Davyn preferred the times when he was in school. The coursework was fascinating, he had time to read and tinker with his substances, and he was away from Baron and all his whining.

The organization had been functioning well enough to handle itself without his constant imput for a long time now, but old habits died hard, and Nicholas Harkin liked to be reminded why he was not the supreme leader of his own operation. Phone calls were fortunately brief and coded, and everyone mostly did what they had to do.

Then, there was the matter of his new task of keeping an infant alive. Surprisingly enough, Jimmy seemed to thrive in his dorm room. He slept, ate whatever was presented to him, and could keep himself entertained with colorful toys and the little attention Davyn gave him. During the lectures, Davyn usually took him along in a carrier and let him sleep there while various professors droned on. 

The baby ended up being a prop that brought him sympathy from staff and peers alike, so it turned out that his dumbass decision didn't ruin his life.

One day in December, as he was struggling to organize his study time versus his experiment time, Jimmy laying in his crib and babbling to himself, Davyn received an unexpected visit from Rachel and Simon.

"How...?"

"We spoke to Phillip, he told us where you were, and we decided to invite ourselves over," Simon said joyfully, pushing past Davyn and entering the room. "Nice! A dorm room all to yourself."

He couldn't be bothered to answer. His eyes were trained on Rachel's obviously pregnant belly. "Phillip didn't mention this."

Rachel let out a laugh. "I warned him not to. We've been planning to come and see you for months and I wanted to surprise you. Ta da!" She reached her arms out and twirled.

Davyn kept staring, a whirlwind of feelings overwhelming him. He was happy for his friends, but it reminded him too much of the betrayal he'd suffered. Darkness swirled inside him like an awoken snake.

"Oh my God!" Rachel shrieked. "You have a baby?"

This snapped him out of it. "I take it that Phillip didn't mention it."

"No, he didn't." She turned to him, worry in her eyes. "Where's his mother?"

"He doesn't have one. Just me."

"Crap," Simon breathed. "Did anything happen to--"

Davyn shook his head. A part of him wanted to tell them the truth, but he was sure explaining how he'd stolen his brother's newborn would not go over well. It sucked, but he decided to keep his friends and lie.

"No, nothing like that. More of a fling thing, and the mother didn't want to be in the picture."

"Oh." They both fell silent, watching the baby.

"He's very cute," Rachel offered. "Looks a lot like you."

He shrugged. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

"I'm sorry," Simon said, "but this is so shocking."

"Says the guy who sprung his own offspring on me. Congratulations, you guys."

"You, too." Rachel reached in the crib and picked Jimmy up. "Oh my God, you're so precious. What's his name?"

"Jimmy. James."

"You're such a well-behaved little gentleman, aren't you, Jimmy?" she cooed. The baby grabbed one of her flaming locks and pulled. "Ouch. Strong grip."

"How'd you guys manage to sneak here? I won't insult you and ask if you were followed."

"We weren't," Simon confirmed. "They've asked me to install a better security system for their servers, and I took the opportunity to badmouth you every chance I got. Rachel and I now officially hate both you and Phillip for your betrayal. But especially you. So they shouldn't suspect that we're keeping in touch."

"Plus, we were both alumni here, so it would make sense for us to take a few days to visit old haunts and acquaintances," Rachel said with a shrug, then refocused on the baby.

"It's great to see you two." He'd really missed them, and he hoped they could see that without having to get overly sentimental.

Simon grinned. "We missed you, too. There's no one left to be a smartass."

"That's true, seeing as Phillip is out as well. How are the others?"

The smile slipped off Simon's face. "Well, I guess. Better than us since they're not constantly afraid that they'll be caught."

"Still brainwashed, huh?"

"It's so easy to be," Rachel said. "We've made our lives much harder by knowing the truth. Look at us. You're studying under a fake name, we're lying left and right, Phillip is no-contact most of the time..." She took in a shuddering breath. "Though I have a feeling Harrison might have had a change of heart."

