Growing up, Skye dealt with her fair share of bullies: foster siblings who hated the child stranger for intruding in their home, other orphans forming shifting alliances the way kids do and singling Skye as the odd one out every time, the sisters at the orphanage terrifying children with stories of the wrath of God, guys who thought a girl living on the streets would be easy prey. She learned to stand up straight, to not back down, to knee a guy in the groin if she has to.

And maybe he's not trying to intimidate her, but the effect is similar: big guy, tiny girl, and she's still going to stand her ground.

"Yeah, all my report cards said what a unique individual I was. And that was before I dropped out of high school."