Page 114 of Crew Princess
“Plan B. They want to wipe the crews out, get rid of them, bring in dealers and start selling here, the only place your brother isn’t policing ’cause he knows your crew is here, dogging it. Like I said, hurt you, hurt your brother, hurt your dad. It all spreads out. Your brother would be distracted, your dad too. They wouldn’t be focused on what was happening in your school, just focused on saving you, ’cause they both want you to have a future.”
He started to slump, his back hitting the wall, and down he went, all the way to the floor. He mumbled, his words slurring, “Drake’s their point guy. They brought him in, forced him in, and he knows all about it. His job? Make our crew go away, which he did. And his other job…” He looked up, opening his eyes with some effort. “You. Set you up.”
“Set me up?”
Alex nodded again, but his head hung lower, and when he didn’t look up again, I raced to him. “Alex!”
I shook him.
He didn’t move.
I jostled him.
Nothing.
“Alex!”
And then it happened.
What he’d been here to warn me about.
The doors burst open as flash bombs were thrown. Tear gas. Smoke filled the hallway, and I could hear their footsteps. It was a stampede.
I couldn’t move, but I had to.
They’d have night vision goggles.
But fuck it. I had to try.
I pushed off the wall, surging to my feet, and I kept my eyes closed. I moved across the hall, my arms stretched out, until I hit the opposite wall. It tore my skin, but I bit my lip, holding in the cry. They were coming in the doors, down the main hallway too. They were circling me, but there was a side door. It wasn’t far, and I just had to get there.
Everything inside of me was screaming to give in. Sit down. Wait.
I couldn’t do that.
Inch by inch, I moved along, feeling the wall until it gave way. My hands touched glass and moved down to the door handle.
Success!
I pushed on it. It was locked.
I wanted to cry out again, scream, but I kept it in. Rearing back, trying not to breathe in the smoke and gas, I threw my body at the door, kicking it with everything I had, and it opened. Then I was on my knees, outside, and I pulled in air until lights shone down on me.
Legs.
There were legs upon legs, lights shining behind them until one stepped forward. A woman with her gun drawn.
She came over, knelt down, and sheathed her gun. “Bren Monroe?”
Really? Could I lie at this point? Even try to pretend I wasn’t?
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have time because another cop came to the door. He spoke without emotion, like he’d just stepped on an ant.
“Body is Alex Ryerson.”
Body!
Body?!
