For all the rumors about the ferocity they possessed, Spot's boys weren't that bad. Race didn't find any of them all that terrifying after about ten days in the lodge. He got along with all of them surprisingly well, especially Cards, whom he'd watched several races with and even lost the occasional bet or poker game to. Besides, the Brooklyn boys were better at card games and gambling in general.

Not to the point where Race was losing, but enough to challenge him, make it interesting.

It was another normal night, the guys playing games and a few fighting. However, a knock on the door immediately drew all of their attention.

None of the boys knocked and the Brooklyn lodge never had guests.

Cards got up and answered, and seeing the visitor, looked back over his shoulder at Race. "Higgins! Youse got a guest!"

Race looked up, confusion painted across his face. "Who's come to Brooklyn to find me?"

"Youse got eyes, ain't ya? Come and see!"

Race groaned, but got up and headed for the door.

"Jojo?" He asked in surprise as he saw the guest.

"Hey," Jojo said awkwardly, wringing his hands.

"Come on in," Race said, stepping aside so his friend could get into the lodge.

"Who said you could let people in here?" Cards said in mock anger. Race rolled his eyes and shoved the boy away.

"So, whatcha need?" Race asked as Jojo shut the door.

The boy glanced around the room, eyes darting uncomfortably between Race and the other boys who were eagerly watching the exchange.

"Here, follow me," Race said quietly. "You probably don't want to talk here, these guys can't don't know how to keep to their own business!" He finished, loud enough for the boys to hear. A few complained, but Race ignored them as he led Jojo up the staircase and out a window onto the building's rusty fire escape.

The boys sat down next to each other, Race's legs swinging off the edge. "What are you doin' here Jo?"

"I'm here to check on you," Jojo shrugged.

"That it?"

Jojo hesitated. "We... We miss ya Race. We want you to come back."

"You know I can't do that," Race sighed.

"Why not? The fight's over! You did your part, you can come back now!"

"It ain't over yet! I can't leave until it's all over."

"Well why not?" Jojo questioned.

"I need to support Spot right now."

"What about us?" Jojo's voice was soft, barely masking the hurt.

Race's eyes widened and he gently grabbed his friend's arm. "You guys are still my family, I just need to stay here for a bit. I'll come back, I promise."

"I know," Jojo mumbled.

"Hey, look at me. I ain't kiddin'."

"I know."

"Then why are youse so upset?"

"Are we still friends Race? 'Cause you keep sayin' that we are, but I feel like you like Spot way more than me. I know that Spot's your best friend, but-"

"Hey, that ain't true! Youse my best friend from New York, Spot's just my best friend from not-New York," Race explained.

"Brooklyn is part of New York now," Jojo reminded.

"Oh...right. Well, you can have more that one best friend ya know," Race stated matter of factly.

"No... you can't," Jojo said, confused. "Then neither is the 'best'."

"Shh!" Race interrupted. "I says that you can and remember, I'm the King of New York, so what I says goes."

"Okay," Jojo agreed.

The boys sat in silence for a minute. Race had lit a match on the railing and pulled out a cigar.

"When do ya think you'll be back?"

Race shrugged. "Whenever Hook goes away."

"When's that gonna happen?"

"I don't know," Race admitted. "I hope it's soon."

"Me too."

"How are the boys?"

"They're alright. Henry got a little roughed up. Jack wasn't too happy 'bout that. Don't say anythin' to Spot, but," Jojo leaned closer, speaking quietly. "I heard that Jack's thinkin' of joinin' up again."

"Really?" Race whistled. "Spot won't know whether he should be happy or beat him up."

"That's why you shouldn't say anything."

"Don't worry, I won't." Race looked out over the city and, noticing the setting sun, stood up. "You should go."

"What? I just got here!" Jojo complained.

"I know, but it's gettin' dark and the Bronx has got guys patrolling here ever since they won. And if what you were sayin' is true, it really ain't safe."

"Fine," Jojo agreed. "Do you know any shortcuts? If it's that bad, I don't want to be walkin' alone for too long."

"Here," Race said, pressing a dime into his friend's hand. "Take the trolley."

"Race, this is your money. I can't-"

"Just take it Jojo. Ise got more than enough."

Jojo stared at the coin, then nodded and began to climb down the ladder of the fire escape.

Race watched until he disappeared before heading inside.

***

"So, have you heard anything recently?" Spot asked his birds.

They all glanced nervously at each other and gave mumbled answers.

"What was that?"

"We ain't heard nothin'," Smoke admitted.

"Yeah," Slick agreed. "Theyse been keepin' real quiet."

"What about Richmond? Theyse still on Hook's good side, right? They might know something," Smoke suggested.

