“Caden,” Nole called, “get away from him.” To no surprise, his brother wouldn’t budge from Ryker’s side. “He and some of the Enforcers conspired to kill Murphy. The evidence they have against me was planted. The Chief was in on it too.”

As he rambled through all of the information he’d learned, desperate to get Caden on his side, Nole released the apprehended Caswell and passed him off to Maddox.

“You’re only hurting your brother, Vale,” Ryker said sternly, pulling Caden closer to his side. “Surrender, and your siblings won’t have to suffer.” The thinly veiled warning was enough to set Nole off. It was one thing to jeopardize Nole’s life, but he wouldn’t stand anyone threatening Caden and Suri.

“Don’t you dare think about doing anything to them!” Nole shouted instinctively. The area grew quiet at his outburst, and even Caden was taken aback by the dramatic proclamation from his older brother.

The overcast created a shadowed area, almost concealing Ryker’s expression, but not enough to obscure his unperturbed confidence. The smugness in his face made Nole livid and his fists shook trying to contain the rest of his overflowing anger.

“I saw Captain Hadley inside,” Caden murmured. It was barley audible, but Nole could hear his brother’s concerned remark. “She needs a doctor. Why isn’t anyone helping her?”

“Hadley?” Maddox interrupted alarmingly. “What’s her status?” he demanded, moving away from the apprehended Caswell.

“Rest assured Captain Maddox, she’s been taken care of,” Ryker dismissed with another double-meaning answer. The Captain adjusted his aim, fully aware of Ryker’s deceitful answer. Judging from his recent action, Nole could only assume Maddox would take a shot at Ryker like he almost had with Caswell. Despite the possibility of rescuing Caden, Nole panicked at the thought of a bullet being fired so close to his brother.

“Don’t shoot!” Nole instructed resolutely. “He has my brother!” Maddox finished arming his weapon and then met Nole’s gaze. Although they had common enemies, they were far from friends. This made Nole falter when staring the Captain down, but his resolution on the matter wouldn’t allow him to submit to Maddox’s short temper.

“Get you’re brother to safety,” he commanded, turning his attention to Ryker. “My partner needs help, I need to act quickly.” The affirmation to Nole’s concern was enough to convey Maddox’s compliance.

“Caden,” Nole called calmly, “Chief Caswell admitted to killing Murphy. Murphy wasn’t their original target, but they got rid of him because he figured out the conspirators within the Enforcers; conspirators like Caswell and Ryker. They planted evidence to cover up their actions, but some of the Enforcers saw through it. Captain Maddox knows the truth, and he’s fighting alongside me now, but Ryker killed Sgt. Bellamy and wounded Capt. Hadley to cover his tracks. They’re trying to get rid of us. Even Suri will be in danger.”

He wasn’t replying, but Nole could see the look on Caden’s face. The concentration in his eyes told Nole that his little brother was piecing it all together. It was the same expression Caden held when he’d read the paper each day. “I know I wasn’t very involved in the day-to-day stuff,” Nole admitted, “but I love both you and Suri. If I had known,” he paused reminded of his devastation from that day. “If I had known you were trying to make sense of mom’s death, I would have talked to you and been there more. I’m sorry for being so oblivious to it.”

His younger brother appeared surprised when Nole revealed knowing about his fixation on their mother’s murder. It was hard to tell, but when Caden rubbed his forearm across his face, Nole realized his younger brother was crying.

The words were breaking through to him, and although it was a good sign, it pained Nole deeply when he saw Caden react in such a way. Nole hated it whenever Suri cried; it was as if a part of him was crumbling away when he witnessed her reveal any amount of sorrow. Seeing Caden cry, especially when he hardly ever expressed any of his feelings, induced a similar, yet different response in Nole. All he could compare it to was having the wind knocked out of him, and not being able to recover. It felt even worse knowing how long Caden had suppressed the tears. He wasn’t just welling up; full-fledged tears streaming down his face.

"I wanted to know,” Caden grumbled as wiped the tears away furiously. “She shouldn’t have died. She didn’t do anything.”

“I know,” he comforted. “Suri and I both know.”

“The gangs killed her, and now you’re a part of them.”

