Page 164 of Crew
"Thirty Ryerson crew to one Normal." My stomach churned with anger. "That's not a family fight. It's a massacre."
Alex started laughing. And then he couldn't stop. It reminded me of a hyena. He pointed at me. "That's funny coming from you. I've done a lot of things, but I've never stabbed my school principal."
We'd drawn the line.
He'd just crossed it.
I drew my knife out, flipping it open. Alex focused on it immediately "This thing?" I murmured.
I was taunting him. He knew it.
His eyes went cold. "You're about to cross a line--"
"You already did. You insulted me. There's no going back after that."
I could see Tabatha from the corner of my eye. She was still comforting Taz, running a hand up and down her arm.
"People need to stop underestimating me," I said, turning her way for a moment. "It's getting old."
Her hand paused halfway up Taz's arm. She blinked, then kept rubbing. There was no other reaction from her.
"It's up to you, Alex. Stay and fight us, or leave."
We were all ready to go.
Race wiped a hand over his face, then assumed his fight position. He was still sweating and bleeding, but his shoulders rolled back.
"They interrupted round one," he said. "You ready for round two, cousin?"
Alex bit back a growl. He focused on me. "You cut us and what then? Cops will know. You'll get charged."
My mouth almost fell open. "Was that a joke?"
"He's desperate," Race said.
Alex gave his cousin a hostile look. "No joke, cuz. But anyway, you know how the cops are. They'll assume shit. They might assume it was Bren who sliced one of my crew open." He shrugged. "What about that? It's hard to tell who's doing what in a big brawl. You'll get charged, won't you? You might go away to juvie then? Maybe even prison."
I was having deja vu.
This fucker was threatening me--same as Sunday, same as Tabatha. Same as all the other times Alex had forgotten his place.
But this time he'd really messed up.
A ripple was spreading through his crew. The first few couldn't believe what they'd heard. They looked at each other, shaking their heads.
Threatening what he had, implying they'd find out--that was snitching.
That was violation number one, of all crews.
No one narced, no one.
I shook my head. "You're no longer our problem, Alex." I glanced at his group. They were backing up, and he didn't even know. They had withdrawn to the street. He was almost alone. A few were already heading to their cars, though some lingered back.
I had no doubt one simple meeting would make up their minds.
Alex was out. And I was going to enjoy this.
"Tides turn real fucking quick, huh?" I gestured behind him.
