Page 165 of Crew
He turned to look, and the fight drained from him.
"Guys?!" He started for them. "What are you doing? Come back here!"
They ignored him. The few that remained held up their hands. One by one, they turned to go.
It was quiet as we watched their vehicles leave.
The Ryerson crew had been led by a Ryerson for years. I wondered what their new name would be. It felt wrong not to have a Ryerson crew, but then I looked over at Race. He could lead them.
As if sensing my thoughts, he looked over at me, totally deflated. But I also saw the anger there, the darkness, the hatred burning. No, he wouldn't lead them.
I turned back toward Alex. "Threatening to be a narc is proclaiming you're a narc."
He roared, lunging for me.
I had my knife ready, but Cross and Jordan stepped in front of me.
They didn't hit him. They just shoved him back.
Jordan got in his face. "You touch one of us, you're dead. I'm goddamn sick of your shit." His waved to the street, dismissing him. "This fight is over. You're over. Get away from us."
Alex closed his eyes. The violence was still there, but he couldn't do a thing now. His hands were tied.
He looked right at his cousin. "Your mother is never going to find work here. She's over. It's been a long time coming."
"Goddamn!" Race exploded, surging past Cross and Jordan. They caught him and pushed him back, but he threw his arms over them, still trying to get at Alex. "Fuck you! Fuck your whole fucking family."
I was guessing someone had finally told his mom about her soon-to-be ex-sister-in-law.
Alex started moving toward his vehicle. "Yeah. Right. You'll learn what it's like to piss on a real Ryerson now, Race. Good luck with that." He opened his door.
"Good luck with being known as an informant!" Race yelled after him. "Hope you stay above ground longer than me!"
Alex started his truck, and extending a middle finger in the air, he drove off.
I would've liked to laugh off Race's last words, but I couldn't.
Narcs got killed.
A chill went through my body.
I'd never heard of a crew narc before now. I wished I still hadn't.
"You okay?" Jordan asked.
He was about to slap Race on the back, but he pulled the hit so it was more of a tap.
Race flashed him a grin before he doubled over, groaning. He rested his hands on his knees.
"Race!" Taz rushed to his side.
She slipped her head under one of his arms and straightened, helping him do the same. Race groaned again, grabbing at his side.
Two Normals stepped in, one replacing Taz and the other taking Race's free side. She followed, worry pulling her eyebrows together. She bit her lip as she reached out, her fingertips grazing over Race's back like she just needed to touch him. The guys led the way inside, and as soon Race was seated in a chair at the kitchen table, Taz pulled out the first aid kit.
My crew stood around the table, ready to help. We knew our way around a first aid kit, but as Taz knelt in front of Race, I could see that wild horses weren't going to pull her away from him. Her mouth set in a determined line as she began to clean up his wounds.
Cross pulled out a chair close to Race and sat. "You going to live?"
