I started to get anxious. It had been a few minutes. I hadn't heard anything from Devin. And Marcus was asking me to let him go.

No rustling of bushes, no call for help, no gunshot. I suppose that was a plus. I couldn't wait to find out any more. I had to see what was happening.

I stood up slowly from where I was crouched to survey the area.

"What are you doing?" Marcus called out to me. 

"Going to find him." I brushed off the dried leaves from my pants

"You're going to get yourself and your brother killed. You let me go, and I'll check on him"

" No way." I shook my head. He wasn't going to trick me. 

"Darius, this ain't recess, if it's who I think it is then your brother is probably dead already"

"Who do you think it is?" I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"That's beside the point. If you go out there alone. Devin has no chance. I can help him."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll take my chances."

I snuck off in the direction Devin had gone. I took care to avoid the dirt road and stayed to the side where I wasn't easily seen.

It was almost noon, and the heat of the sun was now piercing through the thin canopy, warming up the ground layer. I stepped as gently as I could being careful not to make any noise. Soon I came upon Marcus's car, then I walked a little further to find the one we'd driven.

I stowed away behind another tuft of grass, a point where hopefully no one could see me. My eyes widened at the scene I'd come upon. Devin had had one of the men in a chokehold while pointing the gun at his head. Another man was standing a few feet away with his arms up out in front of him as if asking Devin not to shoot.

There was another man on the ground, he wasn't moving. I pictured Devin sneaking up on them and taking them by surprise. The man advanced slowly towards Devin.

"Take another step and I'll fucking kill him!" Devin shouted at him. The man stopped when Devin tightened his hold around the other guy's neck. He grabbed at Devin's arm while spitting out blood through his teeth. But Devin held firm. 

"Who the fuck are you? What do you want?" Devin questioned.

"The name's Travis, kid. You got some skill, and huge balls getting the jump on us like that. I underestimated you. Juno made you out to be some punk."

"Juno huh." Devin tightened his vice-like even more around his neck. "Big man couldn't come get me himself so he sent his bitches to do his dirty work." Devin never learned when not to provoke people.

"I don't know about that kid. You've never come across me before. Now the only reason you're still alive is 'cause the boss wants to kill you personally."

"Oh yeah? Tell him to take a fucking number."

Travis took another step closer. Devin backed up slightly.

"Don't fucking move!" Devin yelled and aimed the gun at Travis.

"You know I know your sister."

Oh no! Talking about Dahlia wasn't a good idea. Devin could lose it. He was silent. Travis took it as a sign to continue his torment.

"She a pretty little thing. When she was with Juno, she got passed around like a blunt. Everyone took a hit."

"Travis you're pissing him off!" said the guy that was under Devin's hold. His forehead was turning pink and the veins in his head looked like they were about to explode. 

He could barely get a word out due to Devin's arms tightening around his neck. I didn't see how Devin would get out of this one unscathed. Travis wasn't backing down, as he took another step and Devin shouted another barrage of threats at him.

I looked around for what I could use as a weapon. I knew I had to stay hidden but that didn't mean I couldn't help somehow. I picked up a rock that filled my entire palm. I positioned myself so I could toss the rock from behind the bush, without exposing myself.

I aimed in the general direction of Travis' head and chucked it as hard as I could. I quickly ducked behind my hiding spot before I could see if it got him or not.

The thud and cry of pain I heard a split second later was a sign that I had hit him. Then I heard two gunshots piercing through the silence in the forest.

I listened keenly for someone's voice. I heard no one for a while. Then I imagined my brother lying in the middle of the dirt track with gunshots to the chest. It was something that I couldn't bear to see. It wasn't until I heard a sound of someone being dragged that I braved up and peeked out.

The man Devin had in is grip was now free and dragging a limp Travis their vehicle. His chest heaved, so he wasn't dead. The third man was nowhere to be seen.

Devin was now ducked behind our car, watching them leave. When I heard the car speed away, Devin called out.

"You can come out now!"

I stood up from where I was hiding.

"What happened?"

"I shot him." He replied. I searched for some remorse in his voice, but his tone was as dry as ever. This was the second time he'd shot someone in a day. He'd fought, and beaten up men before, stabbed a few but never shot anyone. 

There was a heaviness in the air. Maybe the lingering gun powder, or the fact that he may have fatally injured a man.

I didn't want to think about it much more. I silently hoped that he wouldn't die, not for Travis' sake but for my brother's. "What now?" I asked.

He sighed heavily, tucking the gun in his waist. "I have to go make a deal with the devil." 

What did that mean for us? Juno's men found us out here in the woods. They could probably find us again. He'd be even more pissed now that Devin had gotten the best of his men, again. Hell, he'd probably come and find us himself next time. Devin was challenging him. 

"Where's Marcus?"

We found Marcus where I'd left him; still against the tree. I had half expected him to run. Maybe he does want to help us find Dahlia.

Or maybe he doesn't have any other option. Devin told him what happened. About how he shot the Travis guy and sent them off alive.

"Are you fucking stupid?" Marcus scolded. "You let them go? Alive? You do realize that Juno won't rest until you're dead right?"

"These guys know where you are, oh gosh they know I'm with you! We're fucking dead!" he started to panic.

The steel-like confidence he had before was gone. He might not fear Devin but he definitely was scared of Gills and Juno. Much like me.

Devin shoved Marcus against the tree. A blade pressed against his throat faster than I could blink. 

"Shut up! Just shut up Marcus! Don't forget, you are the one that started all of this. This is all to get Dahlia back. You let them kidnap her!"

A few beads of sweat ran down Marcus' temple and for the first time, he looked genuinely worried. Or maybe regretful? Devin pushed a little harder against his chest. 

"Now this is the only way to get her back. So if you are going to help us, pull your shit together."

"Fine. But let me out of the cuffs. I'm of no use if I can't fight or defend myself." 

Marcus was breathing heavily between each word after Devin let him go.  

Though I hated to admit it, Marcus had a point. What could he do if he was handcuffed? Devin hesitated; and understandably so. How could he free the man who'd put us in this position in the first place?

I suppose Marcus also had no choice. His mother's life was threatened. Devin pulled the key from his pocket and began to unlock the cuffs.

"Try anything stupid and I'll put a bullet in the back of your head." Devin threatened.

"Cute." Marcus rubbed his wrists that were sore from the tight cuffs. "So what's the plan boys?"