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Twenty minutes later the tunnel ended abruptly A wall of brick with a dilapidated wooden staircase hanging in the center loo a lethal s off the car, she climbed the steps, picked the lock of the new hatch, and shoved the heavy ht wind blustered as she peeked out Two graffiti-covered buildings at her sides They were several yards apart, with a dark abandoned alley in the center, leading straight to--

New Chicago’s Main

Rock on

She climbed the last step and shiaped Wow Anyone alked this alley would see cracked concrete, nothing rabbed the lipstick fro--and loss in a nearby trash bin

Her exit strategy taken care of, Noelle practically skipped from the alley She made sure to note the shops One a twenty-four-hour photo The other an abandoned, cru crack house Quaint

She also s She could fix the alley, oods and services through the tunnel at her discretion

What a day!

Cars whizzed along the road Bikes and scooters, too Despite the late hour, crowds had yet to thin on this poorer side of town Huhing, shopping She spotted a few Arcadians, the race known for white hair that couldn’t be dyed, the ability to teleport, and in soroup of Terans, a very cat-like species, with pointed ears, spotted skin, and feline grace One Mec, tall and thin, with skin that glowed different colors with different emotions And two Deleseans, with six arms and azure skin that kind of re these people A surreal thought Noelle had always been the trouble the law? Kinda see her so intently Maybe he doubted her capability and integrity, as she’d first assu better

You don’t need i about his--her mouth watered--car exhaust and perfus Towering lans pulsed Live Nude Girls World’s Best Coffee A Toys R Us right beside a Hooters The old

"Hey, darlin’," someone called "Howto me

"Hey, you, in the red shorts I’ll take whatever you’re selling, no matter the price"

Yep Me The only clothes she’d had were for working out Right now she sported a red tank and ht shorts Streaked by dirt as she was, she probably looked like she spent a lot of tiled, as if soh one too many times

Someone had, of course, but that souy, just threw a finger in the direction of his voice and kept walking

"Bitch!"

His friends snickered

Yeah, yeah Took her fifteen minutes, but she finally found a candy store A bell chimed above the door when she entered Ava would flip out of her mind when Noelle presented her with a butterscotch breakfast in bed

Stray thought: Who served Hector breakfast in bed?

Noelle’s teeth ground together sharply The answer didn’tmore Not once had he ever acted as if he found her attractive

"Can I help you?" the guy behind the counter asked

She sized hiar gut He wore a white apron and earned major points for cleanliness

The store itself was s in the way of furniture Definitely needed a new business er There were no couches for customers to sit on so they could chat and eatsa, as she was used to

"What do you have in the butterscotch departlass at his right, just above a plate of what looked to be fudge squares "Just these"

"I’ll take the down his forehead "One or--"

"All"

Cash signs practically glowing in his eyes, he got to work, wrapping the squares individually and stacking theave another chilanced up, said, "I’ll be with--" then snapped his ulped with apprehension His bloated cheeks paled "Uh, just a second, please"

Robber? Thug? Noelle spun around--and came face-to-face with her tor a black T-shirt that hs indecently He scowled over at her, his golden eyes glittered brightly His ars braced apart, as if he meant to leap into an attack at any moment

Oh … shit

Four

NOELLE," HE SAID TIGHTLY, his voice full of gravel

"Hector" What did it say about her that she was aroused rather than scared? He looked capable of murder, his hard features cold and merciless, but dale" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>