After the text, our determination shot through the roof. There was a stream of hope that cut through the tense air in the warehouse. I was ready for this nightmare to be over. We were going to get our sister back and we were doing it tonight. Devin had left to go negotiate with Juno and get him to possibly work with us to get our sister back.

It was an awful plan admittedly, but what other choice did we have at this point? Tino? I didn't trust that guy. I'd trust an enemy more than I trust someone who pretends to be your friend. I wanted to go with Devin, but of course, he wouldn't let me. Claiming he needed me to watch the diamonds. I think he just didn't want to have to worry about me. I suppose it made sense. 

An hour passed as I paced from wall to wall. I would check the phone then look outside then go back inside and pace again. I texted him to find out what was happening. Not hearing from him driving was me crazy.

I couldn't take it anymore. I knew where he was, so I'd just go. Only problem was he took the most recent car we stole. I was stranded.

I debated whether to walk into town. If I left now, it would have been too late to catch him at Juno's bar. I grunted in frustration.

"Why won't he respond?" I grumbled to myself squeezing, checking the phone for the millionth time. I was about to give in when I heard the sound of glass cracking under footsteps behind me.

He's back.

~~~~

Devin pulled up outside Juno's bar not long after leaving the warehouse. His heart raced. This was a stupid idea and he knew it. He could walk in and be shot point-blank. But maybe, just maybe he'd get a chance to talk to Juno. He was hoping for the latter.

He'd made a few enemies in this bar over the weekend. He secretly prayed none of them were there. Patrons walked in and out of the bar. None of them looked like the ones he'd fought over the last couple of days. His hand rested on the car door handle for a few seconds as he contemplated his options. Juno might not even be here, he thought. But there weren't many other options at this point. If he was unlucky enough, Juno would be there. 

Before stepping out, he felt the gun at his waist. He pulled it out and looked at it, checking the bullets left inside the chamber. He contemplated whether or not to bring it in. He placed it below the driver's seat. Devin pulled the shiv from his ankle and dropped it on the floor of the car too. 

He exhaled heavily. Maybe I should have taken Tino's offer, he thought briefly. Then he shook the thoughts away. His phone buzzed with another text from Marcus to meet him at his house.

Devin didn't think that was smart. So he suggested another place, a little back alley by the fire station. It wasn't too far from Juno's bar. If he needed backup Marcus could easily make it there. He quickly updated Marcus on where he was. The memory of Dahlia being tied up washed over him, and he found a new level of courage. 

Stepping into the bar, nothing much had changed. Everyone was still happily drinking and smoking on a Sunday afternoon. He didn't make it five steps in when someone called out in his direction. 

"You got some nerves you little fucker."

He stopped and looked to his left to see one of the men he'd cornered and fought in the bathroom not too long ago. Before he could respond, he was surrounded by five of Juno's men. Two of them grabbed his arm aggressively. His instinct would have been to fight back. But he didn't, fighting wasn't the goal, not yet.

The one standing before him, he remembered from in the bathroom of the bar. His nose was bandaged. Probably broken from when Devin rammed it into the sink. "He's here boss" the man reported on a phone. 

The two men dragged Devin to the back of the bar, down a set of narrow stairs. They passed a series of tasselled nipples and sloppy drunks on their way down. At the end of the hall, there was a door. It opened to reveal a private room.  Devin could have choked on the smoke-filled room. The room was dimly lit with a blue hue. He could only see the people on a white settee right before him. All other figures fading into the background. 

The man on the settee got up and walked slowly towards them. Devin recognized Juno as he got closer. Juno stepped up to him dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, cigarette perched on his lips. Two girls that had been on the settee with him scurried out of the room when they realized what was about to happen.

Devin was still being held firmly by the two men that brought him in. The broken nosed man patted him down and found no weapons. It wasn't smart to walk in without protection but Devin hoped that they would see he came in peace. Or as peaceful as he could be in a situation like this. The door closed behind them and the music faded to almost nothing.

"You son of a bitch!" Juno said before punching Devin in the gut. He grunted at the sudden impact, but his knees didn't buckle.

"You are a pain in my ass" he blew smoke in Devin's face before punching him again. This one was just as hard but he was ready for it. It still hurt.

"You come into my fucking bar, beat up my guys? And for what? Your slut of a sister?"

