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Chicken clenched his fist, wanting to fight back, but he didn’t, and I knew why. His grandmother needed him. If he fought Ghost now, he’d probably have ended up dead or in prison. I didn’t know Chicken well, but I knew he cared for his grandmother and other elders in the community.

I could easily kill Ghost with a metal bar gleaming against the wall. I could avenge my mother. But his death wouldn’t bring back my mother or remove my wounds. I wouldn’t feel any better having blood on my hands. How could I take care of Kaylee if I were locked up? My dad would probably have a heart attack. How could I love Arrow if I were separated from him?

In my mind, I’d killed Ghost a thousand times. Right now, I envisioned the pipe smashing into his head and cracking his skull with blood dripping down his face as he looked into my eyes and knew it was me—the girl who got away.

Ghost was more useful alive than dead.

Courage and adrenaline filled me as I strode over and interrupted their conversation.

“Yo! My man, Chicken! Haven’t seen you in a while. What’s up?” I deepened my voice to sound manly and slapped at his back.

Chicken stared at me.

I didn’t give him time to ask a question. “I got you.” Turning to Ghost, I said, “My pal owes you money? How much?”

“You gonna pay for him?” Ghost asked.

“That’s right.” I paused and stared at the fiend in the clown mask. The evil eyes hadn’t changed one bit. “How much?”

Ghost stared at me for a while. Then he pushed me against the wall. “Who do you think you are, butting into my business? You wanna die?”

I pushed back and punched him in the gut. “Keep your hands to yourself if you want them intact.”

He charged at me and threw a punch. I blocked and dodged another fist.

Chicken and Birdman stepped away as Ghost shrugged off his coat, whipped it aside, and cracked his knuckles. “I’ll break all your bones, fucker!”

I also removed my coat because it was too hot, and I needed to move easily to fight him. Ghost was a lot bigger than most men. But in a battle, sometimes that didn’t matter. A crowd had formed around us. So much for discretion. Where were the security guards? Were there any here?

Ghost’s fist came flying at me, but someone’s hand gripped his mid-punch.

“What kind of man hits a woman?” Arrow pushed Ghost’s hand away. He wore a Bullseye mask and glanced at me. I could see the fury and concern in his eyes.

“A woman?” Birdman asked.

“Yeah!” I shouted. “Chicken’s my friend, and I’ll fight to erase his debt.” I turned to Ghost. “You in, or are you afraid, asshole?”

Ghost snorted and laughed. “How about I fuck you first, and then I’ll break all your bones?”

“And I’ll cut off your balls and shove them down your throat before I sever your limbs,” Arrow seethed.

A moment of silence thrummed in the room. I could almost sense the darkness slithering up from the concrete floor like evil shadows instigating more violence.

Ghost stared at Arrow, then at me.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” shouted the stupid crowd. “I vouch for the woman!”

Willy headed toward me, but I shook my head, signaling him to stay out of it. I didn’t need to make this messier than it already was.

I yanked Arrow aside and whispered, “What are you doing?”

“What areyoudoing?” he tossed back.

I didn’t reply. It would take too long to explain. I could tell he was mad at me for not telling him about tonight. I had my reasons. Still, I understood his anger.

“We’ll discuss it later,” I said. “Right now, I need to fight him.”

“I’m not standing here while a manattacksyou.” He inhaled a deep breath and whispered, “I know who he is.”