Chapter 1
“Are you sure about this?”
A nervous-looking tawny haired boy stood hunched over a very expensive looking car. In the driver’s seat was another teenage boy. This one with slightly darker hair. His hands were under the steering wheel. He had just taken off the paneling and was pulling out some wires.
“I’m sure. Just keep an eye out.”
“I’m keeping an eye out!” said the nervous boy in a hushed tone. “But you know who’s block we’re on…”
“I know, but if you just shut up, we’ll be outta here in seconds,” said the one in the driver’s seat.
The tawny haired teenager let out a sigh and shut up. His head turned side to side, keeping an eye out both up and down the sidewalk. The night sky helped hide the two teens. It was late. No one else seemed to be out. But it was New York City. The City that never slept. And both kids knew they could be caught any second.
“Are you done yet?”
“Damn, Anton, I can’t think with you yapping in my ear!” said the one in the car. “It’s not… I don’t know, this car is different. It’s not working like it usually does…”
“Then just leave it! Let’s go before anyone sees us,” said Anton.
“No, I can get it. Just give me a few more minutes.”
Anton let out a sigh. He lifted his hand and ran his fingers through his hair, pushing the long strands out of his eyes. When he lowered his hand, his eyes went wide.
“Shan… Shit, Shannon, there’s a cop… There’s a cop car coming!” said Anton, in a desperate and panicked tone of voice.
Shannon’s head popped up immediately. The lights of the cop car illuminated him in the darkness. He didn’t need to guess whether or not he had been seen, the flashing lights on the law enforcement vehicle were enough to tell him that. By the time he was out of the car, Anton was already half way down the street. Shannon ran after him.
“Stop where you are!” “ came a cop’s voice over the speaker of his vehicle.
Shannon didn’t stop, he ran as fast as his busted sneakers would carry him. His footsteps pounded against the concrete, his arms moved quickly at his sides. In his chest, his heart was racing. But he was gaining on Anton. He had always been the faster of the two of them.
Seconds later, he was at Anton’s side. He grabbed his friend’s shirt, and yanked him into an alleyway. There, the two teens disappeared into the darkness as the cop drove on by.
Hiding behind a nearby dumpster, Anton leaned onto his knees and breathed heavily. “Shit, I knew that was a bad idea…”
Shannon was also breathing heavily. His lips formed a frown. “I coulda done it. If I had more time…”
“Those fancy fucking cars, man… You know, Benny said there’s this unlocking device. I dunno. Some shit like that. You just gotta press a button and the car starts,” said Anton, still catching his breath.
“Benny’s full of a shit. He always has been,” said Shannon.
Benny was an older man that owned the local deli. The guy was always telling stories. Stories about his youth, when he was some kind of hardened criminal. The stories were always fascinating, and when Shannon was younger, he believed most of them. But as he got older, he began seeing Benny for what he truly was. Benny was a great shit talker.
“Well I believe him. And anything has to be better than waitin’ a year on you to hot wire them,” said Anton.
“Yeah? Do you think you could do a better job?”
“Me?” scoffed Anton, straightening up. “I’m the lookout. I always have been.”
“A shit lookout. We almost got caught!”
“We’re not in cuffs, are we?”
“I coulda been, the way you fuckin’ ran off,” Shannon said, his eyes narrowed on his friend.
“I knew you could take care of yourself.”
Shannon shook his head then let out a sigh. “Well what’re we gonna do now? I promised Angelo we’d bring him a car tonight.”
“What’re you doing, messing with that guy anyway, man? I heard he fuckin’ cut a guy once, just for looking at him the wrong way,” said Anton.
Shannon scoffed. “I’m not scared of him. Besides, most people around here don’t trust me for doing jobs. At least Angelo does. And he pays well too.”
“Yeah, until you piss him off, then he’ll cut your fuckin’ throat…”
Shannon frowned. “You know what, if you’re just gonna nag me all fuckin’ night, then I’ll do this shit myself.”
Stepping out from behind the dumpster, Shannon proceeded to leave the alley. Anton trailed along behind him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, then when they emerged onto the street, Anton finally opened his mouth.
“We can get a car. Just might not be a top dollar car like that one back there.”
“Yeah… Guess not,” Shannon replied. He hated to let a car like that go but after getting nearly caught by the cops, he knew it would be stupid to try again.
“You know, I overheard there’s gonna be a party on Leeward Street,” said Anton. “There’ll be plenty of cars there. And everyone will be too drunk to notice one missing.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go,” said Shannon.
They could hear the music before they were even close to the party. Cars were parked up and down the street. All they had to do was take their pick.
“That one. The Honda,” said Shannon, pointing at the car. Hondas were good cars. They had great resale value.
Discreetly, they crept over to the car. Shannon checked first, for an alarm, then he checked the door handle. It was unlocked.