“I’m not,” Nole denied calmly, taking a step forward. “I’m not part of a gang, but there are people helping me. I needed their help to get you back safely,” he explained. “Caden, I know providing for you and Suri doesn’t justify some of the questionable things I do, but I would never join a gang and take advantage of innocent people. I’m not a great role model, I don’t even think I’m a good brother, but I’m trying.” Nole halted his quivering chin and swallowed back the tears. “You and Suri are all that keep me going. I know this is really selfish, but I don’t think I could take it if I lost you too.”

Even Nole hadn’t expected to say such things. Of course it was all true, but he’d never actually shared his true thoughts to anyone, let alone Caden. Although it wasn’t appropriate for the situation, Nole couldn’t help but crack a smile. I guess we have more in common than we thought.

Caden’s unwavering brown eyes judged Nole from yards away. As discreet as his expression was, Nole saw hesitance in his brother’s face. It wasn’t the desired reaction, but it a step in the right direction, and that was good enough for Nole.

“The Paras really have taught you well,” Ryker chimed in. “You even had me going there for a second. Do you really want to take your brother down with you?” Removing his arm from Caden’s shoulder and taking a couple of steps back, Ryker extended the offer to Nole, daring him to retrieve his brother.

He couldn’t rely on Ryker’s good grace or Caden’s ability to forgive, so he had to take matters into his own hands. As soon as Nole took a step toward his brother, a sadistic grin spread across Ryker’s face as he pointed a gun at the back of an oblivious Caden’s head.

“Don’t,” Nole pled, paralyzed with fear. Every nerve in his body froze in shock, as the image of his brother dead took over his mode of thought. “You’re after me, right?” he offered.

“Nole, don’t,” Olivia begged in a hushed tone. It was evident in her voice. There was no other way.

“Please, just don’t hurt him.”

Although Ryker appeared to be contemplating the deal, he didn’t lower the gun. At that point, Caden turned to view his captor, and the revolver pointed at him. Returning his gaze forward, a look of utter terror enveloped Caden’s face. His wide-eyed gaze was unblinking, and half-open mouth released ragged, uneven breaths. The hands at his sides trembled vigorously, as did his knees. “It’s okay,” Nole extended, trying to sooth his brother. To no avail, the display of fear persisted, inducing a lump in Nole’s throat. “I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.”

“I see,” Ryker taunted. His voice made Caden flinch, almost expecting a bullet to come next.

“Sergeant!” a voice bellowed from the roaring noise of the battle. To everyone’s surprise, Taro came sauntering to the main level of the station’s entrance. Despite emerging from a chaotic scene, the boy looked untouched. He wasn’t hurt or out of breath. Even his clothes were clean. “Why are you going to all this trouble, if all you want is me?”

The way he said it, arms extended at his sides with shoulders shrugged, it was evident that Taro wasn’t threatened by the Sergeant. “You could just kill me right here and now, or I could tell you the location where your files are hidden.”

Nole was surprised to hear such a logical statement from a seemingly foolish guy. His laid back attitude was no longer present. Arms pressed by his sides, standing straight, eyes unmoving; Taro’s presence was actually intimidating.

Shockingly, Ryker repositioned the weapon away from Caden.

“Which files?” Ryker questioned calmly, pointing the gun upward.

"You know which ones I’m talking about,” Taro answered. “The ones from Dr. Murphy’s shack, and even the one you confiscated from Betty.”

Despite his best efforts of concealing his emotions, there was no hiding Ryker’s astonishment. Although Taro was the one holding the information hostage, the Sergeant focused his rage-induced glare on Caswell.

“There’s no way!” Caswell yelped from his restrained position by Capt. Maddox. “I took all those files after I killed that doctor!” The butt of Maddox’s pistol smacked against the back of the Chief’s head, knocking him stomach first onto the cement with a resounding thud.

With the declarative confession, Nole whipped his head back toward his brother, who looked appalled. Bringing both hands to the sides of his head, it appeared as though things had clicked in his head. Whether it was shock, embarrassment, or confusion being displayed, Nole was relieved to have his brother hear the truth from the real culprit.

When his dark brown eyes met Nole’s, the shame was evident. Despite the circumstances, all Nole could do was smile. He was finally free. His name was clear. Everyone knew, and most importantly, Caden knew.

“Sergeant,” Taro spoke up again, “if you want the files, let him go.”

“Or I could kill him, and you,” Ryker retorted, aiming the gun at Taro.

