An hour earlier, after T.J. and his two buddies were kicked out of the party, they stumbled their way into their car and headed to Alex's for back up.

"Son of a bitch! That fucker is dead, man, dead! Ahh my nuts," wailed T.J. in pain.

"Fuck dude, I can't see good, I think I need a doctor, I feel like I'm gonna puke," said one of the thugs.

"Forget that Chuey! You aint going nowhere till that fucker is in a hole," remarked T.J.

"Gun it Phat-boi! To the war room, we bout to show this boy you don't mess with the 312 and live," said T.J. pumping himself and his two wounded cronies.

"Man you sure you wanna get Alex involved" question Phat-boi.

"He's not gonna be too happy," he continued

"I don't give a fuck what he thinks! I'm sicking all the dogs on this bitch! Make him sorry he ever laid his hands on me," said T.J.

"Man, my head is bumping, I don't feel good," said the still delirious Chuey.

"Bitch, don't puss out on me." replied T.J.

They arrived to the war room which was actually Alex's house, a very unassuming one at that. Music was playing but not too loud. The front yard was clean and free of clutter. It had recently been painted and there were no cars in the driveway even though there were a lot of people inside. It was also well lit with plenty of flood lights illuminating the darkest corners.

Phat-boi was looking for a place to park. "What are you doing? Park in the driveway fool, don't be wasting no time," ordered T.J.

"Man, you know Alex don't like that," tried to reason Phat-boi.

"I don't care just do it!" was T.J.'s response.

"Oh man," protested Phat-boi as he reluctantly complied.

They walked into the house through the side and went in through the back door. There were cameras on the house so that Alex would know who was coming in. The door opened to let the three in before they reached it. As they entered, a cool R&B type song played in the background. The lights were dim and there was a group of six men playing cards, drinking and smoking, but it was not loud. It was a very mellow environment.

"Stop right there! Clean yourselves up. I don't want you to get any blood all over my floor," said Alex as he smoked a cigar and looked at his cards, quietly, assessing the situation.

"Q-ball, Ty, give these boys something. One of them looks like he's about to make a mess of himself," he ordered.

"Man, Alex forget that. We need to get the War Dogs and go handle some business," said T.J.

"Shh!" replied Alex.

"I need to be careful here, gotta move slowly with all these snakes in the grass. Raise," he played as the remaining players dwindled as two folded.

"This aint not time for no games. We gotta go, we gotta teach.."

"Gotta!!" yelled out Alex as he slammed his fist on the table.

"You know how stupid you sound? 'Gotta teach' you sound like an idiot!"

"And who you in such a rush to go teach something too?" Alex continued getting up from his chair and making his way to a resolute T.J.

"To.." tried to get out T.J. as he was again overpowered by Alex.

"Your little girlfriend's brother who just beat the shit out of you and your dumbass friends over there? Now you want to take my crew and handle this one dude for you because you three are little bitches who couldn't do it on your own? And why the fuck are you even getting in the middle of shit like this? That's what those two fucks are there for. Now you want to run back and do what? Get your shit pushed in some more? Get busted some more?" said Alex getting on T.J.'s face.

"Aint nobody getting busted," replied T.J.

"What motherfucker!" said Alex as he pushed T.J. with great force.

"Hey!" said T.J. after taking a few steps back from the impact which knocked some air out of him but knew better than to say more as he saw Alex was now really pissed off.

"You dumb fuck, you don't even know they called the cops. You about to rush back in there with my guys to start shit up with the cops right there!" yelled Alex as he lifted T.J. from the collar.

T.J. didn't have anything to say this time. "You starting up shit, dropping my name. You get beat down, making us, make me look weak. And now you are burned because the cops will no doubt have to look for you. How you gonna move shit for me now? I need that turf! You messed up son," said Alex.

"That's why we gotta go make a statement!" said T.J. still trying to make a case.

"We gotta go make a statement. You are to lay low. Your brother is on his way to take you away for a few until this comes down," ordered Alex.

"That's bullshit!" said T.J.

"No. You're bullshit. Your whole act is bullshit! Now get the fuck out of here. I don't want to see your face! And T.J. stay out of sight until I tell you to, otherwise I'll put you out of sight and you'll stay out of sight," he said ominously.

T.J. left upset but also knowing full well the implications of Alex's words. He was not a man to make mistakes with, especially to his bottom line.

"And you bitches better not be looking at my cards! Damn I'm gonna have to kill someone tonight!"

T.J.'s brother who was about two years older arrived shortly to pick the three up and take them to a friend's house in the next city over. As they were driving T.J. spotted Liz with some of the other girls just hanging out, chatting and laughing.

"Yo stop the car J.!" shouted T.J. as he stepped out before J. had a chance to stop.

T.J. stormed out in the direction of the girls.

"Hey T.J. did you get any?" greeted one of the girls who saw T.J. rushing over.

"Hey you little slut!" shouted T.J. as he slapped and pulled Liz to the shock of the other girls and horror of Liz.

"Look what your fucking brother did to me. He messed with the wrong people. You better check who you be siding with before you get fucked too!" said T.J. as he pushed her back to the ground.

"Bitch!" he said once more as he parted.

The other girls turned their backs and gaze from the embarrassing scene. Liz quickly rushed out terrified, humiliated, hurt and crying, shaking from the encounter.

"Stupid David, why is he messing up my life!" she thought as she left.

Just as she was beginning to be accepted by the group and just as T.J. was talking and showing interest in her, this guy comes out of nowhere to screw things up for her. Life was not fair. Everything she ever wanted seemed to always be out of reach. It was as if she were cursed. Destined to be alone without anyone who cared about her.

Back at the party David was finally on his way home. It was around eleven now and he wanted to make sure Liz and grams were OK. Now as he was out of the party he wished he had left sooner but part of him wanted to ignore his concern for them. But he was concerned and the encounter with the police left him with little hope.