Davyn tilted his head. He'd always expected Alan to be the one to finally have enough, not perfectly obedient Levy. "How so?"

"I heard him on the phone one night," she said. "He seemed to be talking to someone about a baby as well. I had no idea he was seeing anyone, but from what I've gathered he wanted that kid as far away from him as possible. He was arguing about not giving the baby his last name."

"Oh, that." Simon said, sounding annoyed. Davyn turned to him questioningly and he elaborated. "He's a coward. You made a mistake, own up to it. Don't punish that poor child."

His words had Davyn's stomach freezing over, but he tried to keep his cool. "What does that have to do with anything, though?"

"I think he's trying to protect his kid from the Counters," Rachel said. "After what happened to you, he may suspect they will end up recruiting his kid." She glanced at Jimmy. "All our kids."

Davyn had considered that too, especially when it came to Freider's first kid, but seeing as Rachel was pregnant, he decided to shrug it off. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You're still young and healthy. You won't need replacing for a very long time."

"That didn't sound ominous at all," Simon mumbled.

Their conversation was interrupted by Phillip bursting in the door. He froze when he saw all of them there.

"Well then."

"We were just talking behind your back," Simon said by way of greeting.

"It's great that you finally moved your asses down here so that Davyn can see how fat you got, Rachel, but..." He faltered and glanced at Davyn.

He understood immediately. Phillip had news, and it wasn't good. "Should we step outside?"

"I'm not sure... It's..." Phillip cursed under his breath. "It's your stupid brother."

Davyn frowned. "You'll have to be more specific. That can apply to either of the three."

"Ron," Phillip said between his teeth.

Of course, it was the only one he actually cared about. "What did he do this time?"

"He got involved with the wrong crowd. Dorlami put out a hit order on him."

He couldn't have heard right. "What?"

Simon and Rachel stared as well, blissfully unaware of what they were talking about. Unfortunately, Davyn understood too well. He'd stepped on Dorlami's toes a lot when they took over his turf. He was still around, but only taking the scraps under Snitch Gravel's table. How had he gotten to Ron? Did they know anything?

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Phillip said, as if guessing his thoughts. "The little punk thought he could be a tough guy against real gangs. He started dealing in an area that was already someone else's."

Davyn started cursing. Ron couldn't be that stupid. "He's just sixteen. Surely Dorlami doesn't feel threatened by a stupid kid."

"From what I've heard, that stupid kid has a mouth on him."

"Fuck!" That made everything a lot worse. "Can you guys stick around for a couple of days? Keep an eye on Jimmy?"  

"Sure," Rachel said, "but--"

"I need to go get my stupid little brother out of the deep shit he's buried himself in. I... I'll explain more when I get back."

They all nodded, ever the supporting group, so Davyn grabbed his jacket, his car keys, and was out the door.

♣

Once he reached Chicago, it was extraordinarily easy to find out more about what happened. It appeared that, encouraged by rumors of Snitch Gravel and his prowess, Ron thought he could make it out on the streets as well, extorting and mugging people outside school hours.

It took Davyn some time to wrap his mind around the fact that out of all available opportunities, this was what Ron had decided to do with his life, but his opinion didn't matter. What mattered was to try and get him out of it.

As night approached, his men came forward with where Ron had been last spotted. It was indeed deep in Dorlami's territory. Davyn could bet his car that his idiot brother had no idea there was such a thing as turf. Donning his suit and the appropriate attitude, Davyn headed for that area. He'd barely gotten down from his car when he heard the sounds of a fight.

The two men accompanying him raised questioning eyebrows and he nodded indicating that they could head out. As much as he hated it, he couldn't run there himself. He was Snitch Gravel, and Snitch Gravel was never bothered or in a hurry.

When he reached the corner of the seedy alley, he found a depressing image. Ron lay on the ground, bloody and bruised while the five men who'd been kicking him around stood frozen as his two henchmen threatened them with guns.

"What's it to ya!" one of Dorlami's thugs called out. "This is our turf and this rat's been trespassing."

