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"LAPD!" she shouted, her pistol clearing leather "Break it the fuck up!"
"Get back! Give us some room!" Danny bellowed
Danny was green but he was a good officer She trusted hiht-and trust was imperative A second unit was on the way, but that didn't mean it would arrive in time to prevent disaster
The pair were oblivious at first, the younger ainst his assailant The stocky e palpable He was the one she needed to reach
"I said break it up! Now!"
Switchblade in his er lance at her, a snarl on his face She sucked in a breath, recognizing hierous bastard with a long rap sheet full of violence Worse, he was unpredictable, hisabuse
"Little puta stole
"I didn't!" E up his hands "I don't do the powder, you know that! La familia knows that!"
"You took it and I'ut you like a-"
"No, you're not," Rowan ordered, using her most authoritative voice She held her pistol at her side, pointed at the asphalt "Put the blade down and come talk to me We'll sort it out"
"Shut up, lesbiana You think you have bigger cojones than Luis, si? Perhaps you do" He gave a nasty laugh
Rowan let the insult roll off She'd been called worse "E the truth, Garcia I know him and I swear to you he wouldn't take your blow" Now, your car? He'd steal that in a heartbeat, but not your coke "I wouldn't lie to my own people Put the knife down"
To her right, the Lobos' leader pushed through the crowd, apparently late on the scene Salazar Ro black hair and a soul patch, arms covered with tats "Don't be stupid Listen to mamacita, Luis She's street One of us, you feel h for the Lobos"
Finally, a break in the ice The biggerHe tried to stare Salazar down, but looked away first, like the dog he was But that didn't er was over Rowan's stance reo of Emilio's shirt
"Climb off him and stand," she directed "Slowly"
Garcia let go a string of muttered curses, but did as he was told On his feet, he stepped away fro his head Still cursing Gesturing and swinging his aruage The ain
"Kneel, hands behind your head"
His head snapped up "You said as gonna talk!"
"First, kneel, hands be-"
"Fuck you, bitch!"
Rowan knehat Garcia was going to do, even as he dropped his right ar at the sht up her weapon and leveled it at his chest, shouting, "Drop it!"
But he brought the gun around, swung the muzzle toward her, his intent clear She was hardly aware of her finger pressing the trigger, and the deafening explosion was over before her brain registered the noise
Garcia jerked backward, eyes widening in surprise A blooan to spread across his chest as his knees buckled and he cruround Weapon still trained on his fallen forun from his outstretched hand Wary, she crouched next to his head and placed two fingers on his neck
"Dead?" Danny asked
"Yeah" She heaved a shaky breath and stood, surveying the few people that were left
Most of theotten the hell out of there when Garcia dren and his act of stupidity proved fatal E a few feet away, a hand pressed to his bloodied side, gri in pain Salazar and a couple of his lieutenants ith hih the kid had taken him out himself The little car thief's street cred had just risen substantially, along with plenty of te to add him to their hit list
And the cycle never ended
Rowan holstered her weapon, feeling sick Oh, God I killed one ofthe people I'm supposed to keep safe Could I have handled this differently? How?
"Chase!"
Startled, she blinked at Danny, as right in her face, hand on her shoulder "What?"
"Whatever shit is going through your head right now, stop," he said in a low voice "You gave hiive up Hell, you aler It was a righteous shooting No one is going to dispute that"
"The baby cop is right, mamacita," Salazar said in a loud voice "Luis was broken, man He acted on his own to jump Emilio, and the Lobos wash their hands of him There will be no retribution"
Broken,Salazar had recently demoted him She supposed she should feel relieved that Luis had already beco ht notinto her, studying her reaction, she claave a curt nod
Salazar waved a hand at his re followers "Vamanos!"