Chapter 1 #2
I glance up at him, blinking at the three men staring down at me.
Their faces resemble each other’s, so they are probably related, but that’s where the similarities end.
They scream money, wearing custom suits—only something custom would fit their muscles like that—Rolex watches, and diamond rings. It’s subtle, but the signs are there.
The one closest to me who spoke looks to be the oldest, maybe mid-thirties, with deep brown hair that has pale blond highlights.
It shouldn’t work, but it does as it perfectly frames his face.
Brown stubble surrounds full lips, which sit below a strong nose, and he has the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen.
The one on his left looks younger than him, probably more around my age.
His hair is black, like his suit, and messily falls into his face.
One of his eyebrows has a slit in it, and unlike the older man, his eyes are a striking gray and his stubble is almost nonexistent.
I also see earrings along his right ear and ink peeking from the top of his shirt.
The one on the right has closely shaved hair, with some length on the top, and it’s a mix of colors. His face is thicker than the others’, with mismatched eyes—one gray and one black. His eyebrows are pulled together in a severe frown that suits his thick features.
I note that all in the time it takes for them to blink at me.
“Hot,” I say before clearing my throat. “No, you won’t.”
The one who spoke to me blinks in confusion. He’s obviously not used to being questioned or ignored. “Excuse me?”
“Handle it. I will. She’s my responsibility, my family.” Glancing at Lauren, I kiss her bruised arm. “Which one was it, sweetie?”
She looks up at me, and I see fear on her face.
“Lauren, look at me and only me. You know I will never let anyone hurt you, don’t you?” She nods, and I smile. “Just point. Which one?”
She lifts her injured arm and points at a bald-headed fucker standing a few feet away.
“Good job, sweetie. Can you go get me some water? I’m thirsty. The kitchen is just down there.” I point it out.
“If you are going to kick their asses, can I at least watch?” she murmurs, some of her usual spark returning. “Taylor stopped letting me watch your shows. She said they were too dark, so I need some entertainment.”
“Next time. Go,” I order.
She sighs dramatically and spins on her heel, heading the way I indicated.
When she’s out of sight, I rip my jacket off and toss it on the closest table. My cropped black vest is low-cut and armless, exposing all of my tattoos, and I see the moment they realize who they fucked with. They all take a step back, their faces paling.
“Shit,” the bald-headed one says as I prowl toward him. He stumbles backward and holds his hands up. “I didn’t know it was you, Karma. I didn’t know she was yours. I’m fucking sorry, okay?”
“He’s right. We’ll leave. We don’t want any issues,” another adds. “The boss didn’t know, we swear!”
I ignore their panicked pleas and grab a Coke bottle from a table, then I smash it on the edge, my body filled with fury. He must see it in my eyes because he tries to get away.
I kick out, sending him back into the table. He hits the floor hard, and I’m on him in an instant.
“This is going to fucking hurt. Stay still,” I growl.
Grabbing his left arm, I slam it against the floor then hold it there with my boot, pressing the sharp edge of the bottle against his skin.
I start to slice, his screams filling the bar, and when I press the bottle deeper to carve it through tendon and bone, his cry turns high-pitched.
His blood squirts across my face when I hit a juicy vein, but I keep going.
When I’m satisfied, I lift my head and stomp on the raw meat of his wrist, snapping his bone, then I yank on his hand until it rips free and toss it onto his chest as I blow my black hair from my face.
“You should have known better than to touch what isn’t yours,” I tell him. His chest is heaving and his eyes are wide in shock.
“It was the other hand,” one of the suits calls helpfully, his voice laced with amusement. I glance at him with a frown, and he arches his eyebrow. “His right hand touched Lauren.”
“Thank you.” I toast him with the bottle and turn back to the guy. “Sorry, my mistake. Hold on, let me fix that.”
“Wait, wait, no!” He starts to scream again, and this time the process is easier since I know the best way to angle the bottle. After tossing that hand next to the first, I step back and turn to the others, who are watching me.
Three linger near the door, and they incline their heads out of respect. “We are sorry, Karma. We really are.” They hightail it out of here. Smart boys.
The other? Not so much.