“Don’t even try it!” Capt. Maddox interjected. “Ryker, if you think I’ll let you harm anyone else, you’re dead wrong.” Being in between both guns made Nole nervous; not just for himself, but for his brother as well.

“Stop,” Taro mediated sternly. “Captain, I can handle it.” Taro’s rigid tone broke through to Maddox, who slowly lowered his weapon. Turning his attention back to Ryker, Taro continued his negotiation. “If you kill me, the files will be released to the public. I set it up so that if I don’t retrieve them in three hours, every news outlet in the city will have access to the documents.”

The words weren’t an act of intimidation, but a declaration of war.

With the barrel of the gun pointed Taro’s way, Ryker maintained his position while mulling over the information he’d been presented with.

“Fine, I won’t kill you,” he agreed. “But I’m not stupid enough to release my hostage.” With a sharp turn of his arm, the gun was redirected Caden’s way.

“I’ll be your hostage,” Nole asserted, taking a step forward. “I’m the fall guy for this whole thing, right? You need me dead too.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Nole pounced on Ryker’s apparent interest. “And I know what’s in those files too.”

“Vale, don’t negotiate with him!” Capt. Maddox ordered.

“He’s right,” Taro conferred. “I can get your brother back, just trust me.” Although Nole officially had no reason to mistrust Taro, he knew what he had to do.

After being alone for so long, ravaging the city streets, fighting with brutal gangs, evading Enforcers, Nole’s newfound comrades were something totally new to him. Even though he’d told himself that he was better off alone, he’d agreed to stay with Betty, and in doing so, they had helped him search for his brother. While Nole could never repay the kindness of Betty and her runners, of Taro’s and his vigilante work, of Capt. Maddox and his backup, of Murphy and his friendship and care, he knew that this was something only he could do.

“No. I need to take the safe bet.”

“Nole, that’s not a safe bet!” Olivia shouted.

“It will be for Caden.” It seemed as though that answer was enough for everyone, as they remained quiet. “Ryker, let him go, and I’ll come to you.”

A wicked smile spread across Ryker’s face. Raising his eyebrows in intrigue, he used his gun to motion for Nole to approach him. Before making his move, Nole turned to Zane next to him, who actually appeared concerned. The normally downcast gray eyes were upright, and his dark eyebrows furrowed. “Don’t let anything happen to my brother,” Nole told him. He knew better than to phrase it as a question. The truth was, if he had, Zane wouldn’t have answered him.

Not giving Zane a chance to back out, Nole took a deep breath and began his literal death march.

“Wait,” Ryker spoke up. “I need Caswell’s gun,” he instructed, his eyes intently fixated on Zane. “I won’t do for physical evidence.” In accordance with the order, Zane took a few steps forward, bumping into Nole as he continued toward the Sergeant. “Stop there and slide it over.”

Delicately, Zane placed the gun on the ground and forcefully slid it just within arm’s reach of Ryker, who immediately tucked it into his holster. “Carry on.”

With the go ahead from their enemy, Nole continued approaching his brother.

“Caden,” he called out as he walked forward, “come toward me, okay?” Despite the feelings of astonishment still evident in his expression and body language, Caden was coherent enough to move his feet. Passing Zane, Nole finally reached the midpoint of the trek.

“Nole,” Caden whispered when they came within earshot of each other.

“Don’t worry,” he interrupted. “Get over to that grim looking guy with the black hair. I’ll be fine.”

“I-I’m-“

“Tell me later.” The cold edge evident in Nole’s tone struck a nerve with his younger brother. With a nod of agreement, Caden went past his older brother’s line of peripheral vision. When Nole reached his enemy’s side, he turned to make sure his younger brother was safely within Capt. Maddox’s reach.

Given his current predicament, it would have made sense for Nole to be utterly terrified, face deadpan, and body in complete shut down mode. That would be the normal response, but all he could do was sigh in relief and smile at his brother's newfound safety. His brief moment of peace was short-lived, as what felt like a sharp and painful sting jolted down his right arm.

The feeling confused him, and it wasn’t until he heard Caden shout his name that he noticed the blood spurting out of his right shoulder. Before he could react, he was shoved facedown against the cement. If Nole’s mind hadn’t been in shut down mode before, it was in that moment. The fight-or-flight reaction of his body’s immune system prevented him from forming a single coherent thought, much less make sense of what was happening.

