THE VICKERS

Chapter 17

*Meanwhile*

"Just give them more time!" Marcus shouted to the man over the phone. He couldn't believe Devin hadn't delivered the money on time and now he had to beg for them not to harm Dahlia. Their relationship was toxic to say the least but he still cared for her.

"More time? The money was supposed to be delivered half an hour ago," the man said over the phone. Before he could respond he was interrupted by a deep voice from behind him.

"There's no more stalling Nicholson, it's time." The abandoned factory was engulfed in darkness. He could barely make out the figures around him. He just knew of Morty that had been watching over Dahlia, the other guy with burly muscles who looked like he had been trained in the army. They called him Mitch. Then there were three other men that came in and out to do the boss' bidding and the wife.

"Fuck you scared me." Marcus' voice echoed off the factory floor and walls, bouncing off the moulded and rusted metal pipes. It was used to manufacture metal products of all sorts before the market crashed several years ago, plunging the entire city's economy into a never-ending decline. 

"Give me the phone." The man ordered. Marcus was reluctant to hand it to him, but he knew what it would have meant for himself and his mother if he tried to back out now. There were very few people he truly feared, and this man was one of them. The man stepped closer, and Marcus could make out his gruesome features under the moonlight. He passed the phone to him.

"Was the money delivered?" He asked.

Marcus couldn't hear the response.

"Very well. I gave them time," the man said turning to Marcus, "and they didn't deliver."

"Stay there, if they show up, take the kid." He ordered before hanging up the phone.

"You, fetch the girl." He said before throwing the phone back at Marcus.

"No, this wasn't a part of the deal, you said-" Marcus tried to protest. He didn't want to see Dahlia die.

"What are you worrying about? I said I'd only cut off a few parts. Don't want that beautiful face to lose her life so soon." When Marcus didn't move, he continued his threat.

"But if you don't get moving, I might reconsider keeping you alive. Now go get her!"

When Marcus didn't turn around immediately, he pulled out a Glock and pointed it squarely on the centre of his forehead. Marcus took in a sharp breath. Was Dahlia truly worth his own life? He did feel the bulldozer of guilt trampling his mind, reminding him that he had a part in this. But he had hoped that Devin would pull through and they'd all live through this.

"Now Marcus, I'm guessing you want to get through this alive too right? But may I remind you, you are expendable. Many others can play your part from now on." Marcus turned to leave.

This wasn't a part of the plan. He was just supposed to get Dahlia and Devin in the right place. He wasn't supposed to be this involved, but the man needed him to help keep them on the right track. Devin had already made matters worse by barking up the Gills and Juno tree.

Despite his feelings towards Dahlia, the man threatened his mother's life. He held a knife to her throat right before him. As much as he loved Dahlia, and cared for her, he couldn't let him hurt his mother.

He didn't know who the man was, or why he was so hell-bent on destroying the Vickers. But he said he wasn't going to kill Dahlia. Marcus wouldn't let that happen, he had enough on his conscience.

When he turned down the narrow hallway that led to the room where Dahlia was being held, he heard the commotion. The huffing of two voices carried down the path. As he got closer to the door, his heart fell when a heavy thud hit the floor. He wondered for a moment how she could have gotten out. In a way, he was proud that she'd been fighting as aggressively as she had. She never was the type to give up that easily.