Sixteen year old Lyla Garrity was a product of the streets. She was born and raised in a very tough neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Fighting to survive was a daily occurrence for the young girl. Her mother Grace always wanted a better life for Lyla but wanting something better for your child and being able to give it to them was two different things. She did the best she could with what she had. Grace dropped out of school and got mixed up with the wrong crowd. Then she fell in love and married Harry Garrity right after her nineteenth birthday. They had Lyla a year later and Grace thought she was living the American dream. For ten years they had a good life and a very happy family but things quickly turned sour.

The steel mill where Harry worked closed down and he couldn't seem to land another permanent job. When his unemployment ran out Harry was at a loss. He had a wife and child to feed with no job, no money and no outlook for their future. For three years he did odd jobs where ever he could get them to keep his family going but that elusive permanent job never fell in his lap. He became depressed, irritable and was always on edge. One day after failing to find work he came home to see thirteen year old Lyla crying in her room because she was hungry. His wife Grace was also sitting in their bedroom crying because the situation looked so hopeless. Harry couldn't stand to see his family suffer like this. He took his old Army pistol out of his foot locker and left the house. Harry Garrity was not a bad man by any means but he was desperate. And desperate men usually find trouble.

Harry didn't plan on hurting anyone he just wanted to feed his family. Unfortunately sometimes bad things happen to good people. Harry charged into the liquor store and pulled out his gun. He shoved it in the mans face behind the counter and demanded he give him the money in the register. When the guy handed him one hundred and eighty three dollars Harry freaked out. The man tried to explain his partner took the daily receipts to the bank before they closed and that's all the money he had but Harry didn't believe him. He started waving the gun around while screaming at the guy to stop lying and the gun accidentally went off. Harry stood there in shock. Before he could get away the police showed up and took him into custody. He was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Now Grace was on her own. The responsibility of feeding, clothing and raising Lyla fell squarely on her shoulders. But Grace didn't have any particular skills or talent. She flatly refused to turn tricks for the money she needed to take care of Lyla. And dancing in one of the sleazy bars for meager wages and tips didn't appeal to her either. So she began a crusade to find a permanent job. But her luck wasn't any better then her husbands. She always managed to find temporary work but was let go when they no longer needed her services. She was a good worker but never seemed to be the one they kept. As Lyla grew older she was left on her own more often while Grace searched for work.

With no one to watch over Lyla for long periods of time she began running with the street gangs. It was a tough life but she was up to the challenge. Lyla was eternally grateful for the fighting skills her Father taught her. He did some boxing while in the service and was an Amature boxer for a couple of years when he got out. When Lyla was born he gave it up to work in the steel mill and take care of his family. When Lyla was eight she happened to find his old boxing gloves buried in a box down in the basement. She put them on and started punching the walls for fun. Harry heard the noise and went to investigate. Lyla pleaded with him to show her how to fight. He loved Lyla with all his heart so he agreed. Someday she may need to protect herself was the excuse he gave Grace for teaching her. Lyla took to it like a wolf to the hunt. She was a natural. She paid attention and learned quickly.

In the five years prior to going to prison Harry taught her everything he knew. Lyla kept practicing after he went to jail because it was something she loved to do. After joining the gang she was forced to use her fighting skills quite a few times. She quickly earned a reputation as someone you shouldn't fuck with. Even the boys in the male gangs eventually learned to stay away from her after she beat two of them to a pulp. Their main problem was thinking a beautiful girl wouldn't know the first thing about fighting. At 5 foot 7 and 122 pounds she was head cheerleader or Prom Queen material not a brawler with fast moving hands and hard hitting fists. So two male studs hit on her thinking they could get in her pants. When she turned them down they got angry. After a few heated words were exchanged one of them threw a punch. Lyla mopped up the street with both of them and walked away without a scratch. All the boys treated her with respect and stopped bothering her after that.

