I stumbled into central park my ankle well and truly throbbing now, I made my way over to Race's selling spot but he wasn't there instead Romeo was stood there hawking his own papes. I walked over to him trying not to look like I was limping,

"Romeo what are you doing?" I asked him confused, gesturing lightly at his papers.

"I'm selling, well trying to anyway the headline is lousy." He said beaming.

"Where's Race?" I asked, becoming worried now.

"Oh well you see he's back at the lodge." Stammered Romeo.

"Why? Shouldn't he be selling?"

Romeo seriously considered his next words, his face pained in concentration of what he should say.

"I think you should go see him." His face suddenly solemn.

Great another thing to worry about, I wandered off after thanking Race my foot still in pain but it wouldn't put me off all the thoughts of panic and worry flooding my head.

I finally came to the lodging house and rushed inside and up the stairs ignoring the pain in my foot. I ran into the bunkroom to find it completely empty and silent, I walked down the long room looking at every bunk until I heard a groan from what sounded like the washroom. I looked in the messy room full of scattered towels the floor coated in a thin layer of water and shaving foam. Yet there was no one in there.

I walked out of the washroom still worried about Race, I heard the groaning again and then noticed a door I hadn't seen before alongside the washroom, I opened it cautiously and looked in. I saw Race lying there asleep a huge shiner on his face, a brutal cut on his lip and his eye was badly swollen.

I rushed over to him kneeling next to his bed and began stroking his face trying to get a closer look at the damage, it looked so much worse from close up. He began groaning again and I realised he had trouble breathing, I looked under his covers to look for the cause of the problem, his pure white chest was dotted with huge abrasive dark purple bruises. I sat there staring at them in shock,

"You liking what you see?" Race said weakly.

I turned trying to smile at him but my face was full of pain for him,

"What happened Race?" I asked my voice wobbling.

"I don't remember really I had been to some race in Queens I had a tip on I got cornered and well I don't remember much else don't really know who it was, it was spot who found me." He tried to speak brightly for me like he usually does yet his eyes were still fearful and full of pain.

"Race, was it the Delancies you know my father sent them after Jack?" I said my voice full of worry and realisation.

"No it wasn't Laura I know it wasn't this was not your fault, understand?" he said looking at me strongly.

I nodded reassuringly and noticed a basin full of water with a white cloth. I began gently washing the wounds on his face. He smiled at me softly as we sat there in a peaceful silence soon he fell asleep the groaning still there but not as noticeable. When he was sound asleep I stood up and walked out silently.

As I was walking down the stairs out the lodging house, I bumped into spot who was running up the stairs,

"Woah sorry doll, oh Laura." He said looking up after the collision.

"Spot, what are you doing here?" I asked as I stood stationary on the stairs.

"I was coming to check on Race, is he ok?" he asked clearly worried, I was a little shocked I didn't think that the king of Brooklyn a notorious womaniser and stone cold leader was so worried about Race.

"Yeah he's just fallen asleep I've just been to check on him." I said not really wanting him to go up there and wake him as he had just fallen asleep slightly more peacefully.

"Oh ok I'll come back later then." He gestured for me to walk down first.

I began to step down until a stabbing pain came rushing from my ankle, my leg wobbled and I winced,

"Are you ok?" Spot asked as he came level to me on the same step.

"Yeah I just fell of the ladder in the library." I said trying to brush it off continuing to walk down the stairs only to be stopped by another piercing pain in my ankle.

Spot hopped down next to me and wrapped his arm around me,

"Come on I'm walking you home." He demanded.

"No you can't my father will see." I protested.

"I'm not scared of your father, I'll walk you as near as I can if it makes you feel better."

I couldn't really say no so I put my weight onto Spot's strong form and we walked out of the lodging house.

We were silent most of the way there until I remembered what Race had said about Spot finding him that night,

"Spot who did that to Race?" I asked deciding to be blunt.

"I'm not sure you want to know Laura." He told me quickly quickening his step so we were reaching my house faster.

"I know it wasn't the Delancies." I said as I struggled to keep up with him.

Spots face became cold and determined and we walked again in silence before we came about a block away from my house,

"Please Spot," I begged desperate to know what had happened to Race and why.

"Look there's a poker night tomorrow in Manhattan meet me there about 9 and I'll tell you everything."

He then removed my arm from his shoulder and walked away disappearing down the street quickly. I watched him go before turning around to walk the rest of the way home, my mind determined that I would find out who had done this to Race.