EXTRACT FOR
Brooklyn Fights
(Trevon Carter)

She pressed her hands on his chest and reluctantly pushed back.  "I'm sorry Cam, I can't.  It's too dangerous," she said as she stepped out of the car.  He sighed as she crouched low and headed for one of the older cars.  She tugged at the doors, cursing under her breath as it was locked.

"Here, let me," Cam said as he stepped in carrying a long hanger wire.

"Cam, seriously?"  Brooke whispered.

"They shot my car, they're eventually gonna find out who owns the car and pinpoint it on me.  I'm already in too deep," he responded with a wink.

He expertly slid the wire between the window seal and tugged, the door unlocking like magic.  Brooke glared at him for a moment before making her way to the passenger side seat.  The two boarded the car and he dug under the steering wheel.  After a few flicks, the car started right up, much faster than her attempts in the previous car she had hotwired.

"You've done this a few times, huh?"  Brooke questioned.

"Don't act like you ain't done this before," Cam replied with a grin.

He slowly pulled in reverse and drove carefully out of the parking lot.  More sirens blared through the streets as police zoomed through the narrow streets.  Cam was careful to drive like a civilian, making sure to turn his signals on at every light and also coming to a full and complete stop at every traffic light.  

"Where are we going?"  Brooke asked.

"My crib," Cam answered.

"Well, if they eventually find the car and track it to you, then your crib is the next obvious target."

"My second crib.  Nobody know about it.  Not even under my name," Cam replied.

"Not under your name?"

"Yeah, got a cuz that got outta this life.  He's a high profile real estate guy now.  Got me a sweet place under his name.  I'm allowed to crash whenever," he answered.

"For free?"

"Hell yeah for free.  He only got the place because he saw the land prices were going up or some shit.  He wanted to keep the place empty but I sweet talked him into letting me watch over it.  After we take a break, I'm gonna get in touch with some of my niggas, get you some real protection, you feel me?" 

"You mean your Crip brothers?  Why would they want to get involved with this shit?"  Brooke questioned.

"Cause Lamar, Marcus and whatever the fuck they want to call their crew has been fucking with us for far too long.  No more of this shit.  They think they run Brooklyn, they got another thing coming," Cam replied.

He turned down towards the Columbia Street Waterfront District.  She pulled her cap down even lower, hiding her face as much as possible.  "Really?  You realize how close this is to the Heights, right?"  She questioned.

"Yeah, I know.  But them niggas ain't going to be searching there anymore.  Unless they think you stupid enough to try to head back to your old home," he replied.

Brooke nodded, agreeing with him in silence.  The car turned a corner and down into a garage of a condo.  She looked around, impressed.  "Wait, how old is your cousin?  This was supposed to be an opportunity for investment?  Looks like this place has always been that," she said.

"Yeah, right after the recession.  That nigga bought all kinds of places," he said as he parked the car.

He hopped out and headed over to the passenger side, opening her door and helping her out.  Brooke still had a slight limp in her step as they made their way to the elevators.  She kept cautious, glancing around for any obvious cameras.

"You're safe here, you can lower that," he said as he pulled her bandana down.  She tried to pull it up but he shook his head.  "That's gonna draw more attention, trust me," he continued.

They entered the elevator and he pressed the button to one of the higher floors.  As the elevator began its ascent, she leaned in towards Cam's chest, rubbing her cheeks against his powerful chest.  She could almost hear his heart beating with it so close to her ear.

"You really shouldn't have gotten involved with all this," she said.

"Shit, you really don't know me, do you?  I ain't letting a woman like you get put down by them fucking niggas," Cam replied as he held her tightly with his right arm.

Brooke felt a rush of guilt wash over her as she looked up at him.  She wanted to tell him right there and then that she was actually a cop.  That she had come up from New Jersey to go undercover for the NYPD.  

The elevator came to a stop and Cam reached down with his other arm, easily lifted her up in his arms.  She yelped as he smiled and carried her out.  His powerful arms carried her as if she were weightless, heading down the quiet hall towards a door at the end.

"You know I can still walk, right?"  Brooke stated.

"I know.  I bet you can do some other shit to," he replied with a grin.