Yuka pouted. “I’m tired of penne.”

“Why? It’s the best!” Blair protested.

“Let’s do rigatoni.” Yuka waved the bag. “Two for one, remember?”

“But I love your penne with ground beef,” Blair complained.

“Don’t flatter me.” Yuka pointed the rigatoni box at him threateningly. “It’s not going to work.”

“Of course it’s going to work.” Blair grinned. “I’m irresistible.”

Yuka rolled her eyes, laughing. Val discreetly moved the cart out of the way and grimaced in apology at a tired mom pushing a full cart while lugging three kids through the store.

After a century or so, the dwarves settled on one box of each pasta type, and they steered the cart toward the cashier at last. The rigmarole did not end there. Both were annoyed with the other for forgetting the reusable bags, and Yuka had lost their rewards card. They ultimately made it to the parking lot.

Val gulped the cold air as they strolled across the asphalt. Yellow streetlights lit their grim surroundings: a graffitied wall, cracks in the pavement where weeds grew, and litter on the sidewalk. Genevieve gleamed, a hawk among chickens beside the SUVs and sedans surrounding her.

Yuka eyed the loaded cart. “Will it all fit in the trunk?”

“It’ll fit,” Val reassured her.

One row behind Genevieve, car doors slammed in rapid succession. She gripped Blair’s shoulder and turned quickly, reaching for her dagger.

Four guys stepped out of a Ford Fiesta ST whose dropped suspension looked much less cool than they thought it did. Steroids screamed in their overblown shoulders and pecs but did little for their hairy legs, which ended in feet encased in flip-flops.

“Stay behind me,” Val growled at the dwarves.

The ringleader had a fat gold earring to match the stud in his nose. He strutted to Val, cocksure to the bone, but his gaze never strayed to Blair or Yuka.

“Valerie Stonehold,” he proclaimed. “I thought it was you.”

“Keep moving toward the car,” Val ordered.

Blair and Yuka shuffled toward Genevieve, shooting glances at the men. The group didn’t pay the dwarves any attention. All eyes were on Val.

“Think you’re a badass in the MMA ring, do you?” Gold Earring demanded.

Val gritted her teeth. “Oh, you’re that kind of son-of-a-bitch.”

Gold Earring’s expression darkened. “You’re going to regret saying that.” He kicked off his flip-flops, a less threatening gesture than he thought. “Thing is, chick, you don’t belong in the cage.”

Val raised her eyebrows. “Sexism? Wow. How unimaginative.”

Gold Earring raised his fists to his face. The other guys whooped. The shopping cart’s wheels stopped squeaking.

Val looked around. “It’s okay, guys,” she called. “You’re not under threat.”

Yuka pushed the cart against the curb, then rolled up her sleeves. “I agree.” She grinned. “I don’t see any threats.”

“Shut up, bitch,” another guy yelled.

Blair stepped forward. “What did you call her?”

“You think you’re hot shit, huh?” Gold Earring bounced on the balls of his feet, his technique as sloppy as his smile. “I can kick any girl’s ass.”

Val raised her chin. “I’m on duty right now. If you want to fight me, meet me in the arena.”

Gold Earring scoffed. “Play by the sissy MMA rules? No, thanks. I want a real fight.”

Val sighed. She stretched out her arms, a luxurious, unhurried movement, then slipped into a crouch.

“Okay,” she told him, “but when this is over, remember that you asked for it.”

Yuka retrieved a soda from the cart and popped the lid. “Kick his ass, Val,” she called.

Blair snorted. “As if there can be any other outcome.”

Gold Earring snarled, then lunged at Val with a series of wild swings. Val stepped back, dodging the first two. She caught the third, her hand closing around his puny wrist. His eyes widened in horror, and with a squeal, he rammed his knee into her groin.

Val chuckled. “Fighting dirty, huh?”

She still had control of his arm, and she twisted it with a swift, casual movement. He doubled over, squealing as muscles and ligaments tightened. Val kept twisting until she felt something creak in his shoulder.

“Tap out,” she ordered.

“This isn’t MMA!” Gold Earring squealed. “I’m not submitting!”

Val shrugged. “Okay.”

A month in the hospital. Liam’s words reminded her that this was more than a dick-measuring contest. This was about her charges’ safety.

She twisted a bit farther, and something snapped. Gold Earring’s high-pitched scream tore across the parking lot. She released him, and he staggered away, clutching his shoulder.

“She hurt me!” he wailed. “She hurt me!”

“Like I said.” Val spread her hands. “You asked for it.”

“Get her!” Gold Earring moaned.

The three other guys started forward. Yuka sighed, delicately placed her beer can on the curb, and charged with Blair by her side.

Val knocked the first guy out with a single punch and whirled to help her fellow dwarves. Blair had the second guy on the ground, grappling to get an arm around the human’s neck. The guy clung to Blair’s forearm, trying to draw his arm away, but he fought in vain against dwarven strength. Blair’s arm closed around his carotid arteries, and the kid went limp.

Yuka circled her opponent, fists to her chin. Val stepped forward.

“No!” Yuka spat. “He’s mine.”

The human was unarmed, and Yuka’s eyes flared with green fire. Val decided it was wiser not to interfere.