by Erin Trejo
GRAPE VINE CREW
Grape Vine Crew
By Erin Trejo
Cover photo: Dante Dellamore
Photographer: Golden Czermak with Furious Fotog
Edited By: Chriss Prokic
Copyright@2019 Erin Trejo
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written consent from the author, except in the instance of quotes for reviews. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet without the permission of the author, which is a violation of the International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and imprisonment.
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents and places are products of the author’s imagination, and are not to be construed as real except where noted and authorized. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events are entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, names featured are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Acen
I sit in my seat in this fucking English class for one reason only. Probation. It’s a bitch but I refuse to go to jail for the next two years either. I look to my left at my boy Cato. He’s the pretty one out of all of us. He has blonde shaggy hair and blue eyes that he uses to his advantage with the girls. To my right sits Brody. He’s got short brown hair that the girls love to run their fingers through. And directly behind me is Fox. He’s got dark hair, like me although not as long as mine. We aren’t sure what Fox is race wise. For the rest of us, it’s pretty fucking easy to tell what ethnicity we are. Fox is a whole different story. Then there’s me. Acen, or Ace as most call me. All of us are Grape Vine Crew. Most people wouldn’t know what that was outside of this area but those inside? They know. We run this shit. We run these streets and everything around it. This land is ours and always has been.
“Cato! Could you at least pretend to pay attention?” The teacher snaps. I chuckle under my breath.
“Yeah, Cato. Get your education, man!” Fox chimes in. The room bursts into an uproar of laughter and talking. No one is listening to her, yet she continues to try. It’s almost admirable.
“You ready for the party tonight?” Brody asks scooting his chair closer to mine. Tiffany, one of the little school sluts comes over and drops in my lap. I wrap my arms around her, finding her nipple and pulling.
“Yeah. I’m going to talk to Shadow about Regg.”
“What about him?”
“I don’t like him,” I say stiffly. Brody laughs when the other two come to sit with us. This is it. The four of us. We’ve been bonded since birth. We’re birthright babies in this world. GV is what runs through our blood. Although we did have to prove our worth at the beginning it wasn’t nearly as bad as what most people endure to become one of us. The problem is, we don’t take in outsiders easily.
“You don’t like anyone,” Cato says with a chuckle.
“Not my fault.”
“Excuse me. We have a new student. Please welcome Layla Woodruff,” Miss Tyner announces, no one listens to her. They all look to us. If we don’t accept the new girl, no one else will either. I shift Tiffany on my lap, so I can look at the girl in question. The guys all look too.
“Goddamn, look at that ass,” Brody whistles. The girl rolls her eyes and sits in the first free desk she can find. I shove Tiffany off my lap and stand from my seat. Walking over, I lean down, pressing my hands onto the desk in front of her.
“Lala. I like that name.”
“Hmm, well seeing how it’s Layla you illiterate fuck, I don’t know why you’d like it.” Her attitude is sexy as fuck and so is the dark look in her eyes. Leaning down even closer, I get right in her face.
“I’ll call you what I want. You are nobody around here unless we say you are.”
“And I should what? Be afraid of you?” She mocks me, crossing her arms over her chest. I smirk because she has no idea who the hell I am. I reach up and trail my fingers over her cheek as her eyes stay locked with mine.
“You’re putting a target on yourself right now, little girl. One that you don’t want.”
“You’re pushing my goddamn buttons, pretty boy. And I don’t think you’ll like the outcome of that either.” She’s a challenge. One I’ll enjoy breaking. I huff out a laugh and shove off her desk before heading for the door. I have too much shit to do today and babysitting the new girl isn’t high on that list. The guys follow me out and as we step into the hallway, Cato yells.
“Woooo that is one piece of ass I wouldn’t mind grabbing!” We all laugh as we head out the main doors and straight to my car. Fox hops in the front next to me as the others climb in the back.
“How long until she breaks and falls to our feet?” Brody muses in the backseat.
“I give her a few days,” Fox tosses his response out there.
“What difference does it make? We’re going to have fun breaking that one,” I tell them as I rev up the engine and pull out of the parking lot.
Chapter 2
Layla
“They’re not always like that,” Clarissa says after my latest run in with the GV boys. It seems I’ve struck a nerve with them. I glance over at her and narrow my eyes. I’ve been here a week. I’ve seen them, dealt with them and been on the receiving end of their anger. “Okay, so they are always like that.”
“They don’t scare me, Clar.”
“They should. Hell, they scare the shit out of me and Acen is my brother.” I knew that part from the first day Clarissa cornered me. She warned me about them. That no one crosses them or gets in their way. And just like they were Jesus, the crowd parts and the four assholes come strolling toward us. They each have their own unique look but they are definitely a pack. You can tell they are as close as any brothers would be. Clar has told me a little about them though not much.
