Life Of Crime

Tylar

"Hey," Lance called, pushing past civilians to reach Pyro and me. We were in the street, near the centre of town.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"No," He replied. "We have a new member. Initiation ceremony tomorrow so I thought we could celebrate with a few drinks."

"New member? Which one?" Pyro prompted.

"Nathen," Lance replied. "You spent a few days watching him last week. Short with brown hair and green eyes." Pyro nodded to indicate that he knew the kid and together we headed in the direction of a club.

"Wait," I hissed, holding out an arm. My companions froze and I peered ahead to where four figures stood outside a club. The first was broad shouldered and clearly the bouncer but the other three were further from the door and one was the leader of the Kadikoys.

Ronny was smoking in an alleyway off Seventy-Six St. when Tanya approached him, a black look in her eyes. Her dark skin and tattoo were invisible in the Dark, but her short hair could be visible anywhere.

"Hello, Ronny."

He looked up at her and crept back. She's gonna kill me! He shot Maria, he was unloyal to the Darks, and now she is going to show him who is in power.

"Tell me the truth Ronny. Why'd you shoot Maria? Why did you get away from me? From the Darks? I thought we were friends."

"W-we we werent the b-b-best of buddies, Tanya..."

They both grabbed their guns and pointed at each other. "I don't think that whore Kurokawa was your best friend either! You are so stupid sometimes it's funny. Childish. Ronny, when would you learn to grow up?"

"Never. I grow old. I don't grow up."

She snickered, but then grew more and more grave while circling him. "You are them now. They kill, you kill. They die, you die. You killed our ally. You killed the Cobra's leader. Not only that, but you killed him in the cemetery. Unbelievable. I never would have expected you, of all people, would side with that kind of group! You don't look like I remembered...you look stronger, Ronny. Stronger and stupider."

He was silent. Awkward.

"You do."

"So why did you come Tanya?"

"We are going to kill her, Ronny. We are going to kill the whore. Believe me. Before midnight tonight...she'll be as cold as your fu*king blood."

He coughed. "Tanya. I...let' just go, okay? We had some good times in the past. But I decided; I am never going back to the Darks. The Eagles are my group now. Do you understand? We are against the Cobras, but that doesn't mean we have to be against the Darks, against you. Does it?"

She lowered her gun."It does, Ronny. And there's so much more than that. Maria's arm is in bandages, for goodness sakes!" She chuckled. "We did have good times, didn't we."

"Yeah." He lowered his pistol.

"Goodbye, Ronny."

"Goodbye."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kurokawa?"

"What?"

"They want to kill you. They will. Hide. Do something!"

"I don't believe them."

"But they seemed serious!"

"I don't care. If you really want to help, then come to the nightclub."

"But that's...."

Click. She hung up.

She closed her phone and growled low in her throat, the two men standing next to her stiffened.


"Who was that, and what did they do to p*ss you off?" Jason, the shorter one said. He was kind of cute, but not Kurokawa's type. She put out her cigarette and smashed the smoldering ashes under her shoe.


"It was that Ronny kid. He says the Darks are gonna kill me tonight." She took a minute to laugh, and the other two did as well. She even thought she heard the bouncer laughing.


"That's for later, right now, my concerns are on the men over there." She shot her eyes over to Tylar's small group of men, Chad and Jason following suit. Chad clenched his fists together, and looked back to Kurokawa.


"Want us to take care of them?" He was completely serious; he would do anything to protect her.

"No, play dumb. See if they're brave enough to try anything, or if they just want to come inside the club."

TIny

Tiny smiled as she looked over the group. There were two people missing, but she would have to fill sad about that when she was alone and no one would see her.

"Watch your backs, and take care of and Kadikoys you see, UNLESS it puts you in immediate danger, I don't want and unnessacary risks taken. No innocent lives taken, GOT IT?" She demanded. Everyone yelled 'yes' and they left. She looked around. Killer was standing to the side with his back. Bently (i think that was the other gaurd) wasn't back yet.

"Bently's gone, moved his family." Killer said, she nodded,

"That is fine, he doesn't want them harmed and I don't blame him." She replied, walking out towards the car with him. "What is in the bag?"

"Things Kevin told me to give to you if he died." He said gently. Tiny swallowed and tried to regain her composer.

"I thought you said you would show it to me at the meeting." SHe said glad it was dark, though the saddness in her voice was unmistakeable.

"I meant after." he said. They got to the car and Tiny saw someone standing against the car. Killer imediatly stood in front of her.

"Don't worry, I'm a friend." It was a male voice. Tiny searched her mind for the owner, but she was to concentrated on the bag to remember.

Althea loaded her gun, the click echoing through the dark of Brian's room. She ran her fingers smoothly over it's barrel.

