
so much . . . not good for anyone.
Especially not a beautiful woman like you. You should be pampered. Put on the pedestal
you so clearly deserve.”

Knox snorted. “That lifestyle would set Shiori on a murderous path. Her contributions
to Okada have been enormous over the years. So I’d say her grandfather knew exactly
what he was doing by putting her in a position of authority and not on a pedestal.”

Shiori’s shoulders stiffened.

What? He wasn’t allowed to brag on her? Bullshit.

“Is the penthouse to your liking?” Max asked, ignoring Knox completely.

“Yes. The view is incredible and it’s a quiet building.”

Max Stanislovsky had helped Shiori choose a place to live? Why was this the first
he’d heard of it?

Max sighed dramatically. “I’ll admit sadness that Ronin did not approach me about
fulfilling your needs. But Ivan proved himself capable, so all is not lost.”

“Speaking of Ivan . . . is that why you’re here?”

Max’s gaze flicked over to him. “I heard about impressive new trainer. I wanted to
meet man who will be spending time with my son.”

“Where are your leg-breakers, Max? I never see you without your bodyguards.”

That’s when Knox figured out why Max had shown up. He knew Ronin was out of the picture,
so it was a free pass to schmooze Shiori in the office while one of his associates
cornered Maddox in the training room and offered Maddox an obscene amount of money
to become Ivan’s personal trainer.

Max shrugged. “They are around.”

Shiori turned her head and looked at Knox at the same time that Maddox stormed into
the office with a sheaf of papers in his hand. “What the fuck is this?”

Bingo. He’d called it.

Knox pointed to Max. “Ask him. This is Ivan’s father, Max Stanislovsky.”

Maddox got right in Max’s face. “Let’s get one thing straight. I am not for sale.
For any amount of money. And this?”—he shook the papers in the air—“is ridiculous.
Obviously you have more fucking money than you have sense.”

“I only want best for my boy.”

“Your boy is a twenty-three-year-old man.”

“He good fighter, no?”

“Yes. He’s got a lot of potential. I will work him to get to the next level because
he has the drive to succeed. He listens. He works hard. And that has nothing to do
with you.” Maddox ripped the contract in half. “So if I ever see you or any of your
goons in my training room again? I’ll cut Ivan loose. Understood?”

“Yes. I apologize for offending you,” Max said smoothly.

“Does Ivan know you’re here?”

Max sighed again. “No. He will make me pay for this little visit. He stubborn, independent
man. Makes me proud, but makes me crazy too.”

Maddox walked back to the door. “I mean it. I even get a whiff of that smelly-ass
cologne you’re wearing around here, and your son is done. Done.”

Silence echoed in the room like the aftermath of a shotgun blast.

Max grinned. “I like that one. You did good.”

Un-fucking-real.

Then Max took Shiori’s hand. “When your brother returns and you have free time, I
have villa in Italy. It is beautiful this time of year.”

Knox rolled Shiori’s chair away from Max, forcing him to release her. “That is thoughtful
of you, Max. Shiori and I have been talking about getting away somewhere just the
two of us. Offering us your villa is appreciated.”

Max cocked his head. He looked from Shiori to Knox and back to Shiori. “You and big
Viking guy are together?”

“Yes.”

“Such a pity,
milaya moya
.”

When it looked like Max was reaching for Shiori after calling her some Russian endearment,
Knox warned, “Don’t touch her again.”

Max lifted a brow. “Not wise to threaten me.”

“Not wise to put your hand on a woman who is spoken for. If the situation were reversed,
how would you react?”

“I start breaking legs.”

“I’m less civilized.” He flashed his teeth. “I’d break your face.”

Max shook his head. “So much violence in building. Might be contagious. Time for me
to go.”

And he left the room with a flourish, his long jacket flapping like bat wings.

Shiori spoke first. “This might sound weird, but did that remind you of—”

“Dracula? Yeah.”

“Poor Ivan.”

“I’m sure Daddy’s millions take the sting out of humiliation.” As soon as he’d said
it, he wished he hadn’t.

His beloved gave him a cool once-over. “If you’re done swinging your big dick around,
we actually have some work to do.”

Knox boxed her in. “Let. Me. Make. This. Clear. He had his fucking hand on you. He’s
goddamn lucky I didn’t break it off and shove it up his ass.”

“Knox—”

“Don’t.” He moved in until they were almost nose to nose. “No man gets to touch you.
Especially not a rich asshole who acts like it’s his fucking right. The only man who
has that right is me. And I will fuck up any man—I don’t give a shit who he is—for
even thinking he can freely touch what’s mine.”

“You done?” she asked coolly.

“I don’t know. Is there anything else I need to clarify for you, Mistress, before
I take my big swinging dick out of here and punch the fuck outta the heavy bag?”

Shiori framed his face in her hands. “You’ve made your point.”

“Good.”

“Can we kiss and make up now?”

