I know I said I'd avoid transcripts, so hopefully this one isn't too bad

As soon as I heard Gat was in charge of ripping the VKs a new asshole, I was making a beeline for his 'office'. Personal grudges got the better of me, it seemed. Dex leant against a pillar in the corner, offering me a smile as I walked in. Johnny was reclined back in a chair behind a desk I'm pretty sure was only for show. He gave me a sly smile as I walked in.

"Take a seat," he was coolly. I drew up the chair and turned it around, straddling it and facing him. His smile broadened.

"So, you're Julius' new girl. You don't look like much. But then, I don't look like I got an eight inch cock so I guess we're both full of surprises," he said, congratulating himself with a wry smile which I couldn't help but mirror– I knew well enough he wasn't trying to hit on me. Gat didn't waste time, quick to familiarise me with the situation.

"The Vice Kings are named after one guy, Benjamin King, and that shit don't happen unless you're a professional, or a badass, and in King's case he's both." He paused as his phone buzzed. "Hold on, I gotta take this." He said, an interesting look crossing his face as he read the name on the caller ID. "Aisha, what a pleasant fucking surprise. Whoa, whoa whoa! Slow down-" he yanked the phone away from his ear, "Ok that's not slower, that's louder… Shit! Where's she headed? …Don't worry, I got this." He clicked his phone off, the cool-as-anything look vanishing in an instant. I blinked at him expectantly.

"What's up?" Dex asked, taking a step or two towards him.

"Some muthafukas grabbed Aisha's sister right off the street."

Dex frowned, not as quick to fury as Gat. "Shit man, that's the sixth girl this month. You know who's doin' this?"

Gat stood, thunder in his eyes, ready for action "Yeah, the Vice Kings."

"No way man, kidnapping 'aint King's style." Dex replied, shaking his head. Johnny shot him a look.

"Maybe it's Tanya goin' behind King's back, don't know, don't fucking care." He turned his focus to me, "Now Aisha said they were drivin' a yellow sedan. Tail those sons'a bitches and get those girls back!" he yelled, slamming a fist into his desk then turning and abruptly left.

I stood and watched him striding into the church and yelling at some of the boys to get their guns – I wouldn't put it past him to tear the Row apart looking for those girls.

I felt a wave of nerves as I first spotted the Vice King's car and started trailing it – he was driving fast and taking shortcuts, and I found myself having to take more risks with my driving than I was comfortable with (luckily this concern faded within a week or two and things like 'speed limits' and 'road signs' were no big issue for me)

Eventually he pulled up outside a warehouse; he jumped out, yanked the rear door open and pulled a girl out by the hair.

I snarled, and my hands gripped the steering wheel till my knuckles turned white. This was bringing back bad memories. I felt a surge of inspiration from Lin, of all people. Those fuckers. Taking girls and selling them like fucking property. My mind swam with images of those asshole pimps smacking hookers around, and Seth… I gritted my teeth.

What he did to me…

Ripping my seatbelt off, throwing the door open, I grabbed my shottie from the back seat, striding to the door, feeling a weird darkness circling me. Adrenaline burned through my veins. And with a force that no one my stature should have, I kicked that door off its fucking hinges.

A guy in yellow stood in front of me, and raised his pistol. I wasn't thinking, I barely saw myself move as I cocked the shotgun and fired, a blast of pellets slamming into his body and knocking him down. I heard shouts form further inside and finally my mind began to clear.

Save the girls.

I dropped to a crouch as a few stray bullets sailed past me, quickly re-loading and creeping forward. I turned, and then jumped from behind the shelves protecting me to fire on the next VK I saw, dropping behind shelter again. One of the VK's yelled a name, probably belonging to the person I just shot. I replied by peering over a box and aiming the shotgun at his head. Boom.

I listened, but only silence greeted me. Finally I stood and hunted through the warehouse to the office at the back, reaching out to turn the handle. Locked, of course.

"Hey," I said banging on the door. No answer. "Girls, uh, Aisha's sister! Where's the key to get you out?"

There was a plethora of hushed voices behind the door before one spoke up.

"The guy with the key went to TnA!"

I nodded to myself. I heard them calling after me but I was already running. I leapt back in the car, taking off to the strip club.

'Fucker' I thought again.

I pulled up into the car park, coming to an abrupt stop. I forced myself to breath slowly, to clear my head. It was the middle of the day, there couldn't be that many people in there. I had already killed the driver who snatched Aisha's sister and had no idea what this other guy was supposed to look like. I shook my head, sitting the shotgun in the passenger seat and checking my .44 to make sure it was clear and loaded and stuck it down the front of my jeans, covering the handle with my shirt then cramming two clips into my pocket. Pushing the door open and stepping out, I took the steps to the club two at a time.

Inside was smoky and dark, even for the middle of the day. I narrowed my eyes and scanned the room – in the far corner my attention was caught by two bright yellow shirts. Between the two sat a guy in a grey sports coat wearing a yellow collared shirt beneath.

