PAPER RINGS || MARCUS LOPEZ.

𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔

The group stood around the counter as Saya splayed out the pictures she'd taken the night before. Dylan could feel her stomach turning as she looked at one where Shabnams dads body hung off a booby trap.

❝ His mom might still be in there. ❞

Billy nodded in agreement ❝ All the more reason to do this now. ❞

❝ Shabnams house is rigged with traps, Chester has seven to eight people inside helping him. ❞ Saya explained, pointing to different pictures as she spoke.

❝ There's another problem. ❞ Maria sighs ❝ El Diablo, if this animal sends him Chicos head, if he finds out it was me — ❞

❝ Yeah and who's fault is that? ❞ Dylan snapped, hand slamming against the counter ❝ This mess wouldn't be half as bad if we never brought you to vegas. ❞

❝ Dylan!? ❞

❝ Can it, Saya. ❞ The girl spat, pointing a finger in her friends direction ❝ I'm sick of her and her victim mentality when it's her fault we're in this shit. ❞

Marcus sent his girlfriend a look as if to say not now, electing not to vocalise it ❝ We're gonna need some serious fire power. Guns, explosives. ❞

❝ Y'all must be out your damn minds. ❞ Willie scoffed, turning and leaving the store after a brief pause.

Dylan put her hand out to stop Marcus when he went to follow him ❝ I'll go, I get the feeling your 'save the world with a bullet' speech won't work this time. ❞

Willie had barely turned the corner when Dylan caught up to him, the clicking of her heels on the pavement was enough to let him know she was following him.

❝ Don't even go there, Akagi. ❞

❝ I wasn't going to. ❞ Dylan admitted, crossing her arms once he'd turned to face her ❝ You don't wanna fight, fine don't. But there's nothing stopping you helping us get ready for it. ❞

❝ So me putting the gun in your hand is fine so long as I ain't pulling the trigger? ❞ Willie half laughed ❝ There's a lot of causes I'd die for, there's not a single one I'd kill for. ❞

❝ If we don't do something Chester wins! Maria dies, Marcus dies dozens more innocent people will die, Willie. If you leave now that's going to sit on your conscience for the rest of your life. ❞

❝ Maybe. ❞ Willie shrugged ❝ Come on, Dylan, you know your ass wouldn't even be here if Marcus wasn't involved. You don't even like Maria. ❞

Dylan paused, she knew he was right, he knew she knew too ❝ I'm not going to beg you to stay. I can't make you do anything you don't want to, but we're your friends Willie, doesn't that count for anything? ❞

❝ It's because I'm your friend I'm telling you how fucking stupid this is! ❞ Willies voice rose slightly ❝ And now you bringing your little sister into this too, after what your mom already lost? ❞

❝ Devon has nothing to do with this? ❞

❝ There it is. ❞ Willie sighed ❝ There's Marcus. You let his whole hero complex into your head, Dylan, why you think he's okay with you coming in there knowing you could die? This ain't about no greater good no more, this is Marcus getting his payback. ❞

❝ You have some nerve, especially after what Marcus did for you. ❞

❝ All I'm saying is you gotta stop thinking like Marcus. ❞ He shrugged once more, slowly backing away from the girl ❝ Get Dylan back into your head, I get why you can't back out but what would she think about everything else? ❞