“Our favorite new toy,” Brody says, pushing me back against the lockers with his chest.
“Asshole number three,” is my response to him as he keeps me pinned against the lockers.
“Still haven’t had enough of us?”
“Let’s be honest here, asshole. Your attempts to cure me of being who I am are less than ideal. To be honest, your games are pretty juvenile.” He stares down at me, not making a sound. The heat in his gaze is enough to make me smirk. I’m pushing his buttons and he hates it.
“Juvenile, huh? I didn’t realize it was going to take a little more with you.” This comes from Ace as he slides up next to his friend. I pull my gaze from one asshole to the next.
“You should up your game. You seem to be lacking,” I inform him dragging my gaze from his to his junk. His eyes stay on mine, heat buil
ding in them. He stares for a second longer before pulling away, his friend moving with him. When they step back, I can finally breathe without their scents seeping into me. I take a deep breath and walk past them when a hand grabs me and yanks me back. Slamming into a hard body, I gasp.
“I don’t know what your play is here. I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing here but I will find out and I will make your life a living hell.” Ace’s warm breath hits my skin as my mouth falls open. I hate the way my skin prickles and my breathing catches when he’s this close to me. I hate that he has any effect on me at all.
“I’m here for school. End of story.”
“We’ll see, Lala. We’ll see.” With that he releases me and walks away with his group of pricks. I roll my eyes as Clar grabs my arm and tugs me along with her. We walk into Science and take our seats when Fox strolls in. He smiles my way, I just shake my head and look the other way.
“He isn’t in this class,” Clar muses. I have a feeling it doesn’t matter to him or anyone else for that matter.
“You’re right. What the fuck are they going to say?” Fox chimes in now.
“Why are you here?”
“Why not? Maybe I just like to see you, Lala.”
“Should I feel special?”
“Not at all. That’s the least of the feelings you should have around us.” I slump back in my seat and sigh as the teacher begins to talk. Most of the girls fawn over Fox as I try and at least learn something. I suck in a deep breath as reality slowly filters into my mind.
That little girl. She’s out there alone somewhere and if I ever want to see her again, I will do what I was told. There’s just something about these assholes…
Chapter 3
Acen
The lit joint is hanging from my lips as I watch the kid on the ground getting his ass jumped. It’s not my crew so I have nothing to do with it, yet Shadow wanted us all here for it. He will be the newest member of the GV Crew although he won’t be a part of my crew, he’s still one of us.
“What are you thinking, Ace? You look lost,” Shadow says blowing smoke into the air.
“Just thinking about the meet with Ranger’s crew. He’s sketchy as fuck, man.” Shadow nods his head. Ranger is from another gang. One we don’t typically fuck with if we don’t have to. In this instance, we have to. He owes us money on a job we did for him a while back when his own crew was being watched by the local cops. We stepped up and handled his business for him and now he owes us.
“He is but he knows we don’t play when it comes to our shit,” Shadow reminds me as I nod and take another long drag from my joint. Shadow clears his throat, pulling my attention to him. I shift on the picnic table and turn to face him knowing he has something to say.
“What is it?”
“So goddamn observant. That’s why I fucking like you, Ace.”
“Yeah, that’s what it is. Spit it the fuck out, Shadow.”
“What do you know about the Consuelo crew?” He asks. That sparks my interest.
“Not a whole lot. Dad used to talk about them some when I was younger. He said GV ran them out of town back in the day.” He nods along as I talk.
“Yeah, GV was a force to be reckoned with back then. We’re even more powerful now, Ace,” he says with an angry tone in his voice. What the hell is he getting at here?
“What’s going on, Shadow?”
“I heard some shit. Carlo Consuelo. That name mean anything to you?” He looks me dead in the eyes as I shake my head.
“Should it?” He shrugs.
“Don’t know yet, man. His pop was the one that started Consuelo’s crew back in the day. That makes him an old school gangster. Word around is he’s making a comeback.”
“Like fuck he is! Not around here he’s not!” That catches my brothers’ attention. Fox, Cato, and Brody all stroll over coming to stand around me. Shadow smirks.
“I’ll never understand this crew, this bond you four have. I mean, fuck. We all click, right? But you four? It’s something else.” He smiles as he shakes his head. No one could understand the bond we have. No one.
“What the hell’s going on?” Cato asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Seems Consuelo’s crew is trying to make a comeback.”
“Yeah, that shit isn’t happening,” Brody chuckles. Shadow laughs now too.
“I just want you guys to keep your eyes open. I know you’re having some issues with Brick’s crew too.”
“We can handle them,” I hiss.
“No doubt. Regg is your problem now. Do what you want.” My head snaps up, my eyes locking with his.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you want him out, take his ass out.” I glance over at the guys as they all smile. They knew it was coming. Hell, I knew in a way that it was coming too.