By the time Lyla turned sixteen she had been in the gang for two years. She accepted the fact her life wasn't going to change so she embraced it. Her mother was still working temporary jobs and had given up on finding a permanent position. She would work at a job for a few months and then be let go. Right now she was working six hours a day at a garment factory. She had been on this job a little over a month and was praying it would last quite a while longer. Lyla knew her mother was doing the best she could. It upset her when she heard her mother crying in the middle of the night because she worried about Lyla's well fare and future. But she didn't know what to say to comfort her so she covered her head with her pillow and did the best she could to shut it out.

Grace really felt bad she couldn't give Lyle the things she so richly deserved. She so much wanted her daughter to have a better life then the one she was living. She felt like crying every time she saw the shabby clothes her beautiful daughter had to wear because she couldn't afford to buy her new ones. It broke her heart each time the thought crossed her mind that it wasn't going to get any better for Lyla. Their small apartment in the run down neighborhood where they lived was not the kind of place she wanted Lyla to grow up. Her chances of meeting a nice guy who could give her a better life was non existent in that part of town. Grace hated the fact they were destined to live a poor life because fate had dealt them a lousy hand. It just didn't seem fair.

Grace was up bright and early the next morning to get ready for work. She made sure Lyla was up and moving around before she left the house. School had been in session for a month now and Grace wanted to make sure she wouldn't be late. A good education was Lyla's best chance of making a better life for herself. Good grades and a high school diploma would get her started on the right track. Grace prayed that would be enough. She didn't know what else she could do for her. Lyla was in her Sophomore year so she only had two more years before she graduated. Grace's final gift to her beautiful daughter was to make sure she received that diploma. After that it was up to her. When Grace was sure Lyla was awake and alert she kissed her goodbye and left the house.

While she was walking to the bus stop she decided to get a cup of coffee. The Convenient store was right on the way so it wouldn't take much of her time. As she was standing in line to pay for the coffee she noticed everyone in front of her was buying lottery tickets. That was something Grace never wasted her money on because the odds of winning the lottery were astronomical. But a little voice deep down inside was prompting her to buy one. When she finally reached the counter she gave in to that little voice and spent one dollar for a lottery ticket. She shoved it in her pocket and shook her head for being so care free with money she couldn't afford to waste. Grace caught the bus to take her to work and forgot all about it. Little did she know that ticket was about to change their lives forever.

Saturday morning Grace was in the kitchen fixing breakfast for her and Lyla. While she was scrambling the eggs the morning news came on. She heard the man say lottery officials were still waiting for the lucky person with the winning ticket to claim their 168 million dollars. When she looked up she nearly fainted. The six winning numbers on the screen were the exact same numbers she picked. 3 and 5 for her Birthday. 11 and 19 for Harry's Birthday. 6 and 22 for Lyla's. She ran and grabbed the ticket to make sure there wasn't a mistake. Her loud scream brought Lyla running to the kitchen. "What's the matter mom are you hurt?" All Grace could do was hug her sweet daughter while she happily cried her eyes out.

The first thing Grace did was buy two brand new cars for the two of them. A Lincoln Town car for her and a sporty BMW for Lyla. Then they drove those cars while they went on a wild shopping spree. The two cars were loaded down with so many fancy clothes they could barely see out of their rear view mirrors. After that it was off to the beauty salon for new hair styles, manicures and pedicures. The next thing on the agenda was a beautiful home purchased in the well to do suburbs of Chicago. Then another wild shopping spree to fill it with expensive furniture. It was the most fun the two women ever had in their lives. Finally she took Lyla to the high school and enrolled her after having her records transferred there. She still wanted her to complete her education.

Grace let Lyla stay out of school for the rest of the week so they could enjoy the things they bought and each others company. Grace was the happiest woman alive. She finally had the means to give Lyla the good life she always wanted for her beautiful daughter. She got her away from those gangs and out of that rough neighborhood and the shabby clothes were a thing of the past. Grace cried even harder when she saw Lyla dressed up in her fancy new clothes and shoes. But these were happy tears. And the new hair style seemed to make her shoulder length dark brown hair shine. Everything had worked out perfectly was the way Grace saw it. They had more then enough money to ensure Lyla was set for life. That's all Grace had ever cared about was her beautiful daughter's future.