"I'll save this for an emergency. Besides, I like to fight like a man," she whispered to herself.

There was going to be killing tonight and it might upset the whole balance of the streets. And it could go anyway. She was hoping the chips would fall in her favor though.

She reached for her cell phone, ready to call Ronny, but she set it down on the dresser.

Not tonight. Tonight, I prove myself. Tonight, I do this by myself.

She tucked the handgun in the back of her skirt, and grabbed her freshly sharpened switchblade into her knee sock. She grabbed her keys and ran out to the mercedes. She hopped in and drove on towards the club.

As she was driving, the wind whipped her hair from side to side and the colors of the streets blended like a Van Gogh painting. At that moment, she began humming a song to herself. The song that she and Brian would dance to under the moon on his patio by the pool. It was a beautiful song, too beautiful. She pretended to hate it whenever she wasn't with Brian.

Her phone suddenly began to vibrate. She picked it up off of the passenger seat. It was Brian.

"Hello? -Yes. I'm going to the club. -No, I have to do this by myself. -If you want. -Yes, bring the rest of the gang for back up. I'll call if I need you guys. -Hang out by the old gas station across the street. Stay low though. I don't want anyone getting hurt. -I love you."

She hung up the phone and tossed it back onto the passenger seat. She wiped the tears from her eyes. She was scared. Brian had always done these things with her. And no one would be there to protect her this time. But she had to do this. If she didn't, The Eagles might never have a change at complete reign of the city. Never.

She spotted the night club and she pulled the car into an alley right next to it. She stepped out and her heels clicked on the black pavement. A straight giveaway. She pulled out the switchblade and held it with one hand behind her back. It was her time to observe her surroundings. Someone from every gang had to be here tonight. This would be good. She could slit one of each and put a little fear into the hearts of those low-lifes.

As she walked out of the end of the alley, she saw Kurokawa standing with several other men. Althea walked out of the shadows and towards Kurokawa.

"What are you doing here Kurokawa? Are you a part of all of this?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'all of this'." She stood, holding her hand out behind her, signaling the men to stay where they were. Kurokawa moved over to Althea, stopping nearly three feet in front of her. She smiled.


"What do you plan on doing with that little knife you got there, sweetheart?" She lit another cigarette, her men behind her stiffened again, resisting the urge to step in front of Kurokawa. Althea's muscles tensed, as if she had gripped the knife harder. Kurokawa took a slow drag off her cigarette and blew it in the girl's face.


"And this is my club. You come in here, you're swamped with Kadikoys."

Althea held her breathe and tried not to show fear. That's what Brian would do. Play it out like she's the dirt. Don't show fear. Make her feel below you. Don't show fear.

"That's funny. It sounded like you might have just threatened me. Did you?

"Maybe I did. Or maybe I was just warning you."

Althea folded the switchbland and clipped it to her knee sock.

"I don't have time to play these games, so if you and your goons wouldn't mind telling me where the back door is--"

Kurokawa gave a wicked smile. She turned her body slightly and pointed towards a graffitied door to her right.

"Right there honey. Be my guest."

Althea stared Kurokawa straight in the face. "I won't waste a thank you. I may need it for someone who might actually try to help me. Not shoot me in my back."

Althea began to walk towards the door, hips swaying, heels clicking. Before her hand could reach the door handle, she heard the sound of a gun being cocked.

"I'd watch yourself and remember your place here Althea." Kurokawa's voice was like a knife to Althea's wrists.

Althea spoke to Kurokawa without turning around to face her. "I don't think you know your place Kurokawa. You see, you may think you own this night club, but you've forgotten who owns the land your night club rests on. I can have this place destroyed in days. I own this city Kurokawa. You just own the streets. But that is a temporary problem that can be easily fixed."

Althea swung open the door and before she placed one foot inside of the doorway, she looked over her shoulder, smug and smiling. "Oh, and you and Ronny. Well, if you want there to be anything with Ronny, I suggest you start talking to me as if you actually like me. Because I can destroy that too."

With that, Althea walked in to the booming night club, the door slamming behind her.

"That girl is wicked," Kurokawa said as she threw her cigarette down on the ground and stomped it out. "Real wicked."

Ronny went to talk with Kurokawa who was smoking cig after cig next to the doors of the nightclub.

"Listen to me. They are all gonna gang up on you! Don't you f**king understand this? Crap. They are seriously going to kill you. If you die tonight I'll laugh."

"Ha. You need to laugh, Ronny. You look like a ghost."

"One of these days you are going to look like one too."

She puffed and looked inside the club. "That b*tch Althea. She talks to me like she owns me, goddamnit. Like she's the queen of North America. She is nothin' but white trash. How you get with the likes of her?"