"That idea ain't half bad," Spot said. "Race, c'mere! Wese goin' to Richmond!"

Race hurried to get around, pulling his cap tightly over his head as he followed Spot out the door.

"Richmond, huh? Sounds like fun, Spotty Boy."

Spot groaned. "Shut up."

***

"Spot Conlon, I ain't seen you in ages."

Spot rolled his eyes as a dark haired boy made his way over to he and Race.

"And Higgins! I haven't seen you since the strike! How ya been?"

"Not bad," Race shrugged. "How about yourself?"

"I've been great, I've got me a girl!" The boy bragged, puffing out his chest.

"Yeah, Jane. You told me about her at the rally," Race reminded.

"Who?"

"Jane," Race repeated.

"Oh yeah! I forgot about her. I left her way back in August."

"But the rally was in August."

"I know," he smirked.

"So who are ya with now?" Race laughed.

"Now I'm with Jennie, me and Martha broke up last week."

"You sure do work fast," Race commented.

"They don't call me Lothario for nothin'," he winked. "How's Romeo?"

"Oh, I think he's al-"

"Can we get back to business?" Spot asked, annoyed.

"Sure, what are you here for?" Lothario asked.

"We're here to talk to Hay."

Lothario's grin dropped. "What's this about Conlon? We don't want trouble."

"I ain't here to start nothin'. Just let us see 'im."

"Okay," Lothario agreed, but only because I don't want you to kill me."

Lotahrio disappeared for a second, arriving a minute later with a taller boy with golden hair.

"Conlon," Hay greeted warily.

"Hay," Spot replied. "I think you know why wese here."

"Yeah, I knew you'd come sooner or later. I ain't helpin' ya."

"Hay," Spot sighed. "We need you to back us up. We need to get rid of Hook or else he'll keep hurtin' us and our boys."

"Leave me out of this Spot. Me and my boys are fine."

"For how long?" Spot argued.

"Forever-"

"No! For how long?"

"I don't know," Hay reluctantly admitted.

"I do," Race spoke up. "And it ain't real long. Manhattan's already havin' trouble again."

"Who are you?" Hay asked, turning to face Race.

"The name's Race."

"And how do you know that what you're sayin' is true? You from New York?"

"More or less," Race shrugged.

"It ain't gonna be long before they go after you again," Spot insisted. "As soon as we lose control, you can bet that he'll be comin' for you."

"Look, I appreciate the concern, but wese fine. Lothario, show 'em out."

"No, I ain't leavin'!" Spot said angrily.

"Yes you are! You're just causin' problems, startin' things out of nothing!"

A small boy came into the room and whispered something into Lothario's ear. "Hay, it might be more serious than you think."

"What?" Hay glanced over to the boy who's face had grown solemn.

"Jim, he's hurt real bad."

Hay paled and his gaze switched from Lothario back to Race and Spot.

"It's our only chance Hay," Spot said.

"Come on," Race muttered under his breath.

"I'll do it," Hay sighed. He looked defeated. "None of my boys were s'posed to get hurt. He lied. I'll hep you."

***

When Spot and Race returned to Brooklyn they had someone waiting for them.

"I thought I told you to stay out of Brooklyn, Kelly," Spot warned lowly.

"You did, I just didn't listen."

Spot growled and lunged towards him. Race reacted too quickly though, and managed to grab the back of his friend's shirt and pull him back. Race's other hand latched onto Spot's arm to prevent him form getting free.

"Let go of me," Spot hissed.

"I can't let you hurt him."

"Thanks," Jack said, relieved.

"Shut up," Race said, rolling his eyes.

Jack winced. "I deserved that."

"And more," Race muttered.

"Look, youse have every right to be mad, but I'm tryin' to fix things."

"And how do you plan on doin' that?"

"By rejoining."

Race didn't know if he should look away or watch as Spot's face grew redder. The boy looked ready to explode and Jack would be the sole victim.

"I ain't fallin' for that again. You betrayed us."

"I know, I was bein' stupid. But now I know the truth. We have to get rid of Hook, he ain't leavin' anyone alone no matter what he says."

Jack looked to Race for help, but the younger boy looked away, focusing on Spot.

"I don't believe you Kelly. How do I know that this ain't some trick that Hook's set up?"

"It's not! I promise!" Jack insisted.

"Spot, you did say we need all the help we can get," Race reminded softly. "I ain't lettin' your pride mess this up."

Spot glared at him and turned angrily back to Jack. "Fine. Youse back in, but one slip up and I'll kill ya myself."

Jack nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

***

Hey guys! I've got another one! It's still pretty short, but it really does make the updates quicker!

I hope you guys liked it!!!!

-Anna