The sun was setting on another Sunday evening. The streets were scarce. Most people were at the home with their families, having dinner, bonding over their favourite television show or playing games.

But not Devin, he was standing in a putrid alleyway awaiting Marcus' arrival. Pat lit another cigarette and blew the smoke at the windshield. It bounced off the glass and temporarily blocked the view of the alley. 

Devin couldn't believe this was who they sent to help him find Dahlia. They had fought before and Devin had easily taking him and his buddy down in the bathroom. He could see the bruising on his jaw now that he sat next to him. If Devin could beat him up then, what help would he be now?

Better than none at all he thought.

Devin got out of the car and texted Marcus again, after texting Darius to tell him he was still alive. Devin knew his brother was probably pacing back and forth. He couldn't answer Darius' messages before. He needed his head clear. When Darius didn't respond or answer his call, he decided he would go back to the warehouse, after seeing Marcus. Marcus wasn't responding either.

Devin's head ached. He ignored the lightheadedness that came with it and the blurriness that came with each throb. No one was answering and it worried him.

"What's the hold up?" Patrick called out.

Devin rolled his eyes. "We gotta go." There was no point in staying here and waiting. Though Marcus said she was still alive, that could change in an instant. 

"You're wasting my time punk," Patrick said behind a puff of smoke. 

Devin got back in the car, slamming the door. "Just fucking drive."

"You are so fucking lucky the boss said I shouldn't kill you"

Devin snickered. He reserved the comment about Patrick's bruised jaw. 

"Where we going?" he said pulling out of the alley.

"Just drive." 

Patrick's grip tightened around the steering wheel. He muttered under his breath.

"So fuckin lucky"

~~~~

Not long after, they pulled up in front of Marcus' house. Devin got out of the car as soon as it stopped. The bottom of the sun sat on the horizon. It would be dark soon. He had to move fast. 

"You brought me to a cops house? You fuckin stupid?" Patrick whined as he clambered out of the car. 

"You don't have to come. You can be a lil bitch and stay in the car," Devin said as he walked up to the porch. 

Patrick took a few deep breaths. "Don't kill him. Don't kill him. Don't kill him"

"Relax, he knows where Dahlia is." Devin attempted to quell Patrick's nerves. He was more of a pussy than his fourteen-year-old brother. Not that Darius could be called that. He was braver than Devin most times. Devin checked his phone again, still no response from Darius. 

Patrick pulled out his gun. Devin was about to knock but the door was ajar. Patrick was behind him, radiating nervous energy.

"Would you calm the fuck down?" he was getting annoyed. 

"I don't like fucking cops". Devin shook his head.

"Stay out here then" Devin pushed the door slightly. It creaked open. He listened for movement. There was none.  He pushed it open a little more and stepped in slowly and guardedly.

Nothing seemed out of place but the coppery smell of blood hung in the atmosphere. Something had happened.

He walked into the living room. That's when he saw the trail of blood leading to the kitchen. Bloody handprints were on the white kitchen door. He followed the trail. He pushed at the door. His breath hitched momentarily when he saw Marcus' mother.

She lay on the kitchen floor, in a pool of blood. Her eyes were wide open as if she was in shock when she died. She seemed to have been shot in the stomach and bled out.

There were half chopped tomatoes on the counter and a knife was on the floor next to her. Devin felt bad for the lady. She died because of her son's actions.

The trail didn't stop in the kitchen. It continued down to the basement. This is when a slight twinge of panic arose in Devin. If Marcus was dead...

If he was dead, that means he wouldn't know where Dahlia was and all of this would have been for nothing.

He quickened his pace but he still stepped cautiously. What if whoever did this was still here? He pulled out the gun he had earlier.

The basement was bright enough for him to see even at dusk. It looked like it was newly renovated, with the only blemish being the blood on the carpet.

In the far corner, Marcus was slumped against the wall. Devin rushed over to him. He touched his face. He was sweating and he was cold.

Shit! Devin cursed internally from frustration. He was shot in the chest. He was dead. They found out he was helping them and they killed him. 

The fuckers! he cursed. He backed away from the body. He held back the frustration that roared inside him. How could Marcus get himself killed? He was the fucking answer. 

He looked around the room, nothing looked out of place. There must be some clue around here somewhere. Devin tucked the gun in his waist and began to search the room. There had to be something.  He flipped through papers on the coffee table that sat in front of the couch. Nothing. He pulled out the couch cushions, flinging them on the ground. There was nothing but a few coins. He picked up everyone and shoved them into his pocket. The bookshelf was next. 

Then he heard a cough. He turned to Marcus. Was he still alive or was it just his imagination? 

He rushed back over to him. He slapped his face a few times. Marcus' eyes flickered open. This fucker's still alive.

He celebrated inwardly. It was amazing that he was though, seeing the amount of blood he'd lost.

He pushed Marcus up a little so he was more upright. He took up a blanket that he'd tossed on the ground and pressed it against his chest. Devin was careful not to get blood on his hands. 

"Marcus?" he slapped his face again.

"Its Devin. Where's Dahlia?"

He looked up at Darius but his eyes were blank. He struggled to speak. Devin put his ear against his lips to hear what he was trying to say. Marcus let out a shallow breath. 

"Marcus? It's Devin where's Dahlia?" he repeated. His eyes flickered closed.

"No n no no no, Marcus don't do this to me, man! Where's Dahlia, you bitch?!"

He slapped him again, harder this time,  but his eyes didn't open.

He grabbed him by the collar and shook him but his body was completely lifeless.

After a few good shakes, he dropped him and sat next to a dead Marcus. He grabbed his head that was still pounding.

"Shit!!!!"

This time it was out loud. He was so close; so fucking close to finding out where she was. He punched the wall beside him. His already sore knuckles sent a shockwave of pain through his arm, but he ignored it. He raked his hand through his hair. 
He couldn't just sit there. There had to be a way. Maybe he really did have to kill Juno.

If killing Juno was the only way to get his sister back, he'd do it. Darius wouldn't agree but he now had no choices left. He would do it tonight.

He got up to leave then turned to Marcus' lifeless body. It was Marcus' fault all of it. Then, something in Marcus' hand caught his eye. He stooped down to inspect it. In his hand was a little piece of crumpled paper. It was then that he noticed a pen next to Marcus' leg.

He grabbed the paper and straightened it out. Marcus had given him Dahlias location. 

His body went numb when he read the address. He couldn't believe it. He never wanted to go back there after they escaped. It couldn't possibly be, they were dead. They're supposed to be dead.  