The heartbeat in his wrist grew faster. "I...well, my sister's friend...she was...well..."

"You don't have to tell me, sweetie-pie. I just wanted to make sure that you know I ain't gonna deal with that kind of crap from her. I want to be your ally, Ronny. I really do."

"Okay." He stepped into the nightclub.

Althea moved past the people, bumping into some and ducking out of the way for others. She hated places like these. They were overheated, crowded, and the music played so loud it gave her a headache. But it was a great place to watch all the scum from the streets and how they worked, so why not use it to her advantage?

She walked up the stairs to the glass booth where the DJ was playing all of the music. She knocked on the steel door and it opened, Justin standing there with large headphones covering his ears and a ear to ear smile on his face.

"Hey Althea, what's going on? I haven't seen you here in a while," he screamed over the heart pounding music.

Althea stepped in and kicked the door shut behind her. It made it easier to hear and talk because the booth was almost sound proof when the door was closed.

"I'm doing alright. Getting a little trouble from the... what shall we call them... the locals?" Althea laughed condiscendingly.

Justin winked, "You're a b*tch, you know that?"

Althea took Justin by the arm and pulled him to her side. "And that's never gonna change."

They both laughed and Justin went back over to the turntables, getting ready to put a new track on for the dancers. Althea walked around the booth, looking at the red velvet chairs and freshly made drinks on the small glass tables. She plopped down into one of the velvet chairs and crossed her legs, starring at Justin's back. Justin announced the new track and a loud scream could be heard coming from the people below. After he switched the track, he laid the headphones down and sat down in the chair next to her.

Althea tossed her auburn hair out of her face. "Remember all of the good times we used to have up here?"

Justin gave his most stunning smile. "How could I forget?"

Althea leaned towards Justin, and whispered softly in his ear, "It was great. I know it and you know it. And I think you owe me for it, don't you?"

Justin pulled away from her and looked her hard in the eyes. "What are we talking about?"

Althea sat back in the chair and starred out at the dancers. "I want you to watch Ronny for me. He's... well, he's a little confused. I think he's forgetten where he comes from."

"Why do you need me to do that? Don't you have goons to do that for you?"

"They're all idiots Justin, and you know that. I need someone intellegent, trustworthy... loyal. I need you Justin."

Justin licked his lips and sat back in his chair, leaning his head back on the chair's headrest. "And if I do this, what do I get in return?"

Althea smiled. She loved the way Justin worked. "Anything you want."

Justin grinned and turned his head to look at Althea. "I'll do it."

"Good."

"One more thing though."

"Althea turned her head, looking at Justin. "What?"

"Why do you need to have Ronny watched? Did he do something?"

"It's not really that he's actually done something. It's that he might do something we'll all regret."

"It's a girl, isn't it."

"As it always is."

"Who?"

"Kurokawa."

Justin laughed, unbelieving. "Really?"

Althea shrugged it off. "Yeah, some alliance deal he made without Brian's permission. Brian went into an uproar, and I had to cool him off before he got to Ronny. He owes me for that one."

"You think there might be something more than an alliance between them?"

"Of course. But he won't admit it. He just wants the 'safety.' I don't like her Justin, but we need friends on the street."

"I understand."

"If I could have it my way, none of them would be our allies and we'd own the streets the way my daddy owns this city. But it doesn't work like that. So, I've got to give a little."

"I understand."

Althea stood up and adjusted her skirt and blouse. "Are we going to finish that little deal we made now or later?"

Justin stood up and pulled Althea by the waist closer to him. He whispered in her ear, "How about now."

Caleb

"Don't worry, I'm a friend," I mumured as Killer and Tiny approached the car. At first she did not seem to recognise me and Killer tensed as he drew a knife but then she waved him away.

"You again," Tiny sighed. "What do you want this time?"

"To accompany you," I replied. "This is going to be one dangerous meeting."

"Why so concerned about my safety?" Tiny demanded.

"Riley... can I call you that? Your brother said it wasn't a good idea..."

"Then he was right. Besides, I don't know your name."

"Okay. Tiny then. I don't want to see you dead. I liked your brother and I wasn't there when he needed me. I'm never there when I'm needed... Look, you want the help or not?"

"I got a bodyguard," Tiny replied. "But come in if you like. It should be an interesting meeting. You still didn't tell me your name by the way."

"It's Caleb."

Tiny

Tiny nodded and slid in the back of the car Killer in the front seat and Caleb in the passenger seat. How he had known about the next meeting she was going to was unknown but that didn’t matter. If her brother had trusted him she could too. She picked the bag up and sorted through it. One was a notebook, another a knife, a stack of money and more paper. She put it back in the bag and leaned on the middle console looking out the front window.

