Unraveled Read Free

her knees—“in
     the face. Then girl number two pushed her down and tried to choke her out.”
    “Are either one hurt?”
    He shook his head. “Go back to your class. I’ve got this handled.”
    Right. “What set off the waterworks?”
    “Deacon put them in time-out for the rest of class and said he’d talk to their parents
     about banning them from watching MMA TV shows.”
    Seemed reasonable. MMA was great for showcasing high ability levels for different
     styles of martial arts, but kids didn’t graspthat they shouldn’t try those moves until they’d been trained properly. “What are
     their names?”
    “No clue.”
    “Mind if I try to talk to them?”
    “Have at it.”
    Shiori tapped girl number one on the foot. “Hey. You need to stop crying and get a
     grip.”
    Knox snorted. “Great help. And believe it or not, they
are
calmer than they were a few minutes ago.”
    “Don’t you just have the magic touch?” she said sarcastically.
    “No, but I do have two little sisters.”
    He did? Why hadn’t she known that?
    Knox touched girl number two on the arm. “Can you talk to me, sweetheart?”
    Girl number two raised her head. Her sobs had faded into hiccupping sniffles. “Addy
     is mean. She said she’s gonna get her orange belt before me so she doesn’t have to
     be in the same class as me because I suck.”
    Girl number one looked up. Holy shit. They were identical twins. She retorted, “Abby
     is just mad because I’m better at jujitsu than she is.”
    “Are not!” Abby yelled.
    “Am too!” Addy yelled back.
    “Are not!” Abby yelled louder.
    “Am too, and I don’t want anyone thinking that you’re me, because I
am
better!” Addy shouted.
    “Girls,” Shiori warned.
    A warning that didn’t stop the escalating screaming match.
    Knox rolled his eyes. Then he sat between the two warring girls. “Enough.”
    “She started it,” Abby said sullenly.
    Addy tried to kick her.
    Knox put his hand on Addy’s leg. “Ms. Hirano, there’s anotherclass in room two. Since Addy thinks she’s ready to move belt levels, will you please
     escort her into that class?”
    “Right now?”
    “Yep. Abby, say goodbye to your sister.”
    “Come on, Addy,” Shiori said.
    Addy didn’t budge. Abby gasped. “You can’t do that! We have to be in the same class.”
    Shiori shrugged. “No, you don’t. My brother and I didn’t even go to the same martial-arts
     school. Plus, the crying and carrying on makes me wonder if you even like taking jujitsu
     classes.”
    Another gasp—from Addy this time. “But it’s our favorite thing!”
    “Then maybe you should act like it. Come on, Addy. Let’s get you settled in the other
     class.”
    “Please don’t put me in a different class,” Addy pleaded with Knox.
    “I didn’t mean what I said,” Abby added. “Addy is helping me learn better. Please
     let her stay.”
    “You’re both sure this is what you want?” Knox asked.
    They both nodded.
    “Fine. But your actions do have consequences. You will sit out the remainder of class,
     and if I see any grappling, hitting, or kicking I will have words with your parents.”
    “We’ll be good, Shihan. We promise,” Addy said. She mimed zipping her lips, and Abby
     did the same.
    Knox patted them each on the leg and stood. “Pay attention because I may test you
     after class.”
    “I’m impressed,” Shiori admitted to him grudgingly.
    “My sisters yelled and screamed at each other, but the second Mom tried to separate
     them, they were best buddies again. I thought I’d give it a shot.”
    “Smart.”
    “All right,” Knox said, standing in front of the class. “Get up. Take off your belts.
     At the count of ten, we’ll have a belt-tyingcontest.” He inclined his head to Shiori. “Ms. Hirano? Will you lead the countdown
     in Japanese?”
    “Ready?
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyu, ju!
”
    A flurry of belt tying ensued.
    “I’ve always wondered. Did you and Ronin ever