He heads my way, shaking his fists as anger contorts his square face. He has hair, but he looks somewhat similar to the man on the floor, except he has hands.
“Really?” I scoff incredulously.
“That’s my brother!” he roars.
“Your brother likes to touch little girls. I did the world a favor. I guess we could end your family line here though.” I duck under his punch and drive my fist up into his stomach. He stumbles back, a breath whooshing from his lips as I arch a brow.
“You know who I am, and you really think you can beat me? I guess neither of you were born with brains,” I tease, and he roars as he throws himself at me.
He’s strong, but I’m faster, and I weave under his punches, laughing and taunting until I get bored.
Kicking his chest, I spin with the movement and leap, knocking him down as I wrap my legs around his throat and slam my elbow into his face.
His nose busts as he groans. I climb up off him and dig my boot into his dick, grinding down until his face turns red, then purple.
“You know why they call me Karma?” I demand of him.
His eyes are bloodshot and bugging from his head, and he slaps my feet to get me off his precious manhood. “Because you make things right,” he rasps.
“Good boy. I would end you, but there are a lot of kids here. Apparently, seeing that shit fucks them up. I don’t know how.
I mean, I saw my first dead body at five and I turned out just fine, but oh well.
You’re lucky today. When I step back, you better run as far and as fast as you can.
Get out of town because if I find you when I hunt tonight, you’re dead. ”
Lifting my boot, I step back and wait. Will he fight or run?
He climbs to his feet, glancing at his brother, and hesitates before he makes up his mind and runs to the door.
Picking up one of his brother’s hands, I use it to wave at him as he scrambles from the bar, leaving his brother behind. I guess family loyalty only goes so far.
I turn back to the party to find Lauren standing with the boy holding the cake and the three suits, a cup of water in her hand. She arches one eyebrow at me, but she isn’t scared anymore.
Heading her way, I take the cup and wash my face with it before winking at her.
“Who the fuck are you?” one of the suits asks, finally breaking the silence.
“This is my aunt, Bexley, who is going to be in so much trouble with my sister when she finds out she hurt someone in front of me again,” Lauren answers. “Bexley, this is my best friend’s, Tommy’s, family, the Sais.”
“Four weeks of chores,” I implore her.
“Nope. You’re done for,” she threatens.
“Lauren,” I whine, narrowing my eyes. “I’ll let you ride in the ‘stang!”
“Deal!” she squeals.
Turning to Tommy, I take my cake back. “Thanks for holding it, and, uh . . . happy birthday, I guess.”
“That was awesome,” he murmurs.
Grinning, I tug Lauren closer and glance at the three suits. Uncles? Brothers? Father? It’s hard to tell. “Sorry for the blood.” I pull out a wad of cash and hand it over. “This will help with the cleanup.”
They are obviously connected in some way. Everything about them hints at money, and I can spy at least two guns on their hips, not to mention they didn’t even blink when I carved into that man, so they can handle it.
“This is unnecessary.” The older one hands the cash back. “I said we would handle it.”
“Yeah, well, I never let anyone handle my business.” I shrug and glance at Lauren. “Let’s go. We still need to finish those episodes of Alice in Borderland before Taylor gets home.”
“Is he dead?” she asks curiously, pointing at the man on the ground. I block her view with my body and grin.
“He’s just sleeping. He’s very tired,” I tell her.
“Bexley,” she snaps. “I’m twelve, not a moron.”
“Right, well, time to go.” I nod at the men. “Thanks for inviting her.”
Before they can ask me anything else, I steer Lauren out of the door and hand her the spare helmet I keep. After helping her put it on, I lift her onto the bike. “What’s the deal with your best friend’s family?” I ask.
She shrugs, tightening her backpack. “All he said was they owned a lot of businesses and most people were scared of them.”
“Great,” I mutter as I get on. “Hold on, kid.”
“Stop calling me a kid,” she mumbles, but she wraps her arms around me, and I tear off before they come after us.
If they are who I think they are, then I just gained the attention of one of the most dangerous mafia families in the city, which is not good news for someone like me.
I lie low for a reason, silent and faceless karma.
I guess that’s all up in smoke now.