Thoughts Of The Mind

Loyal Deceit

Although I didn't make it to the final of the contest I entered I still decided to write my short story and post it on here :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Loyal Deceit

“He hates me”

Sasha flinched internally at the tone behind Ryan's words. She opened her mouth to console him but found no adequate words to come to mind. Instead she focused on the silhouette of her brother as he crept down the labyrinth of alleyways, intent on not getting lost. Macaulay Scott, full-time older brother, part softy, part douche bag.

Soon enough Macaulay stopped, seemingly happy with their current location. Turning to face them, he addressed Ryan for the first time since they set foot outside the house.

“You sure you up for this?”

“Course” his younger step-brother replied

“Right well you know what you gotta do” he responded handing a bag “Your fresh meat” he continued fitting in an earpiece “They have no reason to doubt you” he added fitting him with a jacket a roughing his hair “Just act normal” he finished

“Act normal? Could you get any more cliché” Ryan attempted to budge the tense air

“Just don't mess this up” Mac sneered pushing him in the direction of the warehouse and heading back into the shadows.

Ryan mock saluted “Got it”and headed toward the door way of his own accord, fixing the earpiece more comfortably.

Pushing the other end of the headpiece into her ear. “He doesn't hate you Ry” Sasha consoled as she watched her step-brother back, “He just has a hard time expressing himself” she offered instead It took a while but soon Ryan's voice entered her ear “Trust me Sash I guy can tell where he is not wanted”

Sasha wanted to defend her brother but she knew it was true, Mac hadn't made the move easy on anyone.“Well if it helps any, I love you enough for the both of us” she smiled giving him an awkward one armed hug as they hurried to catch up “Plus if he didn't trust you he wouldn't have yo do this job for him”

Ryan let out a little chuckle “Thanks” he returned “but I think it'll take more than one job for him to accept me”

Sasha heard the uncertainty in his voice, and in all honesty she didn't blame him, she would have felt the same.

If the past 17 years were anything to go by, Sasha could vouch the Macaulay wasn't the easiest person to appease. After her parents went their separate ways, though only a couple years older than her, Sasha was grateful for the way her brother was there for her when her Dad wasn't. As a result Sasha had learnt to put up with his mood swings, which seemed to more frequent now that Mum had got herself a new man, Ryan's father.

Sasha watched as Ryan entered the building and eased herself up against the wall to get into a more comfortable position. Mac came to join her. Over the last years she had to admit Mac had matured a little. She figured most of that had o do with his line of work. Most would call him a double agent, hired to scope out the ins and outs of rival business', gangs, you name it. Every once in a while Sasha would tag along to fulfil some part in his cover, or just to play lookout.

A few minutes had passed and all seemed fine until a piercing shrill penetrated Sasha ear drums. “Shit” she flinched pulling the earpiece away from her her, Mac carelessly swing his around his finger “What was that?”

“Who knows?” Mac shrugged casually pulling the plug from his ear

“What do you mean 'who knows', don't tell me you didn't hear that” Sasha repeated as the noise got louder, now to be heard from the outside

Propped up against the wall, Macaulay didn't even flinch, when the noise evidently began to escalate. Keeping her eyes on the warehouse door, Sasha began to wring her hands together as the nerves began to rise.

Focusing her eyes on the warehouse door, it suddenly swung open, revealing a burly looking body guard, armed with bullet proof vest and steel toe caps. Sasha scrunched her face up in confusion. Surely Mac hadn't been so stupid as to let Ryan tackle such a high security lock down on his first scout. Two more exited the warehouse doing a once over of the foyer before one of them spoke with a sly snicker “We're on to you Mac” and they headed back inside

“You said you covered our tracks!” Sasha sneered over her shoulder. Mac pushed himself off the wall looking intently at the warehouse door as though it was going to give him all the answers “I guess he got found out” he shrugged leaning back.

“You're not gonna go in for him?”

“I'm sure she is man enough to look after himself”

Sasha nodded taking in what Macaulay was saying. Maybe he had a point, but still a question troubled her “But how did he get found out so quickly?” she mumbled mainly to herself

“Mistakes happen” he shrugged nonchalantly

Sasha's brain began ticking over, never before had Mac been so blaze over a scout out especially when others were involved. At least she hoped not, the amount of times she had stepped into questionable looking buildings to do his dirty work, she had trusted him. So what was it that was niggling her in the back k her mind.

Surely today was no different, if anything she would have thought him to be even more cautious, it was Ryan's first after all. Then it clicked, “You planned this” she concluded

Mac shrugged in response to his sister revelation

“Leave him Sash” Mac spoke up when he saw her grip for the gun she kept tucked under her shirt.

“I'm going to get Ryan”

“No you are not!” he ordered grabbing her arm for emphasis.

She tugged her arm away from her brother death grip “I know you may not like Ryan as of now but he is still our brother”

“He's not blood” he answered taking a glance at the building behind her

“Well he he sure acts like a better brother than you at times”

“Whatever Sash he's a waste of space anyways” he continued steeping back into the alleyway, he scoffed “the piece of crap couldn't even do the simple task I set him” he added “Knew he wouldn't cut it”

“Well I wonder why that is?”

Macaulay shrugged “Well he should've been careful”

“Do you realise how much of a jackass you're being?”

“Quit moaning”

Sasha shot mac a look, if only she had laser eyes she thought to herself as she mentally blew his head of his shoulders. She knew he had a dislike for his new family but this was becoming too much.

“I cant let you go in there Sash, it's too dangerous”

“Well you should've thought of that before you let Ry in there unprepared” Sasha argued back “Are you coming or not?”

He gave her a sceptical look so she didn't wait for him to respond, instead she carried on around the corner. Sasha step fell short as the warehouse door swung open a distressed Ryan who was left to crumple on the ground in a heap.

As soon as the coast was clear, he began to shuffle towards the parallel alley way. Sasha slunk to meet him. Without asking if he was okay Sasha gripped him under the arms to lead him back to the car.

Not waiting to see if Mac was following Sasha focused her efforts on getting Ryan back to the car, Mac could look after his own. Repositioning Ryan on her shoulder as they got to the mouth of the alleyway, she heard Mac curse behind her, followed by Mac's strangled cry.

“We got you now Mr Scott” a voice cackled “Ain't no one here to save your pretty lil arse”

She heard Mac grunt in response, the evident signs of a struggle heard clearly behind her. Glancing up at Ryan whose head now lolled to once side, she pivoted to where the shadows now danced on the alleyway walls. Struggling under Ryan's sagging body weight, internal turmoil filled her mind.

“Blood is thicker than water, forgiveness better than hate. So when your brother comes back calling do you greet him or turn away?”