I drag myself back to my shop without totally remembering how I got there. I might have a concussion. Aside from that and the cuts and scrapes, I should be okay. Nothing is broken, but I must look like a mess. 

I know I’m right about being in rough shape when I get to my front door to find Tasmin standing there waiting for me again. 

“You didn’t see something you shouldn’t have again, did you?” I say, which she responds with a smile until I get close enough for her to see what state I’m in.

“Oh my. What happened to you?”

“It’s no big deal. I had a run in with some salvagers.” 

“What did they do to you?”

“It’s all good. Everything is where it should be. I got away before they could start picking me apart.” 

“Where are your keys?” Without waiting for an answer, she tucks herself under my arm and digs into my pocket, extracting the keys. “Let’s go take care of this.” 

I don’t want to admit it, but it’s nice to have someone taking care of me. Tasmin drops me on the couch and immediately heads to the kitchen. I hear her grabbing ice and I lean back while the pain really starts to set in. 

“What were you doing walking around here in the middle of the night?” 

“I could say the same for you.” 

“I can handle myself.” 

“So can I.” 

“I can see that,” she jokes. She gently puts the ice on my lip and I wince. “Such a big strong man.” 

“That’s me.” 

“Why do you stay here? There are better places where you can run a business.” 

“Not with a lease I can afford.”

“The guys that Ludo had working for him were making quite a bit.”

“What happened to them?” 

“They moved on. Found other things to do with their time when they made enough money.”

“Do you keep in touch with any of them?”

“What, you think I make friends with all of you nerds? You’re not exactly my type.” 

I laugh, and a hot flash of pain goes right in between my ribs. 

She takes the ice from my busted lip and looks me in the eye. 

“I mean, you could try and convince me otherwise,” She gets up from the couch, taking the ice pack with her. “You should take a shower. Clean this dirt and blood off.”

She heads back into the kitchen and I take her advice. As I’m undressing, I have to peel my shirt off. The sweat and blood caked onto me rips away as I do so. I look in the mirror and see they got a few kicks in. Those bruises are going to hurt. 

I turn the water on and before I step in, Tasmin pokes her head in. 

“Let me know if you need any help in there.” 

“I think I got it.” 

“Are you sure about that?” She walks in, already undressed. A knockout, through and through. She knows it, which makes things even better. 

--

The shower, and the company, definitely helped to get my mind off the searing pain. At least temporarily. As I stare at my ceiling from the couch, I think about Ludo’s offer. 

If it’s as good as Tasmin says, I could get out of this place. Get into a better neighborhood that I can compete in. I could do more above-board business, strictly warranty work, instead of desperately trying to keep the lights on. As much as I would hate being under Delcor’s thumb, they’re less likely to break my legs if I mess up. I can help those who need it and leave the rest of this behind. I can make some good out of this. 

“So,” I say as Tasmin pulls her head up from my chest. “you’re telling me these guys who work with Ludo just quit whenever they’re done?”

“Well, not exactly. You have to work it out with him. Almost like a contract, you do a certain amount of work for him, fulfill the contract and it’s up to you if you want to sign a new one or not.”

“What happens if I don’t live up to the contract?”

“I wouldn’t recommend that.” 

I think back to what I saw that night when I met Tasmin. Was that someone who broke a contract? If that’s the case, is there anything actually wrong with that? I would feel the same way. If I could go after every client that ripped me off, I would. 

“Maybe I’ll reach out to him again. I think you might be right.”

“Of course I’m right.”

“I trust you, but can I trust him?” 

Tasmin crinkles her brow before putting her head back down. 

“Just rest for now. We’ll deal with that in the morning.”