If not for the shrieks around him, he was sure he would’ve lost consciousness. The unceasing pain in his shoulder also had a part in that.

Lifting his face off of the cement, Nole noticed Zane restraining Caden, who was desperately trying to get to his brother’s side. Although it wasn’t the appropriate time to be evaluating Caden’s love for him, Nole couldn’t help but acknowledge his brother’s obvious act of caring. The tears were flowing down his face even more than before, and he was biting his lip so hard, Nole didn’t doubt he was bleeding.

Distracted by his brother’s flailing, Nole almost overlooked the look on Zane’s face. The stoicism was gone, but the expression that replaced it was far from the desperate grief that Caden displayed. Surprisingly, the once disinterested gray eyes were glaring just above Nole, where Ryker was poised in a triumphant stance. Beside Zane, Taro clenched his jaw in frustration; his formerly calm demeanor substituted by a tense stance and clenched fists. In the background, Capt. Maddox could be seen repositioning his gun at Ryker in an apparent standoff.

The shooting agony from Nole’s shoulder made his neck cramp immediately, so he lowered his head so that his cheek was against the cement. The front row seat to his bleeding shoulder intensified the pain greatly. Within his line of sight, a small silver object came to view. The blade, Nole realized as the gut-wrenching image of Bellamy’s slit throat resurfaced in his mind.

“Regretting your little swap?” Ryker taunted, digging his foot into the small of Nole’s back. The pain in his back began diminishing the stinging feeling in his shoulder. It was as if his pain reception had been distracted, but then he realized, his arm was tingling. Is my arm asleep? No wait, I can’t move it! Panic spread throughout him as he desperately tried to lift the limb in question. It’s not… I can’t feel anything below my right shoulder… What did he do? Deep, heaving breaths escaped him in his attempt to reestablish the connection with his right arm, but the efforts were to no avail.

Once Taro returned Caden to the safety of Capt. Maddox’s side, he returned to address his enemy. “Sergeant,” he said in a tone similar to one taken on by a hostage negotiator, “if you want the information from me, you need to be rational.”

“Oh I’m more than rational. You see, this is how I negotiate. This gun and the back of Vale’s head are my bartering tools and I’m looking for a trade.”

“You’ve made your point, but-”

“This isn’t a conversation anymore.” The sole of the Sergeant’s shoe dug deeper into his captive’s back, forcing an inexorable grunt from Nole. “He chose to be the captive, so you can’t really fault me, can you?” The unmistakable clicking noise of the pistol’s hammer made Nole prick his ears up in anticipation.

I saved Caden. He’s safe now. It was the only consolation he could give himself in that moment, but it was enough. “These are my terms,” Ryker elaborated. “I want you to join Vale and me on a walk. I see so much as a dust cloud from any uninvited guests, and I lodge a bullet in Vale’s skull.”

I’m the bait. Neither of us is making it out alive, Nole thought begrudgingly. Before he could speak up in opposition, Taro replied sternly and decisively.

“Fine.”

“He’ll kill you both, Taro,” Olivia warned, voicing Nole’s concerns.

“I didn’t leave my old life just so someone else can pay for my choices. I have to see this through.” Taro argued, silencing the remaining skepticism surrounding his decision. If Nole were in better shape, he would have come to the realization that Taro leaving Betty and the other runners wasn’t a voluntary decision. It was as if, just like Nole, he’d stumbled upon the wrong place at the wrong time; but at least he was making progress. He’d managed to get some crucial files from Murphy, someone who all signs pointed to being a former Para, and blackmailed the main players in a citywide conspiracy.

It pained Nole to be in such a weak position. Unlike Taro, he was doing very little, and with mild success. Although he had saved his brother, he had invariably put someone other than himself in danger - Taro. Not only that, but he knew Ryker wouldn’t just stop with him and Taro. It was blatantly obvious that he would go out of his way to personally kill each and every person that posed even a minor threat. There was no doubt that he had the means to do so either.

Being lifted by the back of his shirt, Nole got to his knee, immediately grabbing his right shoulder to stop the bleeding. With his right arm limp and lifeless, and the excruciating pain tearing though his shoulder, he got to his feet while being held at gunpoint.

