Chapter 15
~ Los Angeles, CA – March 1999~
"We the jury, find the defendant, Thomas Lykens, guilty of the offense of drug trafficking with intent to sell. We also find the defendant guilty of the offense of grand theft." The jury foreman returned to his seat.
The judge thanked the foreman and instructed Tom to stand, "Mr. Lykens you are hereby sentence to 5 – 25 years in the California State Correction System."
Jesse stood and grabbed onto his father, "No. You can't go. Dad." His screams filled the courtroom.
Tom kissed Jesse on the forehead and pulled his arms away. "Take care of him Leon."
Leon held a devastated Jesse sobbing in his arms. Tom was handcuffed and led away through the door out of sight.
"Come on Jess, we have to go." He pulled Jesse to his feet and walked him out of the courtroom.
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~ April 1999 ~
"Jesse are you sure this car can win?" Leon looked over the white Jetta with a nervous eye.
Jesse smiled wide, "This car is gonna smoke them all."
"Glad you're sure. You got some skill to turn your dad's Jetta into this. We got a lot riding on this race, everything we have. We lose, we'll be eatin' outta dumpsters."
"Trust me engines I know. We'll win and have a huge party afterwards." Leon jumped into the driver's seat and fired the engine. The power hummed through the car. He revved the engine feeling the power. Jesse slid into the passenger seat. "You ready?"
"Yeah dawg, I'm ready."
The scene was like something out of movie. Cars lined both sides of the alley with a small group of cars assembled in the middle. Leon backed the Jetta into an empty spot next to a CRX. He and Jess stepped out and checked out the other racers. They spotted a ring of guys talking near the cars in the middle of the alley exchanging money. They approached the apparent leader, a tall muscular man with a shaved head. Leon cleared his throat to get his attention, "Is this race open to anyone?"
A short Mexican to his right laughed, "This is for real racers only rookie. What you drivin'?"
Leon stepped up to the man, "That white Jetta sittin' over there. What you drivin'?"
"Smart ass white boy. That's my baby over there." He said pointing to his Honda. "You think you can beat it."
"The name's Leon and yes I can beat it."
"Dom do you hear this shit? Well Leon you got balls, but do you got the dough?"
"Three thousand. Is that enough?"
The Dom broke in between them, "Yo Hector back off. Give your money to Letty and let's race." They handed in their money and headed for their respective cars. The alley emptied quickly and the racers congregated on a street in the industrial district. Leon let Jesse out of the car near some barely dressed women. He thought that he might as well let him have some fun.
Leon pulled to the line, followed by Hector, Dom and another racer. They revved their engines and flames shot from the exhausts. Each one went through their pre race rituals of checking gauges and systems. Music blared from every car. All eyes were focused on the woman dressed in a black leather skirt and hot pink bra. She dropped her hands and the race began. The race was clearly between Dom and Leon. Hector and the other racer were far behind. The finish line was coming close with the cars reaching speeds of 140. Dom pressed the NOS button and a millisecond later Leon depressed his and passed him for the win. He couldn't believe that he had won his first race. He was pumping his fist in the air and yelling.
The cars turned around and headed back to the start. Jess was standing at the start line with his arms around two women. Their beds wouldn't be cold that night Leon thought to himself. He jumped out of the car and a swarm of people closed in.
Dom walked over with the cash in his hand, "This is all yours, but first you have to tell me what you got under the hood of that car."
Leon grinned from ear to ear, "You'll have to ask the mad scientist over there. He built it. The best engine man anywhere." He motioned for Jesse to come over.
Dom couldn't believe a kid built that car, but he admired his talent. "You come to my party tonight. We got things to discuss."
~ Los Angeles, CA – March 1999~
"We the jury, find the defendant, Thomas Lykens, guilty of the offense of drug trafficking with intent to sell. We also find the defendant guilty of the offense of grand theft." The jury foreman returned to his seat.
The judge thanked the foreman and instructed Tom to stand, "Mr. Lykens you are hereby sentence to 5 – 25 years in the California State Correction System."
Jesse stood and grabbed onto his father, "No. You can't go. Dad." His screams filled the courtroom.
Tom kissed Jesse on the forehead and pulled his arms away. "Take care of him Leon."
Leon held a devastated Jesse sobbing in his arms. Tom was handcuffed and led away through the door out of sight.
"Come on Jess, we have to go." He pulled Jesse to his feet and walked him out of the courtroom.
************************************************************************
~ April 1999 ~
"Jesse are you sure this car can win?" Leon looked over the white Jetta with a nervous eye.
Jesse smiled wide, "This car is gonna smoke them all."
"Glad you're sure. You got some skill to turn your dad's Jetta into this. We got a lot riding on this race, everything we have. We lose, we'll be eatin' outta dumpsters."
"Trust me engines I know. We'll win and have a huge party afterwards." Leon jumped into the driver's seat and fired the engine. The power hummed through the car. He revved the engine feeling the power. Jesse slid into the passenger seat. "You ready?"
"Yeah dawg, I'm ready."
The scene was like something out of movie. Cars lined both sides of the alley with a small group of cars assembled in the middle. Leon backed the Jetta into an empty spot next to a CRX. He and Jess stepped out and checked out the other racers. They spotted a ring of guys talking near the cars in the middle of the alley exchanging money. They approached the apparent leader, a tall muscular man with a shaved head. Leon cleared his throat to get his attention, "Is this race open to anyone?"
A short Mexican to his right laughed, "This is for real racers only rookie. What you drivin'?"
Leon stepped up to the man, "That white Jetta sittin' over there. What you drivin'?"
"Smart ass white boy. That's my baby over there." He said pointing to his Honda. "You think you can beat it."
"The name's Leon and yes I can beat it."
"Dom do you hear this shit? Well Leon you got balls, but do you got the dough?"
"Three thousand. Is that enough?"
The Dom broke in between them, "Yo Hector back off. Give your money to Letty and let's race." They handed in their money and headed for their respective cars. The alley emptied quickly and the racers congregated on a street in the industrial district. Leon let Jesse out of the car near some barely dressed women. He thought that he might as well let him have some fun.
Leon pulled to the line, followed by Hector, Dom and another racer. They revved their engines and flames shot from the exhausts. Each one went through their pre race rituals of checking gauges and systems. Music blared from every car. All eyes were focused on the woman dressed in a black leather skirt and hot pink bra. She dropped her hands and the race began. The race was clearly between Dom and Leon. Hector and the other racer were far behind. The finish line was coming close with the cars reaching speeds of 140. Dom pressed the NOS button and a millisecond later Leon depressed his and passed him for the win. He couldn't believe that he had won his first race. He was pumping his fist in the air and yelling.
The cars turned around and headed back to the start. Jess was standing at the start line with his arms around two women. Their beds wouldn't be cold that night Leon thought to himself. He jumped out of the car and a swarm of people closed in.
Dom walked over with the cash in his hand, "This is all yours, but first you have to tell me what you got under the hood of that car."
Leon grinned from ear to ear, "You'll have to ask the mad scientist over there. He built it. The best engine man anywhere." He motioned for Jesse to come over.
Dom couldn't believe a kid built that car, but he admired his talent. "You come to my party tonight. We got things to discuss."