The Leverage

Chapter 1. The Ultimatum

The shrill ring of my phone shattered the silence in my small, cluttered apartment. My heart raced as I snatched it up. An unfamiliar number blinked on the screen, and before I could so much as breathe, an urgent voice burst through.

"Renée! It's Dylan! I—"

"Dylan? Where are you?" I nearly shouted, but my voice trembled, barely holding together.

The line crackled before going dead, silence swallowing my frantic thoughts. I dropped the phone like it had burned me, my breath hitching as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

Flashes of our childhood invaded my mind—our cramped, dingy apartment, our mother's absence during long nights, the constant hum of danger lurking just outside. My fingers tightened around the edges of my cluttered desk, remembering the day when social workers nearly took Dylan away.

"Stay close to me, Dylan," I'd whispered, pressing my forehead against his. "I promise to take care of you."

But now, that promise felt like a weight too heavy to bear. I paced the living room, cold panic bubbling within me. The last time I saw Dylan, he stood at the door, his gentle smile brightening the dim hallway, hope shining in his warm brown eyes. "I'll be okay, Ren," he had said, dismissing my worries. But that image collided with a horrifying realization. What if he wasn't okay?

The phone rang again, drawing me back from memories that felt like chains. I grabbed it, trembling as I answered.

"Your brother's in our custody," the voice said, calm and chilling. "You're going to follow our instructions, or you'll never see him again."

I sucked in a jagged breath, my throat dry. "What do you want?" I demanded, though my voice shook.

"Cole's gang is your priority. One life for another. Choose wisely." The sinister tone sent a shiver down my spine.

My pulse quickened. "You sick—"

"Tick tock, Renée."

The line went dead again.

Panic seized my chest as the weight of the ultimatum crushed me. I sank onto the frayed couch, letting the words wash over me like cold water. I was tangled in a web of fear, caught between saving my brother and risking the life of the man I loved.

"Damn it, Dylan," I murmured to myself. "I'll fix this. I have to."

I took a deep breath and rose, the resolve solidifying in my core. If this was a battle, then I was going to war.

"Focus, Renée," I whispered to myself, pulling myself away from the spiraling dread. What do you have? I thought about my meager savings, but every dollar mattered. The "A hundred here, a couple hundred there, it might buy me some time...but it won't be enough."

I paced the room, my hand running over the rough surface of the scratched coffee table, trying to quell the rising tide of panic. I needed a plan—a lifeline.

Memories of the past flickered like an old film reel. The way Dylan used to cling to my side, those nights we spent huddled together under a single blanket as echoes of fights and sirens pierced the stillness outside. I recalled promising him a better life far from the chaos that had consumed our childhood. The guilt weighed heavily in my chest. Had I failed him?

"Great, just great," I muttered, gripping the edges of the table. My mind raced with thoughts of Cole, his fierce loyalty, but also the dangers that came with being tangled up in rival gangs. The thought of losing either him or Dylan left me dizzy.

"God, I'm so torn," I groaned, clasping my head in my hands. I can't let Dylan suffer in silence while I wait.

Through the cracked window, the city loomed—an ominous skyline filled with shadows and flickering streetlights, casting distorted shapes that seemed to move like predators, always watching. The gritty atmosphere of our neighborhood felt alive, a stark contrast to the memories I clung to. This city has teeth.