THE VICKERS

Chapter 8

It was 6 am in the morning by the time we got to the west side of the town centre. This was where Tino was last known to reside, according to Devin.

The house was a corner lot in a scheme of lots. It blended perfectly with the other plain cream houses with faded green lawns and wooden fences. It wasn't the richest neighbourhood but it settled well in the middle-class range.

It was the perfect disguise for a guy like Tino. He was well known in the city as the man with all the answers.

Devin claimed that he knew everyone's secrets, and used them cunningly to his advantage. He and Devin had developed a friendship when Tino helped us after we left Barry and Margaret for good.

But, something went wrong a few months ago. Devin never said what exactly happened.

I just knew that Tino, who was only a few years older than Dahlia, seemed to be an actual friend. He was like a big brother to Devin, and then he wasn't.

"Okay I know he'll probably have his weak ass bodyguards inside," Devin started.

"If, he still lives here," I pointed out sceptically.

"He does," he confirmed.

"How do you know?"

"Call it a hunch," he said staring over the wooden fence into the yard.

"Here's the plan, you go around the side of the house and keep watch by the front window."

"What? You can't go in alone."

"Darius, you are my backup and if anything should happen... I..." he said looking away.

He didn't have to say anything. He shook his head as if ridding himself of the thoughts that shadowed his consciousness.

"Okay," I conceded. It was pointless to argue now, I needed to trust his judgement, even if it was foolish.

"You have the knife?" he asked referring to the 3 star he gave me. I nodded my head. He felt his waist for his own knife, or rather the knife we took from Gills' bulldogs yesterday.

He hopped over the fence started towards the front of the house. He walked low and stealthily towards the door, being careful not to be seen. I wondered why he didn't go through the back, but he knew Tino better than I did.

I went into the neighbour's yard and looked through a peephole in the fence. I saw when Devin reached the front porch.

I hopped over the fence as I heard the door creak open and Devin walked inside. It was a deafening sound in the silence of the early morning. If Tino was in there, he would have heard it.

I crept further along the length of the wall so I could see into the first window at the main room.

The golden rays of the early sun were starting to peek over the horizon.  Luckily, I was on the side where the shadow was cast.

I saw Devin step beyond the threshold into an empty room. He spun around several times. The fool didn't even have the knife in hand. My own palms began to sweat, as he walked through a doorway that led to the kitchen.

I followed him along the wall to another window. As I peeped through, I saw Devin standing frozen like a statue, with a man I'd never seen before holding a Glock to the side of his head.

He must have told Devin to turn around as Devin slowly rotated his body with his hands in the air.

He was now facing the window where I was standing. I wasn't sure if he saw me or not. He was looking pointedly in my direction.

I read the darkened expression on his face as if he was about ready to fight. The man from where I stood was only a few inches taller than him.

I pulled out my own blade, preparing to be my brother's back up. Suddenly, Devin did a low sweeping kick that knocked him on his back with a thud. He let out a pained gust of air.

Devin grabbed the gun and pointed it at the man. That was the last thing I saw before the world turned black.

~~~~

Someone had put their hand over my eyes while another grabbed my legs and carried me. I was so busy watching Devin that I didn't sense them sneaking up on me. How stupid!  I squirmed and tried to get away but they were too strong.

I tried to scream but another hand covered my mouth.

This was it.

They are going to take me like they did Dahlia!

The thought terrified me and I fought even harder, sinking my teeth into the flesh of his hand that covered my mouth. I won't go that easy! A coppery liquid grazed the tip of my tongue before the hand was yanked away.

The person yelled in agony. I would have used the knife if it hadn't fallen out of my grasp when they grabbed me.

I swung my arms hoping to connect with someone but felt no impact. A hand was over my mouth again, but I never stopped struggling.

Moments later I was set down on a metal chair and my eyes uncovered.

Immediate observations show that I was now in the house. The room was empty except for myself, three men, and Devin holding the same Glock to the head of another man.

This man was taller and darker than the man before. His body was slim, but there was a tight weaving of muscles underneath his white polo shirt. The matching white shorts contrasted the deep melanin of his skin.

I quickly recognized him as the man we were looking for, Tino.

My hands were being gripped tightly behind my back and my blade was now being held at my throat.

"Let him go," Devin demanded through clenched teeth.

"Put the gun down and then we can talk. Starting with the money you owe me." Tino responded coolly.

"We talk when you let him go," Devin said a little too calmly.

With a slight nod to the person threatening my life, the knife started to sink into my skin, but not deep enough to draw blood.

I tried to squirm away from the blade but it was no use. These men were too strong.

"Remember I took down your guy easily in the other room. I could have killed him. I'll kill you if you don't let him go," Devin threatened. His voice never wavered, but I could sense his uneasiness.

He was starting to get desperate. As good a fighter as he was, he had never killed before. He put a few people in the hospital but never killed them.

"You are right, you could have, but you didn't pull the trigger. You couldn't pull the trigger then and you won't pull it now."

He said still sitting in his wooden throne. He was a king of his tiny army of men. He exuded confidence, even when his life was being threatened. Is he stupid or does he know something?

He suspected that Devin couldn't kill anyone and he was right. Devin's hand began to shake slightly. He looked at me for the first time since I was taken inside.

Then he bowed his head in defeat. He let the gun hang in his hand before removing the magazine and dropping the unloaded gun to the floor.

Smart move. Unless everyone else had guns and we just gave up our only defence.

"I knew you were smart," Tino said smiling wryly at Devin. With a wave of his hand, I was released and pushed towards my brother.

"Now that we aren't all trying to kill each other," he said clapping his hands loudly that it echoed through the empty room.

"Let's talk, starting with what the fuck are you doing here?"