The world flew by in a blur. The only thing Evan could focus on was the blood on his hands. The car suddenly came to a jolting stop, sending Evan forward suddenly, the seat belt digging into his shoulder painfully. Evan looked up, seeing that Tyler had parked in a random back alley. He still gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes wide.
"They killed him…" Evan whispered, his voice weak. "They killed him and didn't care…"
"I know." Tyler sighed. "I know." He finally let go of the steering wheel. "This shit happens a lot...Just normal people get caught in it like that guy…" He stopped then, looking at Evan with sad eyes. "Like you." He suddenly pulled Evan into a hug, blood smearing on his jacket. He pressed his face against Tyler's chest, sobs shaking his shoulders. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." Evan stammered out. He moved away from the hug, taking a deep breath to try to calm himself. He wasn't sure about what he wanted to say, knowing that it would confirm to Tyler that he knew the code but he couldn't let Tyler take the responsibility for what happened. "I climbed the fence." He put his blood hands over his face, wanting to scream. He knew Tyler was staring at him.
"Evan." He didn't look up at Tyler. "Evan. Look at me." Doing as he was told, Evan lowered his hands and looked up at Tyler. His tears turned red as they fell down his face. "You don't have to do this alone...Tell me what the code is. You don't have to bare it alone. Please...You're just a kid. If I know it...then Brian will leave you alone sooner... Just tell me." His voice broke. Evan bit his lip to stop himself from sobbing again. He had promised Adam.
"I'm sorry…" Evan shook his head, sniffling. "I promised him. I can't tell. I can't tell anyone, not even you." Tyler ran a hand through his blond hair. There were specks of dried blood in it. Tyler suddenly punched the steering wheel, making Evan jump and press himself against the door, his hand on the handle to open it.
"I just want to save them, Evan...I just want to save them from that fucking monster…" Tyler sounded like he was going to cry. "Craig, Jonathan...all of them...Are my responsibility...I saved them once...I have to do it again. That code….Will save them, my family."
"Tyler...I…" Evan didn't know what to say.
"God…" Tyler put a hand over his face. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to get angry."
"It's okay." Evan's voice was almost a breath.
"If you can't tell me…" Tyler lowered his hand, meeting Evan's wide-eyed stare. "Then, please...Can you save them for me?"
Jonathan and Craig found them ten minutes later. Tyler and Evan had been silent since Tyler's question, and watched the alley around them. In the rearview mirror, the blue BMW had gone past before reversing and coming to a stop. The doors opened, both of them getting out and hurried over to the car.
"Oh my fucking God...Evan!" Craig had seen the blood. Evan looked up when Craig appeared by the window, looking at him with wide eyes. "Oh my god." He pulled the door open, cupping the sides of Evan's head to see if he was hurt. "Whose blood is this? What happened?" Craig cried when he saw that Evan wasn't hurt, his gaze turning to Tyler.
"It was just this guy...He got caught in the middle of us and they shot anyways...Killed him." Tyler had explained. "They took off after that."
"We should clean you guys up and get the blood off the car before you get pulled over by some cop." Jonathan said. Evan had turned his wide eyed gaze up to Jonathan who for the first time, smiled at him. It had made him feel a little better. "That'll probably be in the news so let's get out of sight quick." And they did. Not wanting to let Ryan and his driver follow them if they were still out there, they drove to a garage owned by one of Tyler's friends who introduced himself as Max.
"Let's get that blood off you." Tyler had said, reaching into the back for something. "There's a laundromat down the street so we can wash your clothes while we wait. I got some for you to wear in the meantime." He pulled out a red and white jacket and a t-shirt from the back, handing them to Evan who stared down at them, doubting that they would fit. "That jacket's got a story. Don't get blood on it or anything." Tyler had said with a small smile, trying to make light of the situation. Evan didn't laugh. Tyler sighed and reached back into his car for a couple of napkins. Evan had flinched back a little as Tyler wiped the blood off Evan's face as a parent would clean their child's face after a messy dinner.
"Tyler." Evan had moved away, taking the tissues from him. "I got it."
