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I had aweso around after dark, livingtoward my head before it had a chance to make contact I heard a soft voice swear and heard a dull thud as whatever it was hit the ground I dodged around a swinging fist and e of a Taser that was shoved toward ot a hand around a delicate wrist, and twisted the weapon away I saw her open her ht me all the way as I hauled her farther into the apartorously in my hold, which toldtiet there, because it took forever for the police to show up in the Point

“I just want to knohere Race is I know you know”

She went still and stopped clawing at the back of ernails She really did have coppery-red hair, a whole lot of it that was all up in my face as she tried to tilt her head back to look at o way back If he’s in trouble, I want to help hiave a stiff nod

“If I let you loose, are you going to ative and I felt her hands fall to her sides She was kind of tall for a girl When I set her away frolare at me in the dark, I noticed she just had to tilt her chin a fraction to lookreal sick and tired of people thinking they can just bust in here and de theht shadow in the darkened rooold curls and she had freckles She looked like a kid No older than sixteen or seventeen She also looked like she should be on a farm somewhere in the Midwest All kinds of earnest wholesoy jeans and fru in this part of the city

“Get a better lock”

She glared at me and pushed a handful of that wild hair out of her face

“Good locks cost money and I still don’t know anyone nao fk yourselves”

Mouthy and brave That was a dangerous co to lose I didn’t have ti step forward just as she whirled around to turn on the light I blinked for a second and saw her aze locked on my face, but not on the battered and bruised parton the star tattooed next to my eye

“Carmen called uy who looks like you comes around we don’t warn each other? Paulie and Marco took down your plate nuhts in fivecalled and you don’t want to knohat’ll happen to your very pretty car”

I blinked like an idiot No one ever got the drop on irl, who looked like she should be out on a farm, sure as hell shouldn’t have been able to be the first one to do it

“Why am I here, then?”

The cops didn’t scare me Wild kids around my baby did

She crossed her arms over an entirely unireen at me I tilted ht she looked vaguely faht you didn’t know anyone named Race?”

She narrowed her eyes at me “You have fourto find out I’ve beenindisposed up until about eight hours ago I’ether”