I stepped away from the window shocked that he actually blew out of here. I wanted to yell, scream, throw something. Did I really mean that little to him? He didn't even seem mad that I was at the speakeasy tonight. Instead he tells me he'd feel better if the next time I go, I take Gyn.

Gyn? Really? A teenager is going to be better at protecting me than myself. Does he really believe me to be so inept? What am I? Just some dingy broad he's been tolerant of all this time?

My anger began to percolate and I was furious all over again. Part of me wondered if he didn't argue because he didn't want me to demand the same rights. He knew if he demanded I give up singing jazz, I'd throw his fighting back in his face.

I followed the smell of brownies to the kitchen. Myna was pulling out a fresh batch. She knew it was a weakness of mine. She handed me a plate full that had already cooled down.

"Wanna talk about it?"

I sighed, took a brownie and pulled up chair. "Not much to say. I told him, perhaps we shouldn't see one another anymore. That it was for the best. And well... he split."

Myna didn't say a word. She just continued baking. She had the patience of a saint, guess she has to or her and my brother would never have lasted long enough to be engaged.

"I hate that he fights. That I'm left worrying that he's going to meet his match some day and he'll be damaged or gone and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it."

"I worry about that all the time with your brother. But Loren, it's part of who they are, the men that they are, to change that is to change them, you wouldn't want AJ if he were a different man would you?"

"I get that but Lorne does it for his job. AJ... it's just for ... I don't know kicks? He's risking himself without purpose. I get the why, the challenge, the excitement. It's how I feel about my music. I've fallen hard, Myna and I just want to protect what's mine."

What came flying out of my mouth gave me an insight to my brother I didn't like... and I shook it off. In order to pipe down, I shoved a brownie in. 

"You're mad that he didn't seem to care."

Tears stung my eyes but I refused to go all blooey. Myna was good at reading people. It was one of the things that made the Ritzy so great. People came here for her, and stayed because the food was to die for.

"He didn't yell at me. He wasn't even mad. He'll fight anyone or for anyone it seems but for me."

I caught Myna's wince but she quickly recovered. "Banana oil! You know he loves you."

"Do I? I give him his walking papers and he couldn't blow out of here fast enough. Didn't even look back. Just got on the scooter with Gyn and off he goes. Perhaps, I just gave him what he wanted."

"Bushwa!"

I didn't expect anything else from Myna except staunch loyalty to AJ. I frowned... suddenly feeling exhausted.

"I'm going to bed."

Myna just nodded but said to lock my door. She proceeded to tell me about a stranger in the alley and a warning of danger coming her way.

"Did AJ know?"

"Yes." She knew what I was thinking. I just nodded and headed off to bed.

A few hours later I heard Myna retire for the night. I still couldn't sleep.

He let me go. He knew Myna and I were in danger and he just walked away. It was settled in my mind... just doesn't care anymore. It hurt but there it was.

It took some time for me to drift off to sleep but I was suddenly startled awake, when I heard someone outside my window. I leapt up from bed just as the palooka started to open the window.

I grabbed the lamp on the nightstand and sent it crashing down on his head. His body slumped half in and half out of the window.

"What to do now?" My mind was buzzing. I took my foot and lifted his head. "Murder!" It was AJ.

"Loren! Loren, are you alright!?" Myna was rattling the door, which was locked trying to get in.

"Ummm... It's okay Myna... I accidentally stumbled into the nightstand and ...thee uh... lamp broke. I already cleaned it up. I'm so sorry... but yeah, I'm fine you can go back to bed." 

"You certain?" 

"Absolutely!" 

I heard her footsteps drift off and went back to AJ in the window. I tried tapping his face but he was out cold. I pressed my foot against the wall and pulled with all my might to drag him the rest of the way into the room. He suddenly jerked free and I stumbled backwards bringing AJ along with me. 

"For cryin' out loud!" Now I was trapped underneath of him, and he was too heavy to move. 

"Gyn, would have loved to have seen this," I whispered into the ether. 

"The great JinLi K.O.'d by little 'ol me."