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"Zania," I said, "please don’t be scared of us I’ to hurt you We caone, and he has no idea we’re here You’re safe with us I have is to tell you Will you be calo?"

Her response was an obvious no as Kope let out a small holler and jerked his hand away froht, even as she let out a string of vicious words in Arabic, ending with "Go to hell!" in English This was going to be harder than I thought I bent down and picked up the knife

"Listen toto put this knife back into your hand and Kopano is going to release you I want you to have the means to protect yourself But I am unarmed I promise you We only want to talk We’re like you We have no loyalties to the Dukes" In truth, I carried the hilt as a weapon, but it could only be wielded against deh her nose as I slowly took the step forward and slipped the knife into her hand An awful thought crossed my mind and I squeezed my hand over her fist

"Do not try to hurt Kopano when he lets you go, or you and I are going to have a probleood man," she snarled

"Yes, there is And you’ll see for yourself if you give hiood man of yours to release me with my back to the street"

"Okay, but don’t run away" I let my desperation for her cooperation show as I stayed close for a few more seconds I tookat Kope He turned her and let her go, stepping swiftly back, next to ht crouch, eyes skittering as if expecting ourlike a hood, and she ripped it froround She looked like a warrior princess Kope cleared his throat

"Perhaps my presence is a hindrance"

Good point She definitely had issues withZania, but her eyes were on him He took a careful step forward and she jutted the knife out

"I must pass you, Zania," he said in a silky, deep voice "I will keep to the wall"

They sidestepped along their oith few precious feet of separation, eyeing each other She followed his everyher back to the wall, she turned her head toward ht He’s my friend and he wants me to be safe But he won’t interfere now unless you hurtof that, I lifted my hand to the spot underfast Adrenaline keptI looked down at the spots of blood on etthe walk back to the hotel

"Ia so so had finally slowed, but she still watched me warily