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I took a side step and pulled out my hands, watching for his blade, which he swung at me.

I ducked below his swing and shouldered him into the wall next to us.

Then, as he turned to slash at me again, I grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the knife and slammed it against the rough block wall.

He didn’t drop it after I slammed it again, so I punched the motherfucker across the face.

He dropped the knife and groaned as he fell to the ground, cradling his jaw.

I kicked the knife and watched as it slid under a dumpster nearby, and then I glanced back at the man below me and almost didn’t hear the footsteps of the giant running in my direction.

For a big guy, he was quiet on his feet.

I dodged enough to not take the brunt of his blow, but he still caught my side.

I should be happy he didn’t have a knife, too, but the blow still hurt like hell.

And then I realized why. The bastard had brass knuckles on his fists.

I staggered back as I brought my hands up to guard my face, watching to see what his next move was, but instead of swinging again, he looked down at his friend.

“Get up. The boss won’t be happy about you getting yourself into this situation again.” His low tone was bored as he glanced back over at me. “Let’s get this over with. He won’t be happy if we’re late.”

I shifted my weight to my back leg as the scrawny one sat upright, still nursing his blow. The other stomped toward me.

“Nothing personal. You shouldn’t have gotten involved in something that didn’t concern you. Don’t worry; you shouldn’t wake up with too many injuries.”

I chuckled and waved him forward, taunting him to swing again.

And he did. He reeled his hand back and threw a strong punch at my face, which I dodged completely. I blocked his second strike with my hand, and it still stung, but I was able to counter.

I brought my hand with full force straight to his ribs, feeling bones crack as he staggered backward with a grunt.

“I thought you could handle it. Not so easy, is he?” the one on the ground snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he stood up slowly and walked over to the dumpster where he reached under it, no doubt going for the knife again.

The big guy’s brow furrowed as he rubbed his side and took off his suit jacket, holding it out to the other, who finally struggled back upright and took it from him.

I readied myself for the next blow, knowing full well now this guy was pissed, and if he hit me in the head, I wasn’t confident I would be awake afterward.

Keep focusing on the big one, but don’t ignore the other one.

The last half of a year out of the ring had me a bit rusty, but I was the fucking champion of LA’s underground fight scene for a reason. Two thugs in Japan shouldn’t be anything I couldn’t handle.

I didn’t wait for him to swing again. Instead, I went on the offensive. I pummeled his torso with him only managing to block a few of the blows. Then I went for his head, landing one well-timed blow to his temple.

He crashed back into the trunk of the car in a daze.

And it was at this moment that the other one went on the attack again, and I felt something solid smack down across my back.

I stepped forward, swearing under my breath from the pain.

He’d hit me with a piece of wood he had found near the dumpster, after he couldn’t reach his knife.

I barely managed to dodge the board as he swung again. The board hit the car, breaking the taillight, while the big guy tried to shake off the pain.

I could see Raven standing in the open doorway of the car, taking in the scene with wide eyes.

I need to end this. Now!

I charged and grabbed the plank, slamming him back into the alley wall.

He struggled against me as I kneed him in the stomach, and when his hands loosened their grip on the plank, I punched him right in the center of his face.

I felt his nose crunch beneath the force of it, and he collapsed onto the ground, crying and bleeding.

The big guy shouted at me. I turned as he grappled around my torso and struggled to lift me off the ground.

I swung the plank down onto him, smacking against his body until it broke across his head.

His grip was tightening, and it didn’t seem like the blows had impacted him much.

I had to figure out how to break his hold and fast, as he was crushing my ribs.

I brought my hands together and slammed my elbow into the spot between his shoulder and neck.

He winced. I knew I’d found a weak spot.

I did it over and over until he finally loosened his grip enough for me to pull back and out of his grasp.

I slammed my fist upward under his jaw as he stood upright. He took a few steps backward before his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell. I took the opportunity to straighten my clothes before walking over to where Raven stood, still in shock about what she had just witnessed.

I reached out and stroked her cheek, brushing her hair backward behind her ear. “You good, baby?” I waited for her answer.

She snapped out of the trance she had been in with a small nod.

“Let’s get you out of here. Can you run?” I said as I wrapped my hand gently around her wrist.

“Yes.”

“Then follow me. I’ll keep you safe.” I turned and led her at a jog out of the alleyway.

There was only one place I could think of to take her. My loft.

Hopefully, that wouldn’t be a mistake.