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Anyone who is not engaged in the fight has a gun pulled, with Lorenzo standing still, unfazed and letting it all continue while my energy fades, just like my focus.

Blinking and panting, one of the guards takes advantage of my tiredness and has me in a chokehold, pressing his forearm against my neck. I thrust my elbow back, twist his arm and have him on his knees, swiftly escaping his hold.

After I put them all down, I exhale heavily when another set of guards arrives.

The first one delivers a punch straight to my cheek. I drop on my back, the pain is instant.

“You fucking bitch. Stay down.”

I was never good at following instructions. I get up and the other one looks between me, his buddy, and Lorenzo. The latter tips his chin. “Don’t kill her.”

He should be afraid of me not killing them.

“She tried to kill the boss,” he says as he jabs his elbow into my stomach.

I recover quickly, climb up his back and wrap my thighs around his thick neck, bringing him down. I don’t loosen my grip until he passes out. Rolling back, I ready myself to take another one down.

“Last warning. Leave. Now,” I warn them.

I appreciate loyalty. I was certain they would start something, but if they don’t stop, they’ll regret it this time.

Do they stop? No, and pumped up with the adrenaline that courses through me, making me feel invincible, I dash for the chair by the entrance. Throwing it at the wall, I arm myself with legs that look like spikes.

I throw the first one, and it slices through the air with precision, straight into the leg of the guard who makes the first move. He drops on his ass, blood seeping down his calf and dripping onto the grass. He hisses, but it’s not a fatal wound.

Killing them will make my stay here even more of a hardship. I just want to assert some rules.

The bulkier one comes at me, and we’re engaged in a violent tango, squatting and crabbing. Striking, we try to find an opening.

He’s proving to be the best one in the pack. He punches me in the stomach hard enough that I stumble, dropping with a thud. The chair leg rolls from my hand. I could turn and pick up my weapon, but with the last of my energy, I dash to him, ducking and getting behind him in a swift movement.

I kick him in the back of his knees, but he stands, scooping me up as if I weigh nothing. I jab the side of my palm in his neck, taking us both down. Patting for the chair leg, I clutch it and slam it into his shoulder. This injury will take him down for a while.

Breathing harshly, I look at the two men grunting on the floor.

Lorenzo approaches me with three other men, who blink at the guards surrounding me on the ground. They quickly mask their awe.

I need another shower. Great.

“Take them with you,” Lorenzo orders and stalks to me.

“You didn’t kill them,” he says once we’re alone. “Why?”

“Didn’t feel like it,” I shrug, downplaying it as I redo my ponytail.

I don’t want to make new enemies, but show them not to mess with me, giving them something they can run their mouths about.

“I ruined my clothes,” I say, looking at the blood on my clean clothes.

“Your priorities are fucked up, Luciana.”

Whatever.

“I won’t try to escape, so tell your dogs to stay away from me. I am in a mood.”

That’s the only warning he gets as I stride away.

I am sure someone will stop me from going where I am not supposed to, but I need some fresh air and to gather my thoughts. I will not return to that building. Period.