"Oh, my dear sir," Davyn said, stepping into the light. "It is not your turf. I believe it is mine."

The two men froze. Even if they'd never seen him, it was easy for them to deduce who they were speaking to.

"Sni-Sni-Snitch Gravel?"

"Nice to make your acquaintance as well." His eyes drifted to Ron.

His brother had grown since the last time he'd seen him. Maybe if he stood, he'd be as tall as Davyn. One of his eyes was swollen shut, but the other was wide with shock. He didn't even try to get off the ground.

Davyn had to fight very hard to keep his neutral expression and not start breaking some bones himself.

"Well," another one of the brutes said. "You know the rules as well as us. There's no room for trespassing."

"Agreed. There are rules on the streets." Davyn turned and glared at the man. He was satisfied to see him cowering back. "But these streets are mine. I only tolerate your boss as an agreement we once had. So this one..." He nodded to Ron. "He belongs to me."

"Now see here--"

Davyn most certainly didn't have to see anything. With a quick jab, he hit the man in the throat, effectively bruising his windpipe and trapping any other words in.

"There's something that maybe you don't know," he said, stepping closer to them. "I didn't get where I am for wearing a suit. So if you want to go home with your bones intact, I suggest you scurry away and remind Dorlami that any breach in rule must be reported to me before he starts acting like a two-bit hooligan." 

The four remaining men watched him warily, then exchanged glances, probably wondering whether he was full of shit. But the way their companion wheezed, holding on to his throat, probably convinced them it was best to let things go. They nodded and moved away, grumbling.

"Get this one in the car," he said to his men and walked away.

"Hey," Ron said.

Davyn turned and pointed at him. "I don't want to hear a word out of you." He turned to his men. "If he so much as opens his mouth, knock him out."

Ron did open his mouth, but closed it quickly, wisely deciding not to test the loyalty of his men. Since Davyn didn't really want to shove his baby brother in the trunk, he ended up next to him in the back seat as his two men sat in front and drove off. He glanced out the window, doing his damn hardest not to lay into Ron right there.

Fortunately, they reached the headquarters soon and the four of them headed to the top floor.

"There is no need for you to come in," he said to his two men. "You're dismissed for the night."

They both nodded and headed back down the stairs. Davyn headed inside his office, Ron limping behind him.

"You fucking idiot," he hissed the moment he heard the door closed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I can't believe you're actually Snitch Gravel!"

"If I wasn't, you'd be dead," Davyn said between his teeth. "What were you doing there?"

Ron sunk his hands in his pockets, but didn't answer.

"Silence? You seemed to have a lot to say. Why aren't you in school?"

"Where have you been?" Ron retorted. "Oh, wait. Out being a crime lord."

"Fuck off, I don't owe you any explanation."

"I don't owe you one either."

Davyn didn't have time for this. He'd left Rachel and Simon back in Cambridge with a baby. He needed to get back now. But letting Ron back out on the streets didn't feel like an intelligent idea either.

"You're coming with me."

♣

The road to Cambridge was mostly quiet since every time either of them tried to talk, the other ended up snapping back. Davyn knew he should have a real conversation with Ron, but he was too annoyed and stressed out at the moment.

This was a very bad sign. As much as he'd detached himself from his family over the past years, he couldn't let Ron get killed on the streets. He wasn't even seventeen yet. Why had Freider let him--  His thoughts screeched to a halt. Of course Freider let him. He had his own messed up family to focus on.

Ron was truly on his own right now. And it killed Davyn that he couldn't offer him anything better than a talk because his own life had spiraled into shit. By the time they reached the dorms, the anger had completely sipped out of him.

"Why am I not surprised that you got into MIT. Though I am surprised Snitch Gravel is actually going to college."

"Once we get in there, you don't mention that name, got it?"

"What name should I mention?"

"You should shut up until we're alone."