He crushed her lips beneath his, intending to prove his ownership of her with a brutal
kiss. But she wouldn’t allow it. She gave him tenderness instead. Letting her fingers
stroke his cheeks and the line between his eyebrows. There was plenty of passion between
them, but her forcing him to keep it contained had a staggering effect. It showed
her deep understanding of him. Her acceptance of this side of him. And he understood
that he’d needed her to take control because he had none.

She eased back on the kiss, but her hands remained on his face. “Better?”

He could only nod. Because he had the overwhelming urge to shout out his love for
her.

“Now go punch something. I’ll put that big swinging dick of yours to good use later.”

*   *   *

THE
following Friday night Knox draped his arm across the back of Shiori’s chair and surveyed
the group that’d overtaken the corner booth at Diesel. It’d been a hellish week at
Black Arts. As they counted down the days to the smoker, he decided everyone deserved
to cut loose, if only for a few hours.

Even Maddox had accepted the drink invite. Deacon and Gil were on the far end of the
booth, with Maddox in the middle, Fee sitting between him and Katie. Blue and Terrel
were providing security for some teen concert, so they’d skipped out, as had Fisher,
who had to be on the job early. Knox preferred to keep things informal, so he wondered
how the dynamic would change when Ronin returned.

“I wish we could convince these guys to go someplace other
than Diesel for a beer,” Fee said to Shiori. “Before you and Knox started sneaking
around, we had a great time at Jackson’s.”

“We weren’t sneaking around that long before we let everyone know we were involved,”
Knox said, leaning in to swipe one of Shiori’s fries.

“And some of us figured it out,” Katie said smugly.

“How did you think you knew something was going on?” Shiori asked.

“I saw you two the night of Ivan’s party at Fresh. When you went to ‘look around.’”
She made air quotes.

“Jesus, Katie, way to be a creeper. Did you follow them?” Fee asked.

“No. I’d had too many shots and went to barf in the bathroom.” Katie also swiped one
of Shiori’s fries. “I got lost on my way back. And I saw these two together at the
rope demo station. Knox was tying her up in some fancy rope pattern. Like he’d done
it a hundred times before, which kinda freaked me out. So anyway, I figured something
had to be going on.”

Shiori patted Katie’s hand. “Can’t pull anything over on you.”

Fee choked on her drink, and Katie smacked her hand into the table. “That’s what I
try to tell everyone, but no one believes me.”

“I believe you, sweetheart,” Deacon said to her chest.

The empty chair next to Knox was yanked back and spun around. “Well, if it isn’t Black
Farts and Blue’s Clues. God. Is it like a Sensei Ronin Black mandate that you guys
train together and hang out together? Do you wash each other’s dicks too? That might
be kinda hot to see.”

Knox turned around and faced Mia, a scrappy redhead who trained with Steve Atwood.

Before Knox could say anything, Deacon jumped in. “I don’t remember anyone inviting
you to sit with us. So beat it, skank.”

“Make me, Scarface.”

“I’m surprised your pimp let you out of his sight. Unless you’re
here drumming up business? It’s a waste of your bad breath, because you’d have to
pay us to fuck you.”

Shiori silently watched the exchange between Mia and Deacon.

Mia looked at Knox. “Yep, still hate this ass-licker as much as I thought I did.”

“What are you doing here?” Knox said.

“Saw the sad-sack table and thought I’d swing by and say hey.” Mia’s gaze roamed over
Knox’s face and chest, then dropped to his crotch. “You’re looking good, big man.
Very good. It’s been a while.”

Not long enough.

“Excuse me, but who are you and why are you at our table?” Katie asked.

Mia laughed. “Please, please, please make my day and tell me Barbie Perky Tits is
one of your new fighters?”

Jesus. “Mia. Stop stirring shit and go.”

“But it’s so fun. I can admit Sensei Atwood sent me over here to check out the competition.”
Her gaze swept the people at the table and she sneered. “And this is it? Pathetic.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

“Sensei Atwood? That’s what he’s calling himself now? What a fuckin’ pompous prick.
Tell your no-balls boss he’s welcome to come over and size me up himself,” Deacon
said.

“I don’t think her pimp is here,” Fee said. “Didn’t Atwood end up banned from this
bar a few months back because he’d gone into a ’roid rage?”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Mia snapped.

“Ooh. Hit a nerve, did I,
puta
?” Fee said.

“I’ll hit a nerve. In fact, I’m gonna hit all of your nerves,” Mia said, adding a
nasty smile. “Gonna be a long match for you, with me doing a ground and pound on your
face. Or will you show your true pussy self and tap out? Like my last ten opponents.”

“But you’re still fighting in the minor leagues, aren’t you? Why
is that? Oh, right, because you suck—and I’m not just talking about all the guy’s
dicks in the whorehouse where you train,” Deacon said.

Mia laughed. “No wonder Knox is the only one of you Black Farts assholes I ever fucked.
He’s got the smarts to know when to keep his mouth shut.”

Christ. Thanks for that, Mia.

Then Mia rested her head on Knox’s arm. “I miss those days. How about if we ditch
these losers—”

Mia was there one second and gone the next.