CHAPTER 3- Choices

Ranger's POV- Fourteen years ago

Another fucking Saturday night of nothing to do always meant trouble. I knew this. So did every other person in this part of Newark.

The cops had been stepping up their patrols due to the increase in "gang activity," thanks to recent political pressure. The reality is that the cops didn't want to be around us any more than we wanted to be around them. Damn pigs. They did their job, but they rode through our territory as little as possible and always in multiples. Even with the increased presence, our lookouts were still able to get a fairly good idea of when to expect a visit from the police. We adjusted our activities accordingly.

I yawned, pushing my hair back from my face.

"Come on, Carlos," Tank said. "Let's fucking get out of here tonight. I'm gettin' damn tired of dealing with these idiots every damn day."

Hector and Manny nodded in agreement. We were all getting tired of the idiots.

I'd joined the gang six years ago, thanks to my older brother's bad influence and neighborhood pressure. Now I was eighteen and it became more obvious each day how stupid the whole thing was. I'd been in more brushes with the law than I cared to count, both here and in Miami, where I'd been sent after a short stint in juvie. Now that I was of legal age, I knew that the next time I found trouble, I'd be living rent-free courtesy of the state for many years.

I thought about the college textbooks and supplies that were upstairs. I'd started at Rutgers in the Fall, but college wasn't really working out like I'd hoped. Too many damn papers to write. I'd caught some shit from some of my gang-mates about being a college boy, but I put a stop to that shit quickly enough.

I felt like I was trapped.

"We're not going anywhere. Sanchez is already watching us," I replied tersely.

"Screw that," Manny replied. "You could beat Sanchez's ass any day of the week. I don't see why you don't and just take over. Get rid of his dumbass self."

I leaned over and smacked Manny on the back of the head none too gently. "Keep your damn mouth shut, talking like that. Your fool ass is gonna get us all killed. Just cause I could beat his ass don't mean I want his position. I'm trying to get out of this shit, not deeper in."

ssssssssssssssssssssssssss

A few hours later found us wandering down King aimlessly. The four of us had decided we'd better show our faces for the cause before Sanchez sent someone to find us.

I gave a mental snicker. Nothing like making it obvious he was keeping his eye on the competition, and every man in the gang knew I was his competition. That dumbass thought he had me under his thumb, and I was content to let him think so for the time being.

"Man, there ain't shit happenin' out here tonight," whined Alex.

Alex's brother Da'Kin immediately picked up on the bitching. "No fuckin' kidding, bro. What we gotta do to get some action 'round here?"

Manny, Hector, Tank, and I exchanged surreptitious glances. The four of us were deliberately hanging back from the other guys, trying to maintain some distance. Alex, Da'Kin, and their friends were Sanchez's right hand men. While Sanchez was busy smoking up and screwing around on his pregnant girlfriend, his "bros" were out looking for trouble.

The guys turned right on Jasmine. Thanks to our lookouts, we knew there wouldn't be cops around this area anytime soon, so no one was in a hurry. We continued ambling down the mostly dark street, Alex and his guys talking trash and shooting the shit, while we hung back and quietly observed.

Dios, but this shit was getting old.

I was suddenly pulled from my zone by excited voices. Da'Kin and Raul had spotted an abandoned car up ahead. From the angle of the car, it looked like there was a problem with the front passenger-side tire.

"This here's like the answer to a prayer, yo," Da'Kin said. "I say we take this piece of shit for a little ride and see what we can find."

Alex nodded. "Yeah, I'm down. We might can make some cash off this thing."

I had a suspicion that Alex and co. wouldn't be getting too far on that blowout, but I remained silent. I rubbed the back of my neck absently, watching the hotshots as the scoped out the car.

I had a sick feeling of dread in my stomach as I heard Alex's next words.

"Boys, we got ourselves a lot more than just a car. There's a nice piece of ass in here."

The level of excitement immediately ratcheted up. My eyes connected with Tank's, and I knew we were on the same page here.

