When Ronin’s hard-eyed stare didn’t push Knox to babble like it did with everyone else, he sighed. “I deserved that.”

“Yep.”

“This is all so fucking surreal. It feels like I’ve been gone three years, not three months.”

“Ronin, tell me what’s really going on.”

He shook his head. “I need to get every piece of information locked down before we talk about it. So by the time you’re back next week, plan on having long meetings during the day.” He flashed his teeth. “I know how much you love that shit.”

“Fuck you. In your absence, I shaved our weekly staff meeting down to ten minutes.” Knox also flashed his teeth. “Maybe you should give me your notes and I’ll summarize.”

“Funny. I won’t have notes for another two days.”

This secretive stuff didn’t sit well with him. “So is that when you’ll pass down judgment on us hiring Byerly?”

“I’ll admit I was pissed. But I can’t fault you and Shiori for doing it. I know Byerly gets results. He is the best of the best, and that’s what the program needs to grow and thrive.”

That’s when Ronin’s issue with the situation became clear to Knox. “You weren’t sold on the idea of a full-blown MMA program at Black Arts, were you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Ronin scrubbed his hand over his face. “For this reason. We didn’t have the staff. We didn’t have the talent. I’ve already started a promotion company that I feel I’m giving half-assed attention to. I don’t know what my responsibilities will be after the dojo is under the umbrella of a new house. Amery understands I don’t have a nine-to-five job, but I’m tired of spending only one whole day out of a weekend with her. So change is inevitable, and needed, and I’ll be glad for it after it’s all implemented.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Just . . .” He sighed. “I don’t know. Be aware it might be a rougher transition than I’d like.”

Another vague response. “Okay.”

Ronin’s eyes met his. “I have a pile of shit to do today, so I’d better get on it. One last thing. Have you been to Twisted lately?”

“Define lately.”

“You’d better not be fucking around on my sister, Knox, because that shit doesn’t fly with me,” he snapped.

Knox cocked his head. “Ease. Off. It’s none of your business what I do or don’t do at Twisted. It’s none of your business what I do or don’t do with your sister, so get to the fucking point.”

“When was the last time you were there?”

“Two weeks ago. Why?”

“Does Shiori know about the place?”

“Yes.”

“Does she know what kind of club it is?”

“Yep.”

“Why the fuck are you being so goddamn vague?” Ronin demanded. Then he aimed a cool look at Knox. “Guess if I want answers I’ll ask Merrick.”

“You can ask him, but I doubt he’ll tell you what you want to know. Maintaining member privacy is his one unbreakable rule.” Knox pushed away from his vehicle. “I’m sorry you’re having a hard time dealing with changes, Ronin, but don’t take that shit out on me. I’ve got your back. I’ll be by your side for as long as you need me. But there are some times when I have to draw the line between our working relationship and our personal lives. Not trying to be a dick, and for the first time I understand why you did it with Amery. I’m asking you to understand, not to push and punish—either me or Shiori.”

Ronin squinted at him. “I swear I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about. So I’ll let that go.” He opened his car door. “Remember this conversation, Knox, because it will come full circle.”

No fucking clue what that meant, but he nodded anyway.

“See you at the dojo Monday morning. I’ll make sure Amery texts you before she shows up this weekend.”

“That’ll work. Thanks for coming by. You have no idea what it means to her.”

“Take care of her, and if you need anything, call.”

Knox didn’t watch Ronin drive away. He returned to the living room and saw Shiori sitting by the open window. Her knees were pressed against her chest and she’d wrapped her arms around her shins.

She’d buried her face beneath her hair, so he couldn’t tell if she was crying.

He dropped to his knees in front of her. “Hey. You okay?”