“Jackpot,” he said with a grin.
Like before, Anton stood watch as he slipped into the driver’s seat. The Honda was older. Nothing like the other car. It took him seconds and the engine roared to life. “Get in.”
Anton quickly walked around the car and hopped into the passenger’s seat. Shannon flipped on the lights, then they were off. The stolen car disappeared into the darkness.
“See? We shoulda just done this in the first place,” said Anton, a happy grin on his face.
“This car’s gonna get us… maybe 500. The other woulda been thousands,” said Shannon, his eyes on the road.
“250 is good for me, man. At least it’ll give me something to buy food with. Dad never fuckin’ buys groceries,” said Anton.
Shannon glanced at his friend, and he knew Anton had it rough. From the day he was born, his dad was an abusive prick. Anton showed up bruised and beaten more times than Shannon could count. For a long time, he’d just stay over at Shannon’s place instead of going home. At least until Audrey, Shannon’s step-mom, got a stick up her ass and told him to go home.
“Hey man, you know if you need help getting something to eat, you just gotta ask,” said Shannon.
“Yeah, thanks man, I know…”
Silence came over them as Shannon drove the stolen car through the back streets of NYC. He was only 16 but he had been driving cars since he was 12. Unlike his friend, he didn’t exactly have an abusive father, but his father was a crook. A crook that taught Shannon everything he knew.
Shannon pulled the car into a garage and drove it around the back, out of sight. Both teens hopped out of the car but Anton hung back.
“I’ll just… wait here,” he said.
Shannon scoffed but said nothing as he left the car and pulled open the door to the garage. The lights inside were a bright contrast to the darkness outside. There were a few guys here and there. They worked for Angelo, no doubt. Shannon gave them a nod then proceeded towards Angelo’s office.
Angelo was a tan skinned man with greasy dark hair. He had a hefty build but it was more bulk than it was fat. He made the teenage boy look much smaller than he actually was.
“Yaho! Shannon! You bring me my car?” said Angelo. He was seated behind his desk.
“You know it,” Shannon said with a grin. “But I couldn’t get the Audi. Man, I tried, but the cops came by. Ran me off.”
Angelo’s greasy face tightened into disappointment. “You said you could do it.”
“I thought I could… But I didn’t come empty handed. I brought a Honda Accord. It’s out back,” said Shannon.
“You know, Shan, not many people around here would give you the time of day… after the shit your dad pulled. But I know from experience, we aren’t our fathers. I like to give people chances. But I can only give you so many chances… You say you’re gonna do something and I expect it done. A Honda isn’t a fucking Audi.”
The man’s dark eyes bore into Shannon. It was a look he had never given Shannon before. The teenager immediately felt intimidated, and his mind went back to what Anton had said earlier, about Angelo slitting his throat. Had he gotten into deep with the man? He fucking hoped not.
“Angelo, I’m sorry. I really fucking tried. But I knew you’d be pissed if I came empty handed, so I got the Honda. I know… it took a lot to trust me on this, and I’m really fuckin’ grateful. If you give me some time, I can get the Audi…”
Angelo rose from his seat. His bulky form became a monstrous shadow over the young boy. It took everything Shannon had to stand his ground as the older man approached him. But he knew, if he flinched, or showed any fear, Angelo would pounce on him like a wild animal. Shannon had been raised on the streets of New York. He knew when to run and when to remain calm.
“I’ll give you a day. You get me the fuckin’ Audi or it’s your neck, kid. Think of it as a lesson learned. You say you’re gonna do something, and you do it or you face the consequences.”
Angelo reached into his pocket, and Shannon felt a sense of dread. When Angelo’s hand came out with a stack of money, relief washed over him.
“For the Honda,” Angelo said, offering the wad to Shannon. “But I want the fucking Audi by tomorrow.”
“I’ll get it. I promise,” said Shannon.
“You better. Now get the fuck outta here.”
Shannon didn’t waste time. He pocketed the cash and left the way he had come. Outside, Anton was hanging around the stolen Honda. His posture was nervous but he perked up when he saw Shannon approaching.
“Did you get it? Did you get paid?”
Shannon gave Anton a look that basically said ‘not now’, then he proceeded to leave the parking lot. Anton followed after him. When they were a good ways down the sidewalk, Shannon pulled the money out of his pocket.
“Holy shit, that’s a lot!” said Anton.
Shannon still didn’t speak to him. He counted the money and passed over Anton’s share.
“Thanks, man. So what’d he say?” asked Anton.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna head home.”
“Yeah… yeah, alright. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Shannon parted ways with his friend, purposely keeping his interaction with Angelo to himself. He knew he had gotten in over his head and he didn’t want to drag his friend into the mess. He’d get the car himself. Or he’d face the consequences like Angelo said. Either way, it was his mess, not Anton’s.
