THE VICKERS

Chapter 23

I knew he was seriously considering it. When Marcus had made the offer the gun was lowered. To my dismay, they began to brainstorm about the how, when and where. Wasn't this the man we don't trust? Not even in the slightest? The same one who caused all of this to happen?

I wasn't on board with any of it. We'd gone on some suicide missions with Fitz, and Tino; but Juno would be a different story altogether.

Juno never went anywhere alone. He was constantly surrounded by a gang of murderers and drug dealers who never paid for their crimes.

Juno himself was known for the death of various people who had crossed him. He'd nearly killed Dahlia too. I'm not sure why she'd gotten herself caught up with him. Most of what I knew came from eavesdropping on Devin and Dahlia's arguments. Arguments they'd have when she came home with black eyes and bruises. 

Chills ran down my spine the way they spoke about Juno's boss, Gills. He ran the city, he had "friends" everywhere; the police department, mayor's office, even the church. He tainted every aspect of the city.

If we killed Juno, it would mean we would have to be on the run from Gills forever. I haven't had a home in over a year, but being on the run for my life didn't sound very appealing.

I tapped Devin's shoulder as we walked back to where we'd left the car. He stopped. But Marcus continued to walk ahead.

"This doesn't feel right," I took a deep breath. "Killing Juno, it's not right."

"Not right?" His brows furrowed.  "Tell me what isn't right about it? Juno is a murderer. He nearly beat our sister to death. He killed Mr Cramer. Threatened both our lives! Tell me there isn't a world where we'd be better off where he's dead?"

I considered his words for a second, biting my lip. 

" You're right, we kill him, and then what?" I added sarcastically. "We'd be wanted dead by Gills. We would be on the run but they'd find us".

"They won't know it's us." He puffed up his chest in pent up frustration. 

" Really... What's the plan? Sneak attack?"

Devin sucked air through his teeth and turned to walk off. I walked after him. Marcus had eventually stopped a few metres away.

"Devin! If we do this-"

"Me, I'm doing this." He cut me off.

"Whoever has Dahlia is setting us up. I know it. You know it."

Devin looked up as if searching for the answer from above.

"here's a better way Devin," I pleaded with him.

"What way is that?" I considered his question. Then it came to me.

"The diamonds!" I spoke a little too loudly.

He pressed his lips together in a line of disappointment.  He wasn't impressed. He looked at Marcus who was looking right at us, probably annoyed. 

"I think the diamonds you stole were Juno's," I spoke a little softer. "I don't think he knows we have it. We can play it off that you know who has it. We could tell him it was the man that took Dahlia that has them. Then maybe he'll want to help us instead of kill us or we kill him."

He took in everything I said.

"We don't have all day you know!" Marcus shouted from in the distance.

We ignored him. "First thing. You won't be involved in this at all-"

"But i-" I opened my mouth to protest. At least he wasn't plotting to kill anymore. 

"I need you safe." I wasn't going to argue right now but there would be no way he was going to do this alone.

"Also don't tell Marcus. I don't trust that fucker." I nodded. That was something we agreed on.

There was an eeriness to the forest we were in. The trees weren't thick and it was still daytime but as we entered, it felt like there was a lingering presence. 

I could tell Devin had felt it too because he told me to hang back while he pushed Marcus forward.

I kept looking behind me, to make sure we weren't being followed. They went ahead while I stood near to the border of the forest and the clearing. When he returned, he told me to follow closely behind them. He took out a knife he had hidden in the waist of his pants. I did as I was told. I followed behind on full alert.

We were nearing the area where we had left the cars when we heard a crash. It sounded like shattering glass, then we heard a loud clunk.

Devin stopped abruptly. I tightened my grip on my three-star. We were in enemy territory, anything could happen.

"Hey let me go!" Marcus demanded. "If anything pops off I need to defend myself."

"No."

"Look you little punk. I'm not doing this shit if you don't let me go, right now"

Devin stepped past him "No." 

"I'm going to go ahead, and see what's up, you stay here with Darius and hide."

"You're an idiot!" Marcus whispered loudly after him while Devin ran off to where we'd heard the sounds.

I  crouched behind a thick tuft of tall blade-like grass. It was high enough to give me coverage, but Marcus, not so much. He had chosen to stand behind a tree.

I could see him clearly but anyone coming down the path wouldn't be able to. He wrestled against the cuffs trying to get out of them.

That made me laugh on the inside, he was a police officer trying to wiggle his way out of handcuffs. The irony.

~~~~

"Boss we found the car."

"And the kid?" Juno rested uneasily against his car door. At least those idiots were good for something. 

"Don't know where he is. I think he was following that cop, you know the big tall one." 

"Did you search the car?" His patience was growing thin with every second. How those fucking Vicker kids managed to beat up two of his top guys in his bar, he couldn't understand. That coupled with his diamonds being stolen, Gills wasn't too happy with him these days. His boss was more intrigued by the little punk. 

"No the door's locked."

"Break the fucking glass, you idiot!" Juno shouted through the phone. He couldn't believe how much of a dimwit Vinny could be sometimes.

They had called about an hour ago, saying that they'd spot the Vickers kid driving in an alleyway. Juno was pleased to hear that, after all the trouble those kid's cost.

If word got out that two kids beat up his two top dogs, he'd lose his street cred. Then anyone could feel like they could challenge him. He's worked too hard to get to the position he's in, and no Vicker kid is gonna threaten that.

"Vinny, wait there till the kid comes back. When he does take him and his skinny brother to me"

"What about the cop?"

"Beat him up? Kill him? I don't care." He really didn't. That fucking cop caused enough trouble as it is. Gills never wanted to kill the cop but recruit him. Dumb-fucker been starting his own little trade, not that he could compete, but he started to play around with Dahlia. Not that he cared too much about the whore, but she was his to fuck and slap around when he saw fit.  

"Boss?" He was spacing out again. 

"Just get those kids to me, alive" he demanded before hanging the phone up.

He wanted to beat that scrawny kid's ass personally.