The first week in her new high school Lyla found out two things. The first was most rich kids were nothing but spoiled brats. The second was you can take the girl out of the gang but you can't take the gang mentality out of the girl. Under the fancy clothes, the new shoes, the stylish hair do and the manicured nails was the same girl that grew up in the rough streets of south Chicago. She was a little surprised to find out she was glad about that. Where and how she grew up was what molded her into the confident person she was. She had nothing to be ashamed of because she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth. If the rich assholes wanted to snub her then that was fine. The little pussy cats would soon find out there was a panther walking among them and she was very dangerous if provoked.

The next morning Lyla was going through all of her new clothes trying to decide what to wear to school. She settled on a pair of tight fitting Calvin Kline jeans that hugged her sexy ass like they were part of her skin. The top was a different story. Three of them went well with the jeans but she couldn't make up her mind which one to choose. She decided to get her mothers opinion. "Mom would you come in here a minute please?" She asked. Grace strolled into her daughters bedroom with a large smile on her pretty face. Lyla grinned when she saw the smile. Her mother was smiling a lot lately. Lyla was glad her mother was so happy all of the time. She really deserved it after all she had been through.

"Which top goes better with these jeans?" She asked as she held the three tops up to her chest. "They're all nice looking tops sweetie but I think you should wear the pretty yellow one hanging in your closet. Yellow matches your dark brown hair and beautiful brown eyes just perfectly." Grace replied. I should have known. Lyla thought to herself. Yellow has always been her favorite color. Why the hell didn't I make up my own mind. Lyla wasn't crazy about yellow because in her estimation it made her look wimpy. You didn't wear yellow in the gang. It's impossible for people to see you as tough and ruthless if you're dressed like a sunflower. But she didn't want to do anything to take that happy smile off of her mothers face. "OK mom. Thanks." She said smiling. "You're welcome Lyla. Now hurry up and get dressed so you won't be late for school." Grace said as she walked out.

Lyla smiled as she shook her head and put on the yellow top. She decided she might as well go all out to please her mother. Her new K Swiss tennis shoes with the yellow stripes would match the top anyway so she slipped them on her feet before leaving the house for school. Lyla parked her car and began walking towards the building. About half way there she spotted four football jocks pestering one of the nerds. The gang side of her took over. She casually strolled in their direction to put a stop to it. "I told you to have that English paper ready for me by today dweeb." She heard the one that seemed to be their leader tell the frightened kid. "I'm sorry Tyler. My mom wasn't feeling well so I had to watch over my little brother and sister. I didn't have time to write it." He said pleading his case.

Lyla reached the group just as Tyler grabbed the nerd by the chin. "I have to turn that paper in this afternoon you little shit. If it's not ready for me by lunch time I'm going to kick your fucking ass." He threatened. "Why don't you leave the boy alone?" Lyla asked. "What?" Was Tyler's reply. "Are jocks deaf as well as dumb? I said leave the boy alone asshole." She repeated. Tyler turned to his three friends and laughed. "Hey guys. Little miss lemon drop wants us to leave poor Melvin alone." The three jocks laughed along with him. Tyler turned back to Lyla with a scowl on his face. "This is none of your business lemon drop. So stay the fuck out of it before you get hurt." He said hatefully. "You tell her Tyler." The other three chimed in.

Lyla turned to the nerd and handed him her school books. "Hold these for a second." She ordered. When he took the books out of her hand she turned back to the jock. "Would you like to repeat that asshole?" She challenged. Tyler pointed his finger at her. "Listen you dumb bitc.".. That's as far as he got. "SMACK!" Her solid left crushed his jaw and instantly put his lights out. Tyler hit the ground like a puppet who's strings had been cut and didn't move. When one of his buddies saw him go down he leaped at her with his fist drawn back. "You're dead bit.".. "SMACK!" He was cut short by a powerful right that puffed up his lips. He was sleeping like a baby when he landed next to his friend. "Anyone else want to try their luck?" She asked the other two. They shook their frightened heads and dragged their buddies off. Lyla smiled and brushed her hands together.