“Maybe Brick needs another body on his hands,” I say with a shrug. Shadow laughs as the guys all high five each other. Yeah, that’s what we’ll do with Regg.
“Let’s roll. I need to go by the house,” I tell the guys. I nod at Shadow before turning and walking back toward the car with the guys right behind me. We all climb in, Cato driving this time since it’s his SUV we’re in today. I hop in the passenger seat and roll the window down. Music blasts through the speakers as we take off down the road. Old dilapidated buildings, whores on every corner. You glance around and you see everything that poverty has to offer. Not us though. We don’t live in poverty so to speak, we all have money. More money than any of us know what to do with and yet here we are. Still hustling. Still vying for the top spot. It isn’t about the money, although that comes in handy. It’s about respect. It’s about being respected in a world that hates you. That’s who we are.
“Slow down,” I tell Cato when I spot her walking. I grab my drink out of the center console, and Brody starts laughing when he sees what I’m doing. She glances up, rolls her eyes and keeps walking. When I throw my drink out the window, her bright white t-shirt absorbs all the liquid making it cling to her chest. Her bright white t-shirt absorbs all the liquid as it clings to her chest. Her nipples poke through just like a fucking wet t-shirt contest. She hardly even moved when the liquid hit her.
“You’re wet,” I say seductively. She slowly raises her head, her eyes locking with mine.
“Only from the drink, pretty boy.” The guys all laugh, I don’t. There’s a strange attraction I feel toward this girl. One I shouldn’t and I sure as hell can’t explain goddamn her!
“I bet if I got out of this car and touched your pussy you would be saying something different.” She raises an eyebrow as if to challenge me. So I do it. I open the door and hop out of the car stalking toward her. With our eyes locked, I reach for her, spinning her so her back is pressed to my chest.
“You like playing games, Lala?” I whisper in her ear while my hand slips into the front of her jeans. Right between her legs I find her soaking wet. I hum in her ear as I stroke her over her panties.
“Games can be fun,” she whispers.
“That they can - only when played by my rules.”
“What are your rules?” She asks. I can feel her pussy begging for more, however she isn’t going to get it. Not from me, not from my boys.
“That everything in this city is mine.”
“I’m not yours,” she says trying to pull away from me now. I don’t let her. I hold her tighter; keeping her body pinned to mine when Fox comes around the car.
“If you get to play, I want in too,” he says as he looks at her. I nod my head as I keep stroking her. Fox moves in, leaning down until his nose is nuzzled into her neck. “Fuck,” he grumbles as Layla gasps. His free hand moves up and pinches her nipple through her soaked shirt. Layla rocks her body against my hand and I groan.
“That’s it. Be a good little whore and come all over my fingers,” I growl in her ear. Fox sucks the flesh on her neck into his mouth and she moans softly. His fingers pull and twist her nipple until I can feel her body v
ibrating against me. Slipping my finger under her panties, I work her wetness until she explodes. She pants, her body rocking into my hand, pressing herself into Fox.
“Fuck me,” Cato hisses from his place in the car. Fox kisses her neck and grabs his cock in his hand as he steps back.
“Was it good for you, Lala?” The smirk on his face should send her on her way but doesn’t. She moves quickly, grabbing my hand and ripping it from the front of her jeans.
“I’ve had better,” she says sounding unaffected by what just took place here. Right here under the goddamn streetlight and she doesn’t bat an eyelash. I watch her walk the same way she was heading as bring my fingers to my mouth. I suck each one, tasting her on my tongue as we hop back in the car.
“Let’s go deal with Regg.”
Chapter 4
Layla
“Where have you been?” My mom screams as soon as I step in the door. I reach in my pocket and pull out the baggy that she’s been waiting for, tossing it to her. That shuts her up. It always does. I look to my aunt but she just shrugs and walks into her room.
“So, you’re what I get for the night?” A man’s voice causes me to cringe internally. I don’t turn to look at him, I don’t need to. Instead, I nod my head and walk into my room. Pulling the joint from my pocket, I light up while I listen to him lock the door behind him. I inhale the drugs into my lungs as quickly as possible. I want to be numb. Need to be numb. Hands slip around my waist as I close my eyes and inhale another long drag.
“I didn’t know you’d be so pretty,” the man whispers. Names, I need his name.
“What’s your name?” Even though I’m told not to ask I do. I have a mental list of all the motherfuckers that have ever touched me in my life. Every single one of them will die a slow death when I find them again.
“Edward.”
“Edward,” I say softly repeating his name. He groans at the sound of it leaving my lips. Another long drag and I snuff my joint out in the ashtray before I spin to face him. He watches me, waiting for me. I don’t make the first move, never have and never will. This is all against my will so why should I make it easy on them? Edward pushes me back so that I fall on the bed with a thump. His eyes move over my fully clothed body as I slowly let myself slip away in the drug induced haze.