Ron obviously didn't like it, but he nodded, so the two of them got out of the car and headed inside. For unknown reasons, Davyn's heart pounded against his ribs, and as he reached the door, he realized that he didn't want his separate lives coming together. Fortunately, Rachel and Simon were still there and the baby was sleeping.

"Wow, we weren't expecting you back so quickly." Rachel faltered once her eyes fell on Ron. "Oh, ouch, that looks painful."

Ron opened his mouth, but Davyn elbowed him in the ribs. "He doesn't get talking privileges." He moved further inside and checked the baby in the crib. Since it was late at night, Jimmy was sleeping peacefully. "Thanks so much for staying."

"We couldn't leave. He's very well behaved."

Ron let out a grunt which hinted that he was desperate to talk, but Davyn's threat was still fresh in mind. The sound however alerted Rachel and Simon of his presence again.

Davyn sighed. "This is my brother, Ron. He and I have a heavy conversation before us."

"Ah, I see," Rachel said.

"Just as well since we really need to go." Simon looked worried and Davyn couldn't blame them. If they lingered too long, the chance of being discovered were greater.

"You should." He caught Simon in a tight hug, and then Rachel.

"We'll see each other again," she whispered.

"Of course we will," he said. Then he glanced down at her belly. "Take care of yourself."

"We will," Simon assured him and just like that, they were gone.

The room seemed so much colder without them. For a few hours, he'd felt as if he was back among the Counters, making friends and feeling as if he was part of something that mattered. Now he was alone again with a beat-up Ron.

"Holy fucking shit," Ron breathed. "Did you steal Freider's kid?"

"What?" Davyn was jolted violently out of his melancholia.

"It looks just like Jerry! But I saw him before I headed out and then I was with you the whole way here and he was obviously already..." Ron turned towards him, his eyes wide. "Davyn, what did you do?"

How had he failed to predict this complication? It was so obvious. He had no answer, so he just shrugged.

"Maxi did have twins after all. You just took one."

He really wished Ron would shut up, but he seemed to get more excited with every passing second.

"Oh, he so deserves it! Everything went to hell back there anyway. They sent Kyle to live with her brother and now she's knocked up again. Apparently they're having twins again. Freider is out of his mind!"

"Wait, what?" He glanced at Jimmy to make sure his age hadn't magically changed, but he was still a little baby, merely a few months old.

"Yeah. Seems like they'll barely be a year between them." Ron turned back to the kid. "This is so weird..."

It was, very. But that wasn't the issue.

"You're not to mention this to anyone."

"Of course I won't. Fuck Freider. But..." Ron turned to him. "What are you going to do with him? Raise him as your own? Why do you even have him?"

"To fuck with Freider." That was the only part he could truly answer. "Let's talk about you, though."

"We don't have to."

"Yes we do, because you can't stay here with me. You can't be out on the street getting murdered either. What the ever-loving hell do you think you're doing?"

Ron crossed his arms over his chest and turned to face him. "Working."

"Working? Working?"

"The indignation is rich coming from you since you're basically in the same business."

Davyn couldn't believe what he was hearing. Had Ron lost his goddamn mind? "I'm like this because my life got fucked. You can still have a normal future."

His brother huffed. "Why would I want that?"

"Why would you want to be a common street thug?"

"I wouldn't have to be if you took me into your organization and gave me a high rank."

"Absolutely not!"

"Why not? Do you think I'm not good enough?"

"Good enough? You're sixteen!"

Ron just shrugged. "I'll be seventeen in about a month."

"Who cares? You're still a minor! And you should be focusing on school, on making something of yourself!"

"Like you did?"

"This isn't about me, it's about you! First, you ruin your life with drugs, and now this? When are you going to take some responsibility and grow the fuck up?"

Ron narrowed his eyes, the contempt obvious on his face. "I did grow up, Davyn. The moment you and Freider both decided that your own lives are more important than mine. And you know what I've learned? That I had to find a way to handle shit on my own."

