Chapter 31: The Road to the Bronx
Danny’s van rumbled through morning traffic as Brooklyn faded behind them. Javier pressed his face against the cold window.
Tommy couldn’t sit still. His hands twisted the straps of his gym bag like they might snap. His leg bounced against the van floor in a rhythm that matched nothing but his nerves.
"Relax, kid," Danny said, catching Tommy’s reflection in the rearview mirror. "You keep that up and you’ll be tired before we even get there."
The pickup came at 6 AM sharp. Danny had pulled up to Marcus Garvey while the other residents still slept in their beds. Javier and Tommy had crept through the dormitory like burglars, grabbing their gear and slipping out into the cold morning air.
Now they drove through neighborhoods Javier had never seen before. The street signs changed from names he recognized to Bronx territory that might as well have been another country.
"Where exactly are we going?" Tommy asked for the third time.
Danny’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel despite his casual tone. "Already told you. Bronx Boxing Academy."
"But who runs it?"
"Caleb Dawson. Toughest trainer in the Bronx."
Javier watched Danny’s face in the rearview mirror. His jaw was set too tight for casual conversation.
"You two got history?" Javier asked.
"Fifteen years of back and forth. We both got fighters who went pro. Sometimes we get along, sometimes we don’t."