Devin was preparing for another blow to the stomach but Juno swung at his jaw causing his head to whip in the other direction. He spat out blood on one of the guy's shoes.

"You piece of shit!" the man cried before using his free arm and punching him in his ribcage. It did hurt but that was because he was sore from earlier when he fought Marcus.

His punch didn't pack as much power as Juno's.

"You hit like a bitch," Devin mumbled below his breath.

"What did you say?" Juno asked.

Looking up at the man who'd just hit him. The corner of his lip curled into a tiny sly smile.

"I said you hit like a bitch!"

Juno slapped him with the back of his hand. 

"Can we kill this motherfucker now?" asked the man who Devin fought in the bathroom.

Juno held up his hand to the man. "Not yet Pat. We gotta have a little fun with him first. Pay him back for all the shit he's put my boys through. Shot Travis in the abdomen. You're lucky he's still alive"

Juno pulled out a gun from behind him. It must have been tucked in the back of his pants. 

"Sorry," Devin said.

Juno aimed at Devin's left leg then his right, as if he couldn't pick one to shoot. "You ain't sorry yet bitch"

"I say left" Pat commented.

"Really I was thinking right, look he's leaning to the right," Juno replied as if it was just another day on the job. 

"Don't' do this" Devin pleaded. 

Juno took the cigarette out of his mouth. "Come again?"

"Don't do this," Devin repeated. 

"Oh, I'm gonna do this. And I'm going to enjoy this" Juno aimed at his left leg.

Devin pulled out the only card he had to play. "What about your diamonds?" 

All the men looked at each other. Juno stepped up close to Devin, the gun was still armed but it wasn't aimed at him anymore. His breath stunk of cigarettes and alcohol. 

"The fuck do you know about my diamonds kid?"

Devin told Juno and his men that he had to steal the diamonds to save Dahlia. The men seemed taken aback that he could break into Fitz' house and get away by himself. They believed that Dahlia's kidnappers had wanted the diamonds in the first place. He told them about how they now wanted him dead.

When they asked who these people were who wanted Juno dead, Devin was truthful in saying he didn't know. It took some convincing but Juno now believed that whoever this person was, he was their enemy too.

"You know kid I'm glad you told me all this," Juno said after he was done interrogating.

Devin couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was Juno really going to help him rescue Dahlia?

"But you did cause a lot of problems." Juno tapped the nuzzle of the gun on Devin's forehead. 

"You, kid, had me looking like an idiot to my boss" Devin's hope disappeared.

"Now that I know what the hell is going on..." he paused as if considering his next words.

"Nah I think I better just shoot you."

Juno aimed the gun at his knee again but Devin wasn't about to let him pull the trigger. He mustered up all the strength he had left and elbowed the man on his right in his ribcage. He was caught by surprise and bowed back in pain.

He kicked the gun out of Juno's hand before, swinging on the man that held his right arm. He barely dodged it, but the motion caused him to loosen his grip on Devin's bicep. This gave Devin enough leverage to push him off him.

Juno punched Devin in his side where he was already bruised. His left knee nearly gave way but he didn't fall.

The next punch Juno threw he dodged, he swung landing a punch to his jaw. Juno doubled back. Devin wasn't going down without a fight.

"Don't fight me! Help me get her back and find whoever has her for god's sake!" Devin yelled.

Juno advanced towards him. A kick to Juno's gut had him recoiling. Devin was so focused on Juno that he forgot about the other three men that brought him in. 

He was hit in the back of the head by one of them. The blow sent him to his knees. His vision blurred but he willed himself to stay conscious. He felt his arms being grabbed, and he was dragged to his feet.

Juno got up. He had the gun again. This time it was aimed at his forehead. Devin's vision was going in and out of focus.

"Please" was all he managed to say.

"Your sister is as good as dead, just like you". Devin stared down the barrel of the gun. His body felt heavy. This couldn't be it. I'm supposed to take care of my siblings. What will they do?

"Wait," a gruff voice commanded. A figure had materialized behind Juno and he lowered the gun. The man patted Juno on the shoulder and he moved aside. The person stood before Devin and the two faces Devin was seeing became one.  Gills.

"He could be of use to us," Gills stated matter of factly. Gills guided Juno to one side of the room. They had a conversation out of earshot. Juno was shaking his head at whatever Gills was saying. Devin was still being held firmly. He'd only ever seen Gills once before. Tino had showed him a photograph of him once. Tino was the source of a lot of the information Devin had about the crime world in Berlington.  Gill's reputation preceded him. Murders, de-capitation, trafficking were some of his many accolades.

Gills had stopped Juno from killing him, but at what cost?

They finished conversing. The decision was made. Devin's fate was sealed. Gills walked towards him with the swagger of a God.

"Let's make a deal."