"Shut up, I almost got it all." Roughly, he got the last of the blood of Evan's cheek, the napkin scraping at his cheek. When Tyler let go of him, Evan found his way to the small bathroom and as soon as the door closed, he started to cry. The red jacket and the t-shirt had slipped from his hands, dropping to the floor as he leaned against the door, his shoulders shaking as sobs choked him. He struggled to breathe through the sobs, slowly sliding down the door to the floor beside the jacket. His hand curled around the leather of the red jacket and he suddenly threw it across the room in anger, letting out a small cry. He stayed there on the floor, crying until there was a small knock on the door.
"Hey, kid?" It was Jonathan. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Evan said weakly. Slowly he had gotten up, wincing as he pulled the bloody black t-shirt off and cleaned the rest of the blood off his neck. His sides and some of his chest were still dark, coloured purple, yellow and green from bruises.
Now, Evan sat on top of a dryer that wasn't being used, wearing the red and white jacket that surprisingly fit well, but the t-shirt was baggy. He watched the washing machines that lined the wall and the constant turning. A neon light buzzed in the window. A plastic palm tree was illuminated pink in the neon glow.
"Here. You should eat something." Evan's eyes looked down at the chocolate bar in Tyler's hand. He shook his head, remembering the heat of the day that had melted the chocolate in Adam's hand. Tyler sighed and set it down the dryer beside Evan, leaning against the machine. "You don't talk much do you? That's okay, I'm not asking you to. I just want you know that's okay, especially after what happened. All of us...we've gotten a taste of it over the years. I mean, I told you what Brian did to my hand." Tyler curled his right hand into a loose fist. He winced a little and shook it out. "Craig almost got shot in the head once...but that's his story to tell. What I'm trying to say is, we know how...disturbing it is to see death like that. I just can't imagine what it's like for you...I mean, I was young when I found myself on the streets but I had wanted to be there. I knew what I was getting into." Tyler stopped, cracking open the pop can in his hand. Evan looked out the window, the pink neon making the red of his jacket look softer.
"Do you think he knew?" Evan whispered. Tyler's brow furrowed.
"What?"
"Do you think that man that Ryan killed...had any idea that he was going to die today? He probably spent the day doing things as usual...But do you think he had any idea that every second was ticking closer and closer to when we would appear in his rearview mirror with that Cadillac behind us?" Evan turned his head slowly to look back at Tyler. "Did something tell him not to take that exit but he did anyways? You say that you encounter death all the time...don't you wonder how long your countdown is? Will you know it when it gets down to the seconds?"
"That's a bit deep, kid." Tyler took a sip from his pop, trying to not look unnerved by what he had said. Evan picked up the chocolate bar, looking down it's bright red wrapper.
"I think Adam knew…" Gritting his teeth, Evan ripped open the wrapper and broke off a piece, biting into it. He was aware of Tyler watching him so he kept his eyes down, breaking off another piece of chocolate.
"I thought I knew once." Tyler said quietly. At that, Evan's head snapped up, looking up at Tyler with a curious expression. "It wasn't the time with the hammer...It was a couple of months ago."
"Luke?" Evan couldn't stop himself from saying the name. Tyler only nodded.
"I had a feeling that someone wasn't as loyal as they said they were, but I had ignored it. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to think about it. The idea that someone who I was close to, who we're all close to, wanted to betray us. It scared me...It was stupid of me not to listen."
As the white Corvette turned the corner, Tyler had to step on his breaks suddenly, the car skidding forward before coming to a stop. The blue BMW was stopped in the middle of the road, both doors open. There was blood on the blue paint.
"Shit." Tyler pulled his gun from his jacket and got out of his car. "Jonathan? Luke?" There was no answer. Both had disappeared. Tyler swore again, reaching into pocket for his phone. Lights flared behind him as he turned to see the black and yellow Dodge Charger turn the corner, coming to a stop behind Tyler's car.
"What's going on?" Marcel's voice called out.
