lack street in East LA. The driver snatched the cash from
oked with garbage and stagnant water, bursting through the doors
lungs burning, until she reached the third floor
and the high-pitched giggling of his mistress, G
d of Briana's
oards, and threw her entire body weight forward, ramming her sh
ud crack. The door flew open, slammin
n on his lap, jumped out of his skin. He drop
y beer bottle from the table and pointed it at her. "You ungrateful bitc
he tiny, filthy room.
ns. She reached behind her and p
l in his system. He lunged at her, rais
clumsy swing. She pivoted, driving her el
is lungs. The bottle slipped from h
his greasy hair. She yanked his head down and slammed
reamed-a wet, gurgling sound-and collaps
She scrambled off the sofa
bed Gretchen by her blonde extensions a
g acrylic nails scratching deep,
k, pinning her flat against the floorboards. She reached out an
edge hard against Gre
froze i
spered, her voice a dead, hollow sound that b
d welled up and trickled down Gretchen's neck. A warm, pungent
ysterically. "The abandoned auto sh
in her hand and brought the heavy metal handle down hard
as moaning on the floor. She dug into his pocket
t a change in expression, she raised her
ke dry twigs. Doyle pa
wn to the alley. She found the rusted pickup truck, jammed the
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