I started over, not taking my eyes off the enemy. In retrospect this might have been a mistake if I was trying to seem inconspicuous. One of the VK's turned to laugh at something his friend said, and from the corner of his eye saw me, and my bright purple tank top, a black glare across my eyes. The smile faded and he sat up straighter, watching me and causing the other two to turn around.

When he saw me, the fucker in the middle reached for his gun (clearly more aware than the other two). Dropping to one knee I pulled my own gun and squeezed the trigger quickly. I missed, but it shocked everyone else; anyone not wanting to involve themselves in a gun fight dropped to the ground or dived out of the way. I quickly fired again, trying to concentrate on my aim and take them out as quickly as I could. I heard the high pitched whistle as a bullet flew by me, and ducked behind a booth, jutting out to fire again. I shot one in the chest, another in the knee, who in his panic dropped to cradle his injury.

I aimed again and tried to fire, only to realise I'd miscounted my ammo. I heard the guy in the blazer swear as he fumbled to reload his own gun, and I took my chance, leaping up and running to him. Time seemed to slow as I reached him and saw him snap the new clip into place on his gun. I planted my left foot and felt my hips pivot as I rounded a kick to his head. He reached up and aimed a shot, pulling the trigger. I felt the small wave as the bullet sailed past my thigh and aimed right for my shoulder, just as my leg landed a heavy kick head and something heavy hit me on the arm. He fell backwards, stunned. I knelt down, rummaging his pockets and finding a set of keys, doing the same to the other two guys.

The screams and yells that were piercing the air were abating, and instead I heard a desperate voice from behind the bar. I glanced up and narrowed my eyes – some guy was on the phone, undoubtedly to the cops.

I got to my feet, starting for the door. They'd be here soon, and if it wasn't the cops, it'd be Vice King backup. Twirling the keys on my fingers, I crammed them in my pocket.

I've never forgotten the myriad of emotion that played across the girl's faces when I opened that office door. Aisha's sister was comforting another girl and looked up to me, wide eyes, then gave me a huge smile. The other girls didn't recognise me as quickly. There faces melted from fear to confusion, to relief.

"We need to go." I said bluntly. Mutely they nodded and followed me, one of the girls swearing under her breath as she stepped over a fallen King. She reached down and grabbed his gun, snarling.

I gave a wry smile, 'a new Saint is born'

We piled into the sedan, tyres screeching as I raced to get them back to the church. It wasn't an easy drive – the heavy impact I'd felt on my arm at TNA had turned out to be the bullet, not just a graze but a hard hit. I'd tied a bandana over my arm but the pain was starting to make it numb, and my head felt a little light. I drove on anyway, steering with one hand, or occasionally with my knees when I needed to change gears. Behind us, a yellow car screamed around the corner, opening fire on us and shattering the back windshield. I swore, quickly turning around and aiming my gun through the now cleared rear window, the two girls shrieking and ducking out of the way.

I fired a shot, turning to look back at the road quickly and swerving to avoid a head-on collision. The girl riding shotgun gritted her teeth and cocked her stolen gun, leaning out the window and firing, yelling at the men in the car behind her. I wondered if I looked as vicious when I was in a rage. She must have got the driver or a tyre at least, because the car behind us swerved, then ran off the road into a light post. She kept yelling joyously at them, throwing as many insults as she could. As she settled back in her seat, her bloodthirsty joy managed to lighten the mood somewhat and ease the other girl's fears – Aisha's little sister gave a nervous giggle as we pulled up to the safety of the church.

I sat down with the girls in some of the pews that had been moved to a half-circle. A handful of Saints came over and offered them beers to steady nerves – I downed a half in a few full gulps then pressed the cold glass against my arm.

"Yo, where are they?"

I glanced up as I heard Johnny come striding through the crowd. He quickly scanned the four of us.

"Tia!" he said, making a beeline for Aisha's sister. She gave a small smile of familiarity as Johnny put a heavy hand on her shoulder. "You ok? Don't worry, I'ma drop you off home to Eesh soon, ok?"

"Thanks Johnny, I'm alright." She said, then turned to beam at me. I gave a half hearted smile and nod. Johnny looked over to me with an approving smile which quickly vanished when he saw me holding my arm.

"Shit, what the fuck did you do?"

He strode over and pulled the beer away, starting to undo the bandage.

"OW! Fuck!" I swore; the sudden, fresh jolt of pain made me realise that he was no nurse – I yanked my arm away, feeling my head go light again from the pain.

"Jesus, don't be such a fuckin pussy." He said, pulling out a knife to cut the bandana away. I merely gritted my teeth and glared at him. I heard a Saint behind me hiss as he leant forward to inspect the wound which was starting to slowly flood with blood.

"Daaamn… through and through, you want me to get Jamal on that?"

"Yeah," Johnny said with a sullen nod. I felt his eyes on my face. "That's no problem, we'll get it patched in no time."

'Why does everyone say it's no problem whenever I've been shot?' I thought with a pout.

Gat turned and indicated to Tia, who stood to follow him, wringing her hands.

"You did good today, I'll let Julius know." Gat mentioned over his shoulder as he led Tia away.