"That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in jmy life. Thank you who ever you are. I owe you one." Melvin said as he looked at her in awe. "No you owe me a hundred bucks." Lyla informed him. "What?" He asked puzzled. "My God is everyone at this school deaf? I said you owe my a hundred bucks. Now fork it over wimp." She sternly replied. "I don't get it. What for?" He again asked with a puzzled look. "Call it protection money. A hundred bucks a week and no one at this school will ever bother you again. Now stop wasting my time and get out your wallet." Lyla ordered. The look on her face scared Melvin to death. He dug his wallet out of his back pocket and counted his money. "I'm afraid I only have 68 dollars." He told her shaking like a leaf.

Lyla grabbed the front of his shirt with her left hand and jerked him up to her face. "You have until the end of the day to bring me 32 dollars little man. If it's not in my possession by the time school lets out you better find a good place to hide. Because when I get my hands on you you'll wish you were dead. Is that clear?" She asked with a cold hard stare. "Yes m.ma'am. I'll pay you. Pl.please I'll pay you." He stammered. Lyla released him and patted his cheek while she took her books out of his trembling hands. "Good boy. Now run along." Melvin scurried up the walk like the devil was on his tail. Lyla watched him run like a scared rabbit and laughed. She was still grinning when she entered the building. Things are looking up around here. She thought to herself. I think I'm going to like this new school after all.

Word must have quickly gotten around. Each time she changed classes a lot of kids were keeping their eyes on her and stepping out of her path as she strolled down the hallway. By lunch time nearly half of the school knew she knocked Tyler out with only one punch. While Lyla was sitting in a patio chair under one of the round umbrella tables eating her lunch, she saw Tyler and his cronies approaching her. A slight smile appeared on her soft lips. "Hey there deaf and dumb. Are you here for a rematch?" She asked the pissed off jock. "You sucker punched me bitch. I have a score to settle with you." He snarled. "Anytime sissy pants. Just say the word and I'll put you to sleep again." She replied grinning. "There's a baseball diamond two blocks west of here. Meet me there after school and we'll see how tough you really are." He threatened. "Suits me wimp. I'll be there." She confidently told him.

By the end of the school day everyone had heard about the fight. When Lyla walked out the door Melvin was standing there with 32 dollars in his sweaty hand. "Here's the money I owe you Lyla." He said as he held it out to her. "Good boy Melvin. I expect one hundred dollars every Monday morning from now on. Understand?" "Yes Lyla what ever you want." He said trembling. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other." She started to walk off and stopped. "How did you know my name?" She asked. "Are you kidding? You're famous for what you did to Tyler. Everyone knows who you are now. Good luck tonight Lyla. Although I don't think you need it nearly as much as he will." He said as he walked off grinning.

Lyla jumped in her car and headed west. The ball diamond wasn't hard to find because there was cars and hundreds of students jam packing the field. Lyla parked and walked out to center field where Tyler was standing rolling up his sleeves. "I see you found the balls to show up deaf and dumb. You're such a chicken shit I figured you would run home to your mommy." She goaded. "Your ass is mine bitch. I'm going to shut that smart ass mouth of yours for good. Nobody fucks with me and walks away." He answered. Just then they heard the loud roar of cycle engines. Lyla saw six riders sitting on Harley Davidson's pull onto the field. The leader climbed off and made his way through the crowd. Lyla liked what she saw. With his tight jeans, black motorcycle jacket, black cycle boots and blond wavy hair he was handsome as hell.