Despite the unceasing pain, Nole tried his best to display zero emotion while facing his younger brother.

“Walk backwards,” Ryker ordered, pushing the gun against Nole’s right temple. Without another word, they made their way toward the front entrance of Central Station, with Taro following, hands up in surrender. As they neared the door, Nole avoided eye contact with Caden, afraid that he would break down on the spot. Instead, he focused on the ground, and his feet that were moving closer and closer to a brutal death.

When his eyes did wander toward Caden, he forced them to focus on Maddox instead. In taking Taro to Murphy’s shack, Nole was in part responsible for Murphy’s death. And now he was relying on Murphy’s nephew to keep his younger brother safe.

Once inside the lobby, Ryker patiently waited for Taro to join them inside the building. When they were all enclosed within the room, it felt as if they were in a completely different world. Nole noticed Capt. Hadley, still handcuffed, the blood dripping down her forearms; it seemed her attempt at stopping the bleeding was futile. Her pallor was even more prominent than before, but she still seemed coherent enough to shift position when Ryker entered the room.

“Jett,” she murmured softly, desperately trying to remain conscious.

“Capt. Maddox is outside,” Taro comforted, maintaining his position. “You’ll be ok-”

“Quiet!” Ryker shouted, bringing the entire room to a standstill. The entire scene was depressing. With Capt. Hadley on the verge of death, him being held at gunpoint, and Taro following orders to keep Nole alive, it was painstakingly obvious that none of them were getting out of there still breathing.

The thought occurred to Nole that Betty and Olivia could come down from the roof and lend support, but with Betty out of ammo, they would essentially be useless. Still, his head fidgeted slightly, looking for any stairs leading to the roof entrance. “Your friends upstairs won’t be interrupting us,” his enemy informed him. “The only way to the roof is the safety ladder on the east side of the building.”

If anything, Nole hoped that someone would get Caden as far away from the area as possible. Removing his left hand from his shoulder, he bit his lip at the thick blood smothering his palm. The slice on his right shoulder wasn’t just a flesh wound; the numbness of his right hand made that clear. “Well?” Ryker’s icy voice slit the silence in half. At the same time, Nole felt the cold metal of the gun push deeper into his temple.

“Let him go first,” Taro demanded.

“You really are running my patience. I’m the one making demands here.”

“Let them both go,” Taro retorted firmly, shifting his gaze to Capt. Hadley.

Is he out of his mind? Nole couldn’t imagine what was going through Taro’s mind in that moment. He hated to admit it, but Ryker was right. Taro had no more cards to play. If anything, he should be begging for mercy, yet there he was, refusing to give in. Why? He’s trying to save everyone but himself.

“Where are the files?” Ryker questioned. “If you don’t answer, I’ll kill him, and then her.”

As much as Nole wanted to fight back, there weren’t any openings. With a sliced up shoulder, numb right arm, and gun pointed to the back of his head, there was nothing he could do. It was obvious to him that Taro was trying to save him; to pull him out of the clutches of death just as Nole had for him. Unfortunately the circumstances wouldn’t allow for such a scenario, and the pained look of reality struck Taro in those moments of being face to face with Ryker. Standing there, his options dwindling to nothing, Taro looked utterly defeated. Slouching his shoulders and furrowing his eyebrows, he refused to open his eyes. It was as if he didn’t want to face the harsh reality before him.

He’s going to talk.

Releasing the grip on his injured shoulder, Nole rested his arms by his sides as he prepared for the worse case scenario. However, just as Taro opened his eyes, Nole’s left hand brushed up against his pant pocket, and he realized it was not empty. Daring to feel the contents with his fingertips, he thought back to Zane shoving him outside for no apparent reason.

When it clicked in his head, Nole racked his brain for a way to convey the message to Taro, but when they locked eyes, he realized that there was no need. Although the guy was still slouching, and looked defeated, his eyes told a different story. With an intent gaze, Taro lifted his hand and scratched the left side of his face; his fingers grazing the cut Nole had given him in the alley a few days ago.

I get it already, Nole thought in response to Taro’s obvious signal. These guys, Nole closed his eyes in disbelief. Although Zane and Taro had been separated for months, their ability to work together hadn’t skipped a beat. Contemplating his next move, Nole came up with a plan and couldn’t help but smirk.

We’ve got one final play.