"I know. Thanks, Shahruk." I nodded at him.
"Want me to get the chief? Chadon will be here quick with his men." He lowered his voice. "He'll deal with these punks for sure."
"No need. I've troubled him enough already. I'll handle this myself."
Shahruk gave me a dubious look but eventually shook his head and left. He never hid his wariness of outsiders—including me, the "Tara Coleman" who'd appeared out of nowhere two years ago.
I took a deep breath and walked to the door, watching the wooden shop sign sway gently in the sea breeze.
"Can I help you?" I kept my voice steady.
"Hey there, gorgeous." The blonde thug blew smoke rings. "Seems like last time wasn't clear enough."
"This street's our territory. You know the rules?" The one with the nose ring sneered, his scar looking particularly menacing.
"Niaube doesn't have those kinds of rules."
"We're not locals." The blonde grinned and stepped inside, reaching for a painting in the window display. "We're here to teach you the rules."
He walked in and reached for one of the paintings in the window display.
"Don't touch!" I blocked him.
"Oh, feisty." He shoved me aside. "Be smart about this. Pay up. Otherwise... these crappy paintings look pretty expensive."
"Otherwise what?"
Lorenzo's voice came from the doorway, his expression dark.
"Lorenzo!" I sighed with relief.
"Scarface again." The blonde scoffed. "Want another beating?"
"I suggest you leave now." Lorenzo cracked his knuckles as he stepped inside. "Or you won't like what comes next."
"What comes next?" The nose ring guy laughed. "Just you against both of us?"
Lorenzo didn't waste words. His fist connected squarely with the blonde's face.
"Shit!"
Both thugs rushed him immediately.
I ducked behind the counter, clutching Leo tight. The baby's cries were drowned out by the sounds of fighting—fists hitting flesh, furniture crashing, and curses flying.
"Get lost!" Lorenzo roared. "Let me see you again, and you're going straight to lockup!"
The two thugs stumbled out, clutching their wounds in defeat.
"Tara, are you okay?" Lorenzo walked over, fresh scratches on his face and a split lip.
"I'm fine..." I looked at his injuries. "You're hurt..."
"Just scratches." He wiped away the blood dismissively. "They shouldn't bother you again."
"Thank you, Lorenzo."
To my surprise, not only did those two thugs never return, but all the other troublemakers in town mysteriously vanished as well.