It's one thing to boost a damn car; it's another to hurt some innocent girl. We both had sisters and mothers we respected. Hell, my Abuela Rosa was about the only person on this earth who could kick my ass and make me cry like a little girl.

Hector and Manny's faces were mostly blank, but I could read worry in their eyes. They, too, weren't feeling the assault scene tonight.

The men surrounded the car and immediately began trying to find a way in. I couldn't see the girl inside, but I swear I could almost feel her terror.

"Come on, assholes," Tank spoke up. "We don't need this shit tonight. Leave the bitch alone."

Instinctively, the four of us knew that we were on the fringe of a very bad situation. As gang members, we'd all witnessed and taken part in violence. However, many of us, myself included, were one strike away from real time.

On the other hand, going against the gang was never a smart move.

Fuck.

For a brief moment, I could see through the windshield to the girl inside the car. A white girl with crazy curly brown hair, she looked to be high school or college-aged. Her eyes locked on mine and I schooled my face to remain blank while my mind furiously assessed the situation and how the hell we could get out of there without getting arrested.

Suddenly, I see Javier whip his arm back and throw something through the passenger-side window, effectively smashing the glass and her last hope of safety. He unlocked the door and wrenched it open while the other guys cheered.

I took a half step forward before Hector grabbed my arm. "Carlos, no lo hagas. Si vas en contra de ellos, que será en contra de Sánchez. [Carlos, don't do it. If you go against them, you will be up against Sanchez.]

I watched as Javier dragged the girl out of the car by her hair. To her credit, she wasn't crying and screaming for help. She came out fighting mad. In seconds, she'd broken Javier's nose and shoved Da'Kin's balls into his throat. At that point, the shock from her fight wore off, and Marcus pinned her arms while Alex backhanded her across the face.

"Damn, yo. This bitch be crazy," Raul exclaimed.

"We'll see how long she's crazy for," Javier said, swiping at the blood beneath his newly broken nose. He bared his teeth at the girl, making her shrink back in fear.

Tank's booming laughter cut through the tension. The men and girl looked over at Tank, their faces ranging from shock to anger.

"You fucking idiots," Tank gasped out. "You're such goddamn pansies that this little white girl just kicked your asses. I told you to leave the bitch alone."

"Fuck you, man. I don't see your ass over here setting her straight," Alex snarled.

"You're right," he said, "And you won't. I don't need to force a woman to get some action like you dumbasses. Leave the girl be and let's roll."

Good try, Tank, I thought. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. Not with these idiots.

"Oh, I don't think so," Javier snarled, walking towards her slowly. "I think she needs to feel a little pain like I'm feeling first."

We heard the girl whimper slightly before straightening her spine and glaring at Javier. She seemed determined to go down with her fighting spirit. He stepped even closer and she backed up in response, bumping into her car.

I could see the moment that she realized she was trapped.

Tank was no longer laughing. Manny and Hector seemed unable to maintain their blank faces, and fury was clearly showing.

The girl's eyes were wheeling around in panic, desperately looking for help.

Our eyes met and I felt like a sledgehammer hit me in the chest. I was struck by their color, a startling shade of blue. Her face remained stoic while her eyes begged me for salvation.

I was struck by uncertainty, not one of my typical emotions. I'm a planner, and I never take action without reason. I'd made the choice not to rock the boat, so to speak, and challenge the gang or Sanchez. I was already paving my way out of the gang and the slums of Newark with my stupid time in college. It really wasn't a good idea for me to do anything drastic at this point in my life.

Or was it?

All of my planning and all of my choices went out the window in that one moment. I broke eye contact with the girl, quickly assessing the situation and how to turn it to my advantage. I knew without a doubt that Tank, Hector, and Manny would have my back. We were outnumbered, but in a gang, hierarchy speaks, and I was more powerful than any of the other assholes here tonight.

I refused to look her in the eye, but I saw disappointment and fear on her face during those brief seconds. Her eyes filled with tears, and one crystal drop rolled down her cheek.

Fuck Sanchez.

I stepped forward.