Thank you NewsiesRacetrack88, newsie dork from D.U.M.B.O, and Aurora Scriptor for reviewing!
AN: I know you guys are ready to stab with pitch forks! I am so sorry for not updating in so long! School, work, working at a haunted house, and life in general has gotten the best of me! So I apologize again and hope you enjoy the chapter!
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The next day Racetrack sold his papers as quickly as possible. He was surprised with himself for not stopping to make a bet on the horses racing. More important things mattered now however. He had to find out what was happening with Queens and Brooklyn. The last thing Manhattan wanted was a borough war. With no proper leader or fighting skills, for that matter, they would get taken over as well. Eventually Queens could take all of New York. Racetrack shuddered at the thought that only one brick taken out could cause a whole building to fall. If a borough war started a lot of kids would get hurt, more so thrown in jail. Things were not looking good.
Racetrack scanned Sheepshead hoping to find one of Spot's birds. They were good at blending in and knew when to make themselves scarce. Searching through the crowds Race spotted a patch of raven hair. He studied the boys face hard until he was sure he had seen him before. He recognized him as one of Spot's birds; ironically named Crow, he had seen him once at a card game. Slowly Racetrack walked up to Crow. He was leaning against a brick wall behind the crowds.
Clearing his throat, Racetrack leaned against the wall next to Crow, "You'se one of Spot's right?" He spoke in a low voice, no need to draw attention.
Crow glared at Racetrack, "Why do you care?"
"I just hoird a rumor dat Spot may have been incapacitated and Queens may be gettin' hot."
Crow shot Racetrack another look, "One of 'Hatten's boys sellin' on Brooklyn turf for so long shouldn't stick his nose where it don't concern 'em."
Racetrack huffed, "I'se think me sellin' 'ere is da least of Brooklyn's worries right now. And it does concern me, if da rumors are true, den Queens will be startin' up war soon. Dey do dat and it's everyone's concern."
Crow looked away and moved his eyes around the crowd, "Spot's gonna be fine. No one's got nuttin' to worry 'bout from Queens. Things in Brooklyn are 'bout to change, Racetrack, it'd be best to remembah dat." Crow pushed himself off the wall and walked away.
Racetrack was relieved to hear Spot was okay. Grim was telling the truth though. He stabbed Spot and was planning on a takeover, but Spot survived. Whether or not they would still try to fight Brooklyn was still a question. If Brooklyn lost a war between Queens, then they would all be in the same boat, but at least now there was a chance. Racetrack could not help but still feel uneasy, especially with Crow's last words. He hoped Brooklyn was not planning a war themselves. If they had to fight Brooklyn then things would go to Hell. Racetrack restrained himself with the want to gamble and made his way back to Manhattan.
As Racetrack walked back, he wondered if all the other boroughs were starting to catch word of Queen's plan. Even though Crow said everything was going to be okay, Race still could not help but feel like things could get ugly soon. Life had been pretty good to him since joining the newsies. If Racetrack had to quite because of a borough war, he would have no place to go. Things all across New York would be crazy. No kids could go into a different borough without trouble. That meant Racetrack would not be able to go to Sheepshead again, and one day without gambling was hard enough.
Once in Manhattan, Racetrack made his way to the square. Jack was sitting on the Horace Greeley statue, looking anxious. He immediately jumped up when he saw Racetrack approaching.
"So ya find out anythin'?" Jack spoke quietly. The other newsies only knew some rumors they had heard, not the whole story.
Race looked at Jack, "Yeah, as far as I know, Spot's alive and dey aren't lettin' Queens take ovah. But I'm still not sure dis is all ovah, I got a bad feeling 'bout it all."
Jack nodded, "We'll keep our eyes peeled, but until den we'll just have ta assume everythin's all right."
Racetrack huffed, "Yeah lets hope so, for everyone's sake."