"Luke and Jon are gone." Tyler called back. He heard the Charger's doors open and close, Marcel and Craig hurrying to join Tyler as he made his way slowly towards the BMW. Jonathan had been driving, he didn't let anyone else drive his car. He had been leading the way towards their rendezvous point with Brock and Smitty, when he had suddenly sped up, leaving Tyler and Marcel having to catch up. As he reached the driver's door, Tyler's chest tightened. There was blood on the steering wheel. Something horrible had happened.
"Tyler!" Jonathan suddenly yelled. He looked from the car to see Jonathan illuminated by the car's headlights and the gun held to his head. Luke's grip tightened on the gun.
"Luke? What is this? What's happening?" Tyler took a cautious step forward.
"Put your gun down." Luke snapped.
"Let him go, Luke. Let's talk about this." Tyler kept his voice steady. "Let's just talk."
"Put your gun down." Luke said again. Tyler didn't move. He looked between Luke and Jonathan who's nose was bleeding, blood dripping onto his shirt. He looked back at Marcel and Craig who, fearing for Jonathan's life, nodded. Tyler slowly put his gun down, kicking it across the pavement towards Luke.
"There. It's down. Let's talk now. What's going on?" Tyler said, holding a hand out as he took a careful step forward.
"You're not going go up the road." Luke snarled. Tyler's brow furrowed.
"Why?"
"This job isn't yours anymore." Tyler's hands curled into fists. "You're going to let the cars that are on their way right now pass. Don't try to fight this." Luke snapped.
"Did Brian put you up to this? Did you make a deal with Brian? You know you aren't supposed to do that, Luke! You know that he'll screw you over!" Tyler cried. Luke didn't say anything. He was waiting for Tyler to obey his instructions. They could hear cars coming up the hill.
"What about Brock and Smitty?" Craig cried. "They are still up there!" Tyler made eye contact with Jonathan, whose face seemed oddly calm.
"Forget about them." Luke said. Tyler couldn't do that. Taking a deep breath, he turned and bolted towards his car. His hand curled around the side of the open door as a loud bang reverberated through the night air. Tyler gasped, a white hot pain surging through his body from his shoulder. His knees buckled under him, sending him falling to the pavement, his hand clutching the door in an attempt to keep himself up. Craig was there, his arms around Tyler. He could hear raised voices and another bang. Tyler struggled to breath, feeling hot blood oozing down his back as he fell forward, his hand slipping from the car door.
"Tyler!" Craig called out, his voice sounding far away. Tyler lay on the hot pavement, staring at the edge of the road and the faint glitter of lights from the city in the distance. Tyres squealed and there was a loud crash, metal bending under metal. Marcel yelled something and there were more gunshots. There was pressure on his back, pinning him down to the pavement. The thought occurred to him that this was the end; that he would die and leave his family alone to fend for themselves. He was going to die because he didn't want to think about the idea that someone was a liar. "Stay with me….Stay with me!" Craig called out from somewhere in the darkness that surrounded Tyler, blocking out the world. He didn't try to fight it.
"I woke up at home, all patched up. I thought I was dead. I thought for sure that this was some weird afterlife, till the pain kicked in and I realised I was still alive. Craig explained everything to me. Luke had been planning with Brain for weeks leading up to that night. Luke got away, getting a ride with some of Brian's guys who took off when they saw that Luke hadn't been successful in stopping us, but they did see that he had shot me. I'll never forget the look on Brian's face when he saw me next, alive and fairly well." Tyler laughed, but after a few moments, his smile faded again. "I haven't seen much of Luke since. He was the first person to join me. The first member of my family. I still can't accept what happened…" Evan looked ahead at the spinning machines, imagining himself there.
He imagined that he had ridden up the hill with Tyler in the Corvette and his own fear at seeing the BMW. He imagined that he was there when they saw Luke and his hostage. Evan imagined that he had given cover for Tyler as he ran, not afraid of the weapon in his hand. If only he were a hero like Tyler was, if only he had been there. Looking down at the chocolate bar in his hand that was starting to melt, he wondered what he really would have done if he were there. He wasn't strong, he was afraid. He probably would have been frozen in place, and cried when he tried to put pressure on Tyler's wound, blood covering his hands