"Well, if it isn't our resident bad boy." She heard one of Tyler's friends say. "Stay out of this Brock it's none of your concern." Tyler informed the new arrival. "Don't worry your useless brain Tyler I just wanted to see her kick your ass all over this field. Me and my boys are here to even the odds in case your buddies get the idea to join in. As long as they remain on the side lines so will we." He turned to Lyla. "I got your back pretty lady. Nice top. You look good in yellow." He winked at her and leaned against his cycle. "Well thank you handsome my mother would really love you. But I won't need back up. I can handle his ass kissers as well as him if they try to intervene. I certainly appreciate the offer though." She faced Tyler and smiled. "OK butt wipe it's time to put you down for your nap again."

The students all spread out and gave them plenty of room. Tyler was thoroughly pissed and couldn't wait to show this bitch her place. He went in swinging. Lyla easily dodged his looping right and jabbed him in the mouth with a left. "SMACK!" When he felt his lip and saw blood he really went nuts. "YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Both of his muscular arms began pumping like crazy to take her out but her father had taught her well. Moving like a graceful harem dancer she eluded all of his murderous punches with ease. When he stopped to collect himself she opened up her arsenal and showed him how to punch. "SMACK!..SMACK!" Two more left jabs turned his eyes red. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" A right, left, right combination hurt his nose, mouth and chin. She stood back and grinned.

"See how easy it is hot shot. Now concentrate and try again. You fight like a pussy." Spittle was flying out of Tyler's mouth when he attacked. With the snarling sounds he was making he resembled a rabid dog. Lyla calmly bobbed and weaved, ducked and dodged and avoided everything he threw at her. When an opening occurred she took advantage and struck. "Do you call that concentrating?" "SMACK!" She broke his nose. "I see why you're dumb as well as deaf." "SMACK!" His right eye began to swell. "Your attention span lasts about as long as a two year olds. "SMACK!" She busted his other lip. "Now I understand why you force Melvin to write your papers for you." "SMACK!" Now his left eye swelled up. "You can't concentrate long enough to write more then two sentences." "SMACK!" A bruise was forming on his chin. "Can you sissy pants?" "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!"

Tyler stumbled back and nearly went down. The students were mumbling amongst themselves at what they were seeing. Her amazing speed and incredible power had them mesmerized. Those that thought her one punch knock out was a fluke were quickly changing their minds. This girl was the real deal. Brock was watching her work with admiration on his handsome face. He'd never known a girl who could use her fists like this one obviously could. The way she moved and punched was arousing and sexy. He had to get to know this new girl a lot better. Tyler's friends on the other hand were not enjoying themselves at all. They figured the girl would be history by now and they would be happily celebrating. Things didn't look good at all.

Tyler was being embarrassed in front of nearly the whole school. Everyone respected and looked up to him because of his great football skills and who he was. His father was one of the most influential men in the world. He liked being up on a pedestal and envied by the students. He couldn't let a fucking GIRL take that away from him. One way or another he had to stop her. He charged Lyla with renewed determination. Male fists with the power of a Mac truck in them came flying at Lyla's beautiful face. But panic was one thing Lyla didn't do. And fear was an emotion she never felt. You didn't last long on the streets of south Chicago if you let fear creep into your soul. She calmly danced around his pile driving punches and waited for her chance.

It came when she dodged a thunderous right that caused him to lose his balance. Her feminine fists went to work breaking him down. "SMACK!..SMACK!" His head snapped back so hard the students wondered why his neck wasn't broken. "THUD!..THUD!..CRACK!" The right and left combination to his mid section was followed by a vicious uppercut to his chin. Blood sprayed the crowd from his busted up mouth. "SMACK!" The damaging left hook nearly broke his jaw. "SMACK!" The hard right cross swelled his left eye a little more and turned it black. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Both cheeks puffed up and his right eye was as black as his left. Tyler was beginning to get punch drunk. His legs were buckling with each punch she landed and she was landing them all.

