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"This is the Black Sergeant He’s in charge of the yard," the LT said

He nodded

"Behave and follow the rules," Cicek told me

"What are the rules?" I asked

"Depends on hed except he didn’t look like he was joking Cicek left and the Black Sergeant returned to his post, leaving lanced at the in equipainst the far wall, I watched the activity The first sign of trouble was the glances A large cluster of wo at me When they spread out and approached, I prepared an escape plan The Black Sergeant kept an eye on us, but he didn’t appear too concerned

"Hey, new girl," the one wohtly broader than the others, she was also a step ahead of the your husband?"

I s me for someone else I didn’t kill anyone"

"You can quit the innocence act We know better," she said in an unfriendly tone She came closer

Valek’s patient instructions replayed inmy heartbeat I exa a point Talking " I pushed off the wall and strode toward her, stopping et hurt"

Her gang hed, but she didn’t Perhaps it was because she read the intent ontalk"

As she reached into her pocket, I ers, I stepped to the side as she hunched over in pain She pulled a weapon I grabbed her wrist and squeezed With a shriek, she dropped the shank, and I increased the pressure, forcing her to her knees

My attack lasted seconds By the ti recovered from their surprise, she was at my mercy

"Keep your distance or I’ll break her arm," I ordered

They hesitated Without their leader, they didn’t knohat to do I aze He nodded

"I’ll make this simple," I said to the others "Stay away froer and thuony up her arround I waited until she passed out, then releasedover her prone fored me

Satisfied, I picked up the shank and joined the Black Sergeant He hadn’t moved from his post I handed him the weapon