“Ya’ll ready to get that paper,” Deuce said smiling at them.
“It’s on.”
In the weeks that followed, the boys went on a car stealing rampage turning Merriville upside down. Twon and Zoe learned to drive. They stole ten cars a day and although they were pumping in money, it was not as much as Kay figured. They were making three to four hundred dollars a car and felt like they were getting cheated. Deuce was paying his other car thieves seven to eight hundred for the same cars the twins were bringing. Deuce exploited them since they didn’t know the car game.
One day the boys delivered their cars to the shop and ran into an older car thief who had been with the Deuce since the beginning. They noticed that he was delivering the same type of Cadillac.
“What up Cheese?” Jon said looking at how dapper Cheese was dressed in a cream color Pelle Pelle outfit that ain’t even made it down to Gary yet.
“Putting that work in,” Cheese responded smiling.
“Let me talk to you fro a minute playboy,” Jon said.
They walked off. Jon picked Cheese’s brain about the dough he was getting for his work.
“You just got twelve hundred for that ‘lac?”
Jon was unable to hide his surprise. Deuce had just paid them four hundred and fifty dollars for the same car with better rims and in better condition. Jon returned with fury in his eyes and payback on his mind.
“Do ya’ll know that bitch-ass nigga, Deuce been playing us this whole time?” Jon asked calmly.
“What’s on your mind brother?” Don asked seeing his brother had something up his sleeve.
“I’ll explain everything to ya’ll back in the dungeon,” Jon said as they made their way across the street. “Let’s just say we about to come up, fo’ real.”
When the boys made it back to the Dungeon, nobody ran to the Sega game. Instead they waited to hear what Jon had to say. Jon had gone upstairs to the kitchen. He grabbed a Sunny Delight and bumped into his mom.
“What are you boys up to?” She asked looking at Jon with a worried expression on her face.
“Nothing ma, we playing video games and just chillin,” Jon smiled.
“I don’t want y’all getting into no trouble,” she said rinsing a cup.
“Ma, you know we good fellas.” He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek then went back downstairs.
“So what’s the plan?” Zoe asked.
“All right, I need ya’ll to hear me out on everything before ya’ll start interrupting,” Jon said. He put Scarface’s CD before continuing. “We gone hem his ass up in the garage and demand some changes. He pay Cheese twelve hundred for some busted-ass ‘Lac. I ain’t no sucka. He ain’t gone play us or ‘em hollows will ring. I’m tired of niggas not taking us serious because we shorties. Fuck that! It’s time muthafuckas know bout SCC.”
Jon sat down sipping his orange juice and surveying the room. No one said anything. Zoe looked at Jon.
“When do we put it into action?”
“One week from tomorrow,” Jon said looking at the four others. They moved in closer as Jon went over the details.
The Spring Fling dance was quickly approaching. With the exception of Jon, the other boys had their eyes set on Vanessa, the prettiest girl in the school. Twon was the first one to approach her and quickly got dismissed. Zoe was next and tried to win her over but got turned down. Kay approached her at lunch time in the cafeteria and things were going well for him until he looked at another cutie wearing a skin tight Guess dress. Vanessa was so upset she threw a carton of milk at him. Luckily the carton of milk wasn’t open. His brand new Pelle Pelle outfit wasn’t damage.
Jon witnessed the whole thing and had a good laugh. He was sure to bring it up later so all the boys could clown Kay. Jon saw the cutie sit at a table and made his move. Jon didn’t think that she would go to the dance with him but figured it was worth a shot.
“How you doing Lynette?” he asked standing in front of her.
“What do you want?” Lynette looked up mean as ever and said.
Jon was prepared for the attitude. He was always soft on Lynette and went out of his way to give her special gifts. Jon had a huge crush on her since she moved to Gary.
“I’m not trying to start no trouble with you. I just have sump’n I wanna ask,” Jon said. He lowered himself and sat.
“I don’t have all day.” Lynette was impatient.
“Will you go to the dance with me?”
Lynette screwed up her face but on the inside she was smiling. She knew he was sprung and wasn’t about to let him off the hook without making him sweat.
“Why should I go to the dance with you?” She asked with her ghetto girl attitude.
“Lynette, you know how I’ve been feelin you for some time.” He fidgeted with a napkin. “I just never approach you because you treat me so bad.”
She saw that he was being sincere. Lynette knew the twins apart whenever they would speak. Jon was so sweet to her while Don was a plague.
“Yes I will go to the dance with you.”
Jon was shocked and just stared for a moment then a wide smile stretched across his face. He was speechless.
“Call me,” Lynette said getting up from the table.
She made it to the door and turned to see if Jon was wearing that same big-ass smile. It didn’t take much for Don to get Vanessa to agree to go with him to the dance. He couldn’t wait to tell everybody to pay up and forget about competing because he was a lock.
Deuce’s one week was up and the boys were at the shop to let him know how they were feeling. Waiting to get paid, they kept looking around to see who was coming and going. They had to execute the plan while only Shady and Tony were in the shop. Shady and Tony were the two workers who did all the work on the cars and had been with Deuce from jump. They were no killers. This was the boys’ lucky day. Only Tony was in the shop. Deuce paid the boys. Then Jon and the rest of the boys pulled out 32’s catching Deuce by surprise.
“What up Deuce?” Jon asked. Anger filled eyes.
“Man, what the fuck y’all doing…?” Deuce asked looking confused.
“We here to get our right due,” Jon said pointing his gun at Deuce’s head.
“I don’t’ know what y’all talking bout. Things was all good just a week ago.” There was panic in Deuce’s voice.
“Let’s step into your office and talk about it,” Jon said pointing.
Tony saw what was happening and decided to make his exit. Deuce and the boys entered the office. Jon sat in behind Deuce’s desk.
“Keep your hands on the desk at all times,” Jon said. The boys lowered their guns and Deuce felt a little relieved. “The reason it got to be like this is because you been playing us.” Jon was looking straight in Deuce’s eyes. “You been paying the older cats way more money than you been paying us and we here to collect what’s owed us.” Jon had a serious look on.
“I’m begging you, don’t hurt me. I was the one who hooked y’all up. I’d never play y’all. I…”
“Shut the fuck up!” Jon shouted. “Look, this is a one time non-negotiable offer. You owe each of us a Mustang, hooked up of course. Then you’ll pay us what you pay the others. The alternative is to