carded newspapers. Ahead, one of the few functioning streetlights siz

udden silence th

muffled

ght. It was the sound of pure terror, cut sh

topped

me flared to life. Her senses sharpened, the exha

ken suitcase into the deep shadow of a large

. She moved like a phantom, hugging the cold, damp brick

s, had a young woman with short, spiky hair pinned against the far wall. The leader, a burly man with a shaved head, was grinnin

he let a single word drop into

ea

dy, but it cut through the

e searched the shadows. He saw her then-a slender figure in a red dress, her

let go of the terrified woman, who sl

is eyes roaming over Nina's body. "Looks like it's our

arrogant confidence. The other two thugs flanked him,

d with wide, terrified eyes. A flicker of

ed out a grimy hand, aiming to

etreat. She m

ed it. Her right hand shot out and clamped around his wrist, not

pivo

der throw. For a moment, the two-hundred-pound man was airborne. He land

his throat. His arm was bent at

eir shock turned to rage. With synchronized movements, they pulled switchblades from their

that had fueled her was starting to fade. The body she inhabited was screaming i

ed, her hand flying out to brac

ss. They exchanged a look, and then they moved,

at her stomach. He was fast. Too fast for this

r. She knew it wouldn't be enough. The cold t

wi

of something small and fa

ed by a wet,

flown out of the darkness at the alley's entrance. It st

dropped his knife. He staggered backward, clutching

yes wide with terror, stari

pensive leather shoes stepping through the filth.

ged from t

ness around him. His presence was a physical force, a wave of cold, absolute authority

d to tremble. The knife suddenly felt very heavy in

r the scene. They passed over the groaning men on

gaze lande

ving as she leaned against the wall for support. And in the

ere