"This is not handling shit on your own. This is you throwing your life away instead of working for it." Davyn felt his last ounce of patience slipping. "Yes, you're right, I handled things like shit. It's why I'm here. It's obvious that I couldn't handle myself, let alone you. I'm sorry about that, but I can't change what I did. You're still young, you can turn this around and be successful."

Ron let out a harsh laugh. "You're not successful? Those men were terrified of you. You rake in tons of cash. You have an entire system that you're leading."

"You shouldn't look up to me for that!"

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Finish school, get into college, have a normal, respectable life." When he just huffed, Davyn felt like thumping him. "You don't need this, Ron. You have money, a house to live in, and Dad's business to take over when you're older."

"Why didn't you live that life then?"

"Because I fucked up, okay? I got into this thing and then some other things, and now I can't get out." He didn't want to get out, but that was beside the point he was trying to make.

"You're just gatekeeping this for yourself. You hate me so much that you don't want to be around me!"

"Oh, shut up, you spoiled brat! I ruined my life to protect you from drugs!"

Silence fell between them. In the crib, Jimmy whimpered, obviously sensing the tension in the air.

"Stop flattering yourself," Ron finally said. "You didn't do shit to protect me. All you did was for yourself. Don't come claiming you don't like this. That you don't feel satisfaction to command so many. You promised you'd be by my side, but all I ever got from you were sermons and homework help. You didn't want to take me with you when you left and now you won't give me a job when you very well could."

Davyn had no more patience for this. He'd always felt guilty about Ron, thinking that he could've done better, but that didn't mean his brother could guilt him and not take responsibility for his part of the blame. Being difficult and self-destructive and always looking for someone else to solve his problems. Just like now. Davyn's advice wasn't enough. Neither was his sacrifice because he didn't give Ron exactly what he wanted. And easy way out.

"Out of the question."

Ron's eyes widened for the fraction of a second, then they narrowed in dislike. "So this is how it's going to be? Abandoning me again."

"I'm not abandoning you. I'm refusing to enable your life of crime."

"You are a criminal! How high and mighty could you be to throw that in my face?"

"You know what, Ron? You can do whatever the hell you want with your life. Throw it all away, get yourself killed. But I'm not going to offer you the means to do that. If you want this career path, you're on your own."

Ron clenched his fists and stepped closer. "So like you, keeping everything for yourself. You're nothing but a selfish asshole. No wonder Freider was able to steal your girlfriend so easily. All he had to do was pretend to be nice and ten seconds later she was married to him and knocked up."

Davyn had no idea how and when it happened, but his fist flew out and caught Ron straight in the jaw. He tumbled over and hit the edge of the crib. Jimmy started crying. It only increased the rage inside Davyn.

"Get out," he said between his teeth.

Ron struggled to sit up, rubbing his cheek. "I can't believe you hit me. You've never hit me."

"I said get out."

The shock was replaced by actual fear as his brother most likely realized he was serious. "Davyn..."

"Davyn nothing. We're done. Get out."

"But--"

"No. No buts. I'm dead to you now. Do whatever the fuck you want with your life. I will not be a part of it. I've had it with your shit." He walked to the crib and picked up the baby.

Ron scurried away towards the door. Davyn turned his back on him, focusing on calming down poor Jimmy. Of course he was scared with two lunatics screaming at each other. And for what? He'd always hoped Ron would see sense, but it appeared that just like in the case of the baby's traitorous mother, his baby brother didn't care. Didn't deserve it. He'd ruined his life for nothing.

When the door finally opened and closed, it felt like another piece of him had broken off.

♣♣♣

Well, this chapter turned out huge but loads happens. We have babies everywhere! Rachel and Simon are going to be parents, and apparently Harrison as well. I'm sure their kids will be perfectly safe. Just like Jimmy.

And then you have Ron. Apparently he never wanted to get better. All he wants is a little respect, though. And look what he got himself into. Davyn is so done with his shit!

We only have two chapters left, so buckle up for the ending. You know where this is going, but still...

Thank you for reading and I hope you'll leave me a vote and a comments letting me know how you've enjoyed the story.