The Orion Plan Read Online Free PDF Page A

on the hill. It’s those Puerto Rican bitches, the Latin Kings. They’re the ones who set off that bomba. ”
    Emilio narrowed his eyes. “How do you know?”
    â€œI heard they were coming over from the Bronx. That’s what everyone’s saying.”
    â€œYeah? I haven’t heard anyone say that.”
    Paco shrugged. “Those bitches think Trinitarios is weak now, ever since all the O.T.’s got put in jail. All your uncles and cousins and shit.”
    This was a calculated insult. Paco was testing him, looking for a reaction. But Emilio wasn’t going to play that game. “So you think the Latin Kings are coming here to challenge us?”
    â€œWhy the fuck else would they come?”
    â€œWell, why aren’t they down here then? Why are they playing with firecrackers on top of the hill?”
    â€œ Coño, how should I know? But everyone says—”
    â€œIt’s not the Latin Kings.” Emilio shook his head. “It’s probably some dumb-ass white boys. This neighborhood is full of white boys now.”
    Paco had no answer to this, so he just stood there, trying to think of another insult. Like most of the younger kids in the Trinitarios he was a wannabe, not a real gangster. He was all gung ho about mixing it up with the Latin Kings or the Ñetas, but he hadn’t fought in any gang wars yet and probably never would. The hard truth was that the gang life was over in this part of the city. The whites were coming to Inwood now and pushing out the Dominicans. That’s why the cops had cracked down on the O.T.’s. The New York Police Department was making the neighborhood safe for white people. Emilio and his boys couldn’t even hang out on the streets anymore. The only place they could go at night was the park.
    â€œYou know what I think?” Paco finally said. “I think you’re scared of those bitches.”
    He said it loud enough that everyone else could hear. Carlos whispered, “Ho, shit!” while Miguel and Diego and Luis stepped backward, forming a rough circle in case a fight broke out. Paco looked like he was ready for it—he locked eyes with Emilio and clenched his hands. But the challenge didn’t scare Emilio, and it didn’t make him angry either. It just made him depressed. Instead of ruling their neighborhood and walking the streets like heroes, the Trinitarios were scuffling in a deserted soccer field. They were fighting over the chance to lead a gang of fucking babies.
    Emilio stepped toward Paco, staring him down. “You unhappy, muchacho? You got a problem you want to talk about?”
    â€œThe problem is you.” The boy’s voice was low and steady. “You lost your cojones after the O.T.’s got sent away. You’re afraid to step up.”
    â€œAnd you think you can do better?”
    â€œI know I can do better.” Paco curled his lip. “Want to see me prove it?”
    Emilio took another step toward him. Now they stood nose to nose. “All right, you’ll get your shot. We’ll go mano a mano, winner take all. But not now.”
    â€œWhy not? This seems like a good time to me.”
    â€œWe got business to take care of first.” Emilio pointed at the hillside. “It don’t matter if those pendejos up there are Latin Kings or white boys. We can’t let them go blowing up shit in our territory.”
    Paco furrowed his brow, confused. He clearly didn’t want to postpone this confrontation, but at the same time he couldn’t ignore a call to arms. After a few seconds he stepped backward and unclenched his hands. But he kept his eyes locked on Emilio’s. “This ain’t over. You know that, right?”
    Emilio nodded. Then he turned to Carlos and the others. They still stood in a circle, wide-eyed and gaping. “What you waiting for?” he yelled at them. “Go get los destornilladores. ”
    One of the rules Emilio