The closer Tara came to the appointed meeting place, the stiffer her spine became. She couldn't have stopped the swag that entered her walk or the defiant tilt of her chin any more than she could have changed the color of her skin. Tara had grown to adulthood on the street where she had been a skinny, small girl with a switchblade to a petite delicate girl with hardware. Not many knew the life she had lived back in her hometown or the survival skills she had honed. Too often people underestimated her and that suited Tara just fine. Thugs didn't look closely at someone they didn't perceive to be a threat.<br/><br/>"Hey, Tara" a tall light skinned young man said with a jerk of his chin.<br/><br/>"Sup , Thabo?" she countered, giving him wide berth. He was a dangerous cat, unpredictable and without remorse.<br/><br/>"Danny said to give you dis." he answered without niceties . He withdrew a small manila envelope from this hip pocket and gave it to him. He turned to go, pants sagging revealing Donald Duck boxer shorts.<br/><br/>"Hey, Thabo. You know the Boss will skin you for saggin." Tara commented.<br/><br/>"The Boss? yeah, righ," the fellow scoffed , and then flashed a gold toothed smile. "We'll see who is the Boss."<br/><br/>Bronwyn came to stand close as Tara stuffed the envelope inside her shirt, into her bra.<br/><br/>"What did he want?" the red head asked.<br/><br/>"Let's get away from here," Tara murmured and they hurried off toward Harrah's. "The casino will be public enough but private in its own way." she explained.<br/><br/>Once inside in the bright lights, clanging and bustle, they found a corner booth and sat with both of their backs to the wall. Tara examined the envelope for any potential explosives and then finally unfastened the clasp. Inside were garnet earrings, ... safely looped through a set of ears. Bile rose in Tara's throat as she thrust the gruesome package from her.<br/><br/>"What in the name of Bride is that?" Bronwyn exclaimed.