“West side were house.” She told Killer. He nodded and quickly turned down a back road. She leaned back. “So, Caleb, how did you know about this meeting?”

“I have my ways.” He smiled, “I’m not completely out of the loop.”

“No, you have to be really in the loop to have known about this.” She replied watching buildings fly by. “But maybe it will fill you in.” She grabbed the door as Killer took a turn really tight. She saw lights go on behind her and moaned.

“Cops,” Killer muttered, “Never show up at the right times.” He screeched down a back road and pressed down the gas peddle flying through a run down subdivision. He quickly pulled into a drive way and cut the engine. Tiny laid down in the back seat and they waited before the cops drove past to back up and keep on going.

Caleb

"You got a good driver," I noted as we set off again.

"Thanks," Tiny replied.

"Killer, right?"

"Antonio told you about him too?" Tiny raised an eyebrow and shook her head in disbelief.

"No. That one I found out for myself," I replied with a grin.

"We're here," Killer stated. He got out the car and opened the door for Tiny. I joined them and peered around. We were parked down a deserted back alley.

"This way," Tiny explained, slipping through a back door.

She watched Ronny leave; god he was annoying. Almost as annoying as Althea...And for Althea to think she wanted anything personal to do with Ronny, now that was comical. Kurokawa did not stress herself over the Darks at all. If anything, she should worry about the Cobras attacking her.


She took her seat back down on the steps,leaning against the building, Chad and Jason sitting on either side of her. Kurokawa kept her eyes on the small group of men standing across the street, and pondered approaching them. She pulled her hair around behind her and let it fall, she was tired of it being in her face.

((Switching to first person...))

Tanya

"What do you mean they forfeited?" I asked, enraged. Only three hours before the race and the Darks biggest race rivals dropped out?

"Team Slither quit the race." Maria said calmly.

"Where's the challenge then. We could whoop every one of the other teams as*es in the first rounds of each competition!" I could hear my voice had already raised an octave with frustration.

"Unless you can find another team that can race, this will be easy money."

My face twisted into a scowl. There was only one other gang in the city that raced in this kind of competition.

"Kadikoy." I murmured.

Maria raised her eyebrows. "Your kidding. They've been out of racing for two years now."

"They're still blacklisted." I said. I hated racing without a challenge. I did drag racing and regular speed challenges, and I usually came out on top, along with the rest of my gang. The Slithers were fast, but not fast enough. They were our only concern on the track and pushed the Darks to their limits, but they had cheated last year and took out eight of our cars. My darling Skyline had suffered the worst of all, giving it burial in the junkyard.




"You're nuts." Tony said from the backseat. Tony was one of the few friends I had amongst the Darks. Most of them were friendly in the 'queen-subjects' manner. His chin length black hair and pine green eyes made him look as gorgeous as one of those vampiric hunks in all the best novels. The only difference was, he wasn't pale. He was Maria cousin, so he was Hispanic and he had mechanic muscles.

Maria smiled as I put my Viper in park. Several of the club goers stared at my new baby, and I felt pride, but it's true respect would come from winning the races tonight.

"Look," I turned to Tony, "what's the point in racing when we could go 20 miles per hour and still win?"

"It's the Kadikoys. They'd stab you before you could ask them about the race."

"If I know Kurokawa as good as I did when we were friends, she won't jump up and kill me. She has so much more pride than that."

"Just be careful." Tony said. Maria nodded at me as I got out of the car.

I could see Kurokawa across the street, surrounded by a few Kadis. I knew better than to expect to catch her alone in such a crowded place. Then, the murmuring began. Most of them recognized me and I attracted more stares than my Viper, though the gazes weren't of admiration. I cross the street and walked up to Kurokawa, ignoring the now-armed men.

"Kurokawa, I have a favor." I said with mock pleasantness.

Sighing, she rose again, flicking her cigarette towards Tanya, letting it skim across her bare arm. Kurokawa popped her shoulder blade, a loud crack going all the way down her back.


"Heard some of your racing buddies wimped out on you, Tawny." Kurokawa used to call her Tawny back in the day, and she never quite figured out why. It was just one of those nicknames she got randomly, back when they raced together.


"Yeah. Look, I know you don't race anymore, but we need one more team to actually call it a race." Tanya wasn't begging, merely asking, which meant she just wanted the competition. Kurokawa knew how she ran; Tanya mostly raced for the thrill, for her own pleasure.


Kurokawa thought for a moment. "Only if it's a drift race. I won't push my old Z into a drag, it's not ready for that. It's been too long, and I haven't drove it much since then." Her voice seemed to soften, and trail off into thought. She was remembering the drag races and her old Datsun 280Z keeping up with all the fancy new cars, never letting her down. She had just recently crushed the newer one in her escape from the graveyard, but she wouldn't be telling Tanya that.