Free Broken Storm Part One by May C. West

weren’t doing their job, and with a quick look up to
the fat, white, billowing clouds above, it almost looked like there was snow on
the horizon.
    Like all other weather, Keiko loved snow. She loved
wind, rain, hail, everything.
    Just staring up at the clouds, no matter what color
they were or whether they were bucketing down with drenching rain, made her
feel more alive. It made her forget herself and all her troubles.
    But before she could kick back on the grass, bring
her hands behind her back and stare up at the wintry sky above, she forced
herself to her feet instead.
    She had the afternoon off, and technically she
should make the most of it. She had an assignment due in a week, and the
apartment was a complete tip.
    So grumbling, Keiko walked through the park,
heading towards the side street that would lead down to her parked car.
    She never reached it though.
    Because a car drew up just before her, sharp and
quick, the tires actually screeching as they mounted the curb.
    It surprised her, and she shuddered, her hands
still locked firmly in her pockets.
    She stared at it for a moment, then turned away and
continued to walk on.
    She didn't get far. Someone jumped out of the car.
    They ran up to her. She turned.
    She expected him. She was wrong.
    The face she looked up into belonged to a large,
heavyset man, with several scars jagged down his cheeks and eyebrows.
    'Can I help you?’ she asked quickly, her heart
aflutter in her chest for some reason.
    'I reckon,' the guy said in a low voice.
    There was something about the tone and the peculiar
curl of his lips that got to Keiko. It also made her realize how deserted the street
around her was at that moment.
    There were several entrances to the park, and it
just so happened that she was near the one that was least used. It backed out
onto a series of alleyways, and though there were buildings all around, they
were mostly restaurants that were used at night but were hardly ever open
during the day.
    Keiko took a quick step back, the movement jerky.
    The guy didn't say anything. But he did follow.
    ‘I'm sorry, but I have to go,' Keiko managed
through a shaking voice.
    She was not sorry; the guy was creeping her out. But
Keiko had the kind of personality that had to excuse herself, even when she was
facing down a brute of a man with scars all over his face and a menacing look
in his eye.
    That did not stop her from pushing herself into a
jerky half jog.
    She’d parked her car down a little side street that
she knew well. It always had a few car spaces left, because it was practically
abandoned. A fact that Keiko now dreaded.
    In an instant she realized she should not lead the
man to her car, but as she ran through the mouth of the alleyway, she could no
longer turn back.
    He was behind her; she could hear him.
    A strange kind of desperation that Keiko had never
felt before rang through her belly and shook through her back.
    She could hardly breathe, hardly speak, hardly make
a sound. Her jerky jog picked up into a run, then a sprint.
    He was still behind her.
    Just before she could open her mouth and force out
a scream or reach for her phone, a car turned its way into the alley. It drove
up fast, slamming on its breaks when it was opposite her.
    Someone forced the door open.
    It was Chase Harlow.
    She had no idea what to do.
    Then the guy behind caught up to her.
    Chase Harlow
    He’d gone out to find her. After he'd shared his
story with Victor and Julius and the two had considered him with suspicion,
Chase had realized that he couldn't just let this slide.
    After he made his secretary call the nursing home
and confirm that indeed two man had gone to visit Ami Teshi yesterday, he
couldn't ignore it any more.
    Somebody else knew about Keiko, and it had to be
the sect. Or if not the Sect, maybe one of Chase’s other competitors. The point
was, it was dangerous.
    He’d left Victor and Julius in his office, Victor
mumbling something about going to check through the