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A few months later no borough wars had erupted, but all the boroughs had not acted the same since Queen's threat. Crow was right about Brooklyn too. Whatever Grim had done to Spot made him to turn hard. He had changed even more than when he had first become leader. Racetrack noticed the Brooklyn newsies more. Spot kept muscle at every border to make sure no trouble was coming. Stories started pouring out of Brooklyn that Spot would beat up kids for looking at him wrong. There were even stories about them killing random people off the street. The other boroughs were starting to get scared of Brooklyn, and Racetrack knew that was exactly what they wanted.
Racetrack had not reached the Brooklyn Bridge, on his way home from Sheepshead, when someone grabbed him and dragged him to the corner of the street.
"Hey what's da big idea here!" Racetrack glared at his assailant and shoved his arm off his shoulder. He looked familiar and soon Race realized it was one of Crazy Eights' goons. "Look, whatever dis is about, I don't got time for it so-"
"Don't think we'se forgot what ya did Racey."
"I didn't do nuttin' alright." Racetrack started to walk forward, but the goon pushed him back.
"Don't play dumb. Crazy Eights is willin' to forgive your debt, if accept his offer."
Racetrack eyed the boy carefully, "Yeah and what exactly would dis offer be?"
"Crazy Eights wants to tell ya 'emself."
"And how do I know ya'r not gonna woik me ovah when we'se get dere?"
The boy just smiled and started to walk away. Racetrack stared at him wide eyed and was about to keep walking home, when he stopped and turned his head, "It'd be wise of ya to follow me."
Race followed, but was very unhappy about the whole situation. He thought about running, but knew Crazy would send more goons after him. And the next time he would not be lucky enough to have Cowboy at the rescue. The boy led Racetrack to Crazy Eights' headquarters; he had dropped off the deliveries several times there before. The goon led him to a back room, there were a lot of guys there. Almost everyone was busy doing something and in the middle of all the chaos, was Crazy Eights. He was sitting at a desk with his dirty brown boots up.
"Well, well, well, looked what da cat dragged in." Racetrack stayed silent. "I'se been waitin' to talk to ya for a while now Race. Ever since ya cheated me. But don't worry, dats all in da past now. I'se got a new proposition for ya."
Racetrack shook his head, "No, thanks. I didn't like doin' grunt woik while everyone else got a bigger piece of da pie."
Crazy Eights did not move, "It ain't a choice, and besides, dis is bigger dan before."
Racetrack raised his eyebrow a little.
"Times are changin' Race."
"So I've hoid."
"I need more men to woik for me and you just happen to be on my list."
Racetrack eyed the room, no one seemed fazed by his presence, "And what kind of woik are we talkin'?"
"I needs a few guys to handle da welshes who think dey can hold out on me."
"And do what exactly?"
"Get what dey owe."
Racetrack stared at Crazy Eights. The guy was completely serious. He wanted Race and whatever other guys to go around the city and beat the money out of people. There was no way he wanted to be a part of that, but it did not seem like he had a choice.
"And if I refuse?"
"Den we'se take care of ya right here, and you can give what ya owe."
A boy to Race's right took a step closer and cracked his knuckles. Racetrack gulped a little.
Crazy Eights smiled, "Dat's what I thought. Now go on back to ya'r newsies. I'se 'ill send for ya when ya'r needed."
Racetrack walked out of there as calmly as possible. As soon as he reached the outside he ran. A few blocks later, Race leaned against a wall and tilted his head back. He was about to get into something deep, and he was going to have to ride it out or become dog meat. A million thoughts were racing through his head, one of which was to skip town. But where would he go? There was no other choice, he had to do this. Racetrack collected himself then headed back to the lodging house. He was not looking forward to Crazy's call.
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AN: Thank you soooo much for reading! I can't to begin to explain how guilty I have felt for not working on this story harder. If I could ask for a Christmas gift from you guys this year, it would be that you do not give up on me! I really want to get these chapters out faster and hope that I can stay true to that! Thanks again everyone and Happy Holidays!