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“Look out for that little ‘un She’s Draegan McCall’s wouy watchin’ the place said she acts one way in public but another way behind closed doors We did soh childhood, probably worse than my own Word is she had one stepdad after another and dealt with all sorts of abuse Then, she up andlord from the projects He orth plenty froo”

“Who is ‘they’ exactly?”

“Shit Don’t be crass I’m talkin’ about the word on the street”

“And you’re out there on the street a lot now, are you?”

Guy was a real smartass “Alls ya need to know is she ain’t as innocent as she looks Probably a fighter if she’s backed in a corner”

For that reason if none other, To Serena walk away unscathed, but if life had taught hi it was to never underestimate someone with a difficult past They often found their inner strength when the odds were visibly stacked against them If they finally allowed themselves to love, they protected those they cherished Once those people were gone, they spent all the days of their lives looking for retribution, seeking outright revenge

The hired gun stood “What’s that saying? You can take the girl out of the wild but you can’t take the wild out of the girl?”

“I reckon so From what I hear, Serena is a wild one Wouldn’t al visit” Toed in a brief fantasy—Serena on her knees in front of him He abruptly added, “Job’ll test your skills”

“I’m forty-nine for forty-nine, Mr Vance I’m never tested, never tried

My success rate is one hundred percent”

“Good Oh and when ya finish? Make sure the e is clear No one is safe in Trouble, and if they step away froood as dead”

Chapter One

Five Days Later

Tri-Cities Airport, Tennessee

“Markie, what the fuck is all this?” Allister circled the pile of baggage He crossed his ar his head