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CHAPTER ONE

“SO this is where you’re learning to kick some ass”

Amery scrutinized the front of the restored historic brick building At six stories it was the tallest structure on this end of the block On the street level, iron bars covered the fes that hadn’t been bricked over The signage on the glass door read BLACK ARTS with a phone number below it

She craned her neck to look up Had to be a killer view of the river and the city from the top floor

“Uh, A for?”

“A welco party of ninjas to rappel down fro swords and I’ll be sorely disappointed”

Molly laughed nervously “Uo in Class starts in five minutes and arned to be on time”

Ah She really didn’t want to be here, but she’d suck it up and do it, even if only out of solidarity

Her stomach twisted into a vicious knot every time she remembered the phone call from the police last month, after her sweet-natured euys in don Denver Poor Molly had defined introverted even before the incident; the attack had pushed her further into her shell So when Molly asked Amery to accoreed

But looking around this sketchy neighborhood, she’d be surprised if they weren’t ju if students put the ht their way back to their car after dark

Amery must’ve seemed reluctant, because Molly said, “If you don’t want to do this”

She plastered on a smile “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to be in an enclosed space with a bunch of uys who like to beat the crap out of each other for fun”

Molly’s eyes narrowed

“Kidding, Mol Let’s hit it Wouldn’t want you to be late for your first day”

Inside the building, the entryway split into two hallways, one that pointed to the men’s and women’s locker rooms and the other to the classrooms They headed to the main entrance

A bald-headed, heavily tattooed guy in what resembled white pajamas manned a small cubby that looked like a cross between a ticket booth and a coat check

“Good evening, ladies How may I help you?”

Molly cleared her throat “I’m here for the women’s self-defense class”

He picked up a clipboard “Name?”

“Molly Calloway”

Mr Tattoos had to be bald by choice since he appeared to be under twenty-five He checked the list, marked off Molly’s name, and looked at Amery “Ma’am? Your name?”

“Amery Hardwick”