"SMACK!..THUD!..THUD!..THUD!..THUD!..SMACK!" Punch after punch sank deep into his softening stomach or changed his looks. Lyla was cutting him to pieces like an expert surgeon. His feeble attempts to ward off her devastating blows were slapped aside like they were nothing but a pesky nuisance. The crowd stood in awe as they watched her chop him down a little at a time. "SMACK!..SMACK!..THUD!..SMACK!" His muscular arms flopped to his sides and uselessly dangled there. "SMACK!..SMACK!" Both eyes were glazed over and unfocused. "SMACK!" Wheezing sounds escaped his badly broken nose when the cartilage shattered. Tyler was completely defenseless and unable to protect himself. Lyla could knock him out anytime she felt like it but she was having to much fun to end it quickly.

Tyler was out on his feet and had no idea where he was at. His wobbly legs were barely able to keep him from collapsing. Lyla stopped his total destruction and casually removed her compact from the little make up pouch she carried on her side. When she opened it up the sun flashed on the small mirror. The crowd hysterically laughed when she turned her back to him so she could see to touch up her face with the little powder puff. Poor Tyler was barely conscious and didn't realise she was making a complete fool out of him. For two minutes Lyla fearlessly stood with her back to him while she rubbed her beautiful face with the powder puff, checked to see if her eyes needed a touch up, ran her fingers over her luscious lips, fiddled with her bangs and moved her head from side to side as she looked in the mirror for anything that might need her attention. Satisfied, she stuffed the compact back in the pouch and turned to face Tyler.

"Sorry about that sissy pants. What ever a girl is doing she should always look her best. My mother taught me that and I always follow her advise." She told her unresponsive battered victim. "Now where were we?. Oh yes I was about to put you to sleep and end this massacre. Would you like me to do that for you?" She asked smiling. Tyler was to far gone to hear a word she was saying. "You have very poor manners wimp. When a girl asks you a question you should be polite and give her an answer. Your parents didn't teach you any moral values while they were raising you did they little man? No wonder you turned out the way you did. Well don't worry about it. Hopefully this lesson I'm teaching you will set you straight. Only time will tell."

Lyla gripped his shirt with her strong left hand and held him steady. "Time to go to sleep sissy pants. Say good night to the nice boys and girls. I think some of them got as much enjoyment out of seeing me beat you senseless as I did." Lyla slowly drew back her hard right fist and smiled at the helpless male she had completely humiliated. "Sweet dreams hot shot. It's time to close your sleepy little eyes and go nite nite." "SMMMACK!" The powerful punch sounded like a sonic boom when a jet breaks the sound barrier. Tyler instantly dropped like lead weight and hit the ground on his swollen face. He lie at her feet sound asleep and didn't twitch a muscle. The crowd stood silent for a few seconds before loud applause erupted. Tyler's friends rushed to his side to give him as much aid as they could.

Brock fell in beside Lyla as she was walking to her car. "Well done pretty lady. You pack one hell of a punch." He said smiling. "Why thank you handsome. But I wouldn't call whipping his wimpy little ass a job well done. It was simply to easy. And drop the pretty lady routine my name is Lyla." She replied. "OK Lyla. How about letting me buy you a coke to quench your thirst after such an easy job." He asked. "A coke huh? What comes next? Your hands groping my body while you try and get in my pants?" She questioned him. "Nah. I usually wait until the third date before I try that." He said with a charming smile. Lyla stopped and gave him a cold look with her beautiful brown eyes.

"WHOA! That was a joke Lyla." He said as he thrust his hands out in front of him. "I tell you what. You can tie my hands behind my back and hold the straw up to my mouth if it will make you feel safer." "I may take you up on that handsome. I think I would like having you helpless and under my control. I'm sure you would love some of the things I would do to you as well. Probably not all, but some." Lyla replied with a sexy evil grin. "Let me buy you a coke and we may find out." He quickly answered. Lyla looked him over once again. He sure as hell was good looking and his solid frame would turn most girls weak in the knees. Her hard life was behind her. She always had to protect herself from assholes in her old neighborhood. Brock seemed different somehow. Maybe it was time she threw caution to the wind and took a chance. A relationship would be something completely new to her. Why not experiment and find out. "Lets go handsome. You got any rope so I can tie your hands?" She asked with a sweet smile. "I'm sure I can find some." He replied as he escorted her to her car.