~~~~

Tino had been calling Devin's phone for the past half an hour. Devin would have answered if he wasn't so worried about his brother, his sister and the address Marcus left behind. Then maybe he wouldn't have.

He'd instructed Patrick to bring him to the warehouse. He had to make sure Darius was ok before he went to the location. He had no intention of telling him where Dahlia was, no matter how much he asked. 

The place was dark. Not a hint of light. He walked in slowly but tentatively.

"Darius?" no one answered. He called out again and pulled out his gun, "Darius!"

He took out his phone and redialed. He listened for a noise that would indicate if his brother was still there.

A phone lit up and buzzed in the middle of the room. He walked over to it slowly. He feared the worse as he bent down to pick up the phone. There was a grunt behind him.

He aimed at the darkness. "Who is it?" he called out. 

"Devin?" The voice approached him. He recognized the voice but it wasn't Darius.

His eyes were still adjusting to the darkness.

"Tino?" Devin inched forward, still cautious of him. "What are you doing here? Where's Darius?!" he questioned.

"He's not here?" Tino sounded confused.

"What did you do with him?!" Devin's voice was laced with anger and a hint of desperation.

His eyes were beginning to water. He took short breaths in an attempt to calm himself down. He could see a little better now. 

"Woah calm down! It wasn't me!" 

"Yea right" he advanced towards Tino but he didn't move. He could now see cuts on Tino's eyebrow and lip, which weren't there earlier that day. Tino massaged his shoulder as he spoke.

"I got jumped by Mike and Ace," he said calmly as he rolled his shoulder back. "Looks like they were working with whoever kidnapped your sister... and now your brother"

"I don't believe you! You walk in here with them and as soon as I leave, my brother gets taken!" he screamed in Tino's face.

The gun was now resting on Tino's temple. Still, he was unfazed.

"I should fucking kill you right now!" Devin spat. 

"Then do it!" Tino retaliated, getting closer to his face. Daring him to pull the trigger. 

Devin's eyes wouldn't stop watering. His breathing was heavy and his hand trembled. He looked into Tino's emotionless eyes.

He knew he was involved somehow, he knew it. But he couldn't bring himself to pull the damn trigger. He willed it, one squeeze and he'd be dead. He pulled away.

Tino let out a hefty breath, "For a second there I thought you were going to do it"

Devin shook his head, "Where is Darius?"

"I don't know. They jumped me in the car on our way back. I had decided I was done trying to help. Then Mike pulled a gun on me. Ace swerved the car and crashed it. I shot Mike but Ace got away."

Devin took in his words, not sure if he should believe him or not. 

"How do you know they're working with the fucker who took Dahlia?" Devin held back his conclusion as to who he was almost sure had them. Tino could be playing him. 

"One of their phones rang. The number was unknown I answered and the voice asked 'Did you get the kid?'" he explained. "I assumed that since they weren't successful, the kid was safe. It looks like they tipped someone else off"

Devin snickered, not believing a thread of his lies. How could a man like Tino not know that his men were working for someone else? A man that claimed to know everything that goes on in the city?

"You gotta believe me, man. I walked back here..."

"Really" That's bullshit  Devin thought. 

"Well after getting myself cleaned up first" he added.

Devin shook his head and walked past him, butting against the shoulder that he was rubbing.

"Ahhh, you little bitch! Where are you going?" Tino groaned. 

"To get my fucking brother and sister," Devin answered tucking the gun into his waist. 

"And how are you going to do that huh? With the help of that low-life Patrick? Who didn't even see me come in cause he was too busy checking his phone?" Tino questioned. 

"At least I know his stance in the matter which is more than what I can say about you." Devin continued towards the exit. 

"Well if you're rolling with him, it means you got through with Juno." Tino stepped towards Devin. 

"I know an alliance like this wouldn't come free. What is he offering? What deal did you make to keep your life huh? 'Cause those measly diamonds weren't gonna cut it!"

Devin knew what he was doing. Tino was trying to get into his head. He continued to walk out.

Tino shouted after him "Fine! But even if he didn't kill you, you've lost your life, Devin!"