THE VICKERS

Chapter 24

I started to get anxious. It had been a few minutes. I hadn't heard anything from Devin. And Marcus was asking me to let him go.

No rustling of bushes, no call for help, no gunshot. I suppose that was a plus. I couldn't wait to find out any more. I had to see what was happening.

I stood up slowly from where I was crouched to survey the area.

"What are you doing?" Marcus called out to me. 

"Going to find him." I brushed off the dried leaves from my pants

"You're going to get yourself and your brother killed. You let me go, and I'll check on him"

" No way." I shook my head. He wasn't going to trick me. 

"Darius, this ain't recess, if it's who I think it is then your brother is probably dead already"

"Who do you think it is?" I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"That's beside the point. If you go out there alone. Devin has no chance. I can help him."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll take my chances."

I snuck off in the direction Devin had gone. I took care to avoid the dirt road and stayed to the side where I wasn't easily seen.

It was almost noon, and the heat of the sun was now piercing through the thin canopy, warming up the ground layer. I stepped as gently as I could being careful not to make any noise. Soon I came upon Marcus's car, then I walked a little further to find the one we'd driven.

I stowed away behind another tuft of grass, a point where hopefully no one could see me. My eyes widened at the scene I'd come upon. Devin had had one of the men in a chokehold while pointing the gun at his head. Another man was standing a few feet away with his arms up out in front of him as if asking Devin not to shoot.

There was another man on the ground, he wasn't moving. I pictured Devin sneaking up on them and taking them by surprise. The man advanced slowly towards Devin.

"Take another step and I'll fucking kill him!" Devin shouted at him. The man stopped when Devin tightened his hold around the other guy's neck. He grabbed at Devin's arm while spitting out blood through his teeth. But Devin held firm. 

"Who the fuck are you? What do you want?" Devin questioned.

"The name's Travis, kid. You got some skill, and huge balls getting the jump on us like that. I underestimated you. Juno made you out to be some punk."

"Juno huh." Devin tightened his vice-like even more around his neck. "Big man couldn't come get me himself so he sent his bitches to do his dirty work." Devin never learned when not to provoke people.

"I don't know about that kid. You've never come across me before. Now the only reason you're still alive is 'cause the boss wants to kill you personally."

"Oh yeah? Tell him to take a fucking number."

Travis took another step closer. Devin backed up slightly.

"Don't fucking move!" Devin yelled and aimed the gun at Travis.

"You know I know your sister."

Oh no! Talking about Dahlia wasn't a good idea. Devin could lose it. He was silent. Travis took it as a sign to continue his torment.

"She a pretty little thing. When she was with Juno, she got passed around like a blunt. Everyone took a hit."

"Travis you're pissing him off!" said the guy that was under Devin's hold. His forehead was turning pink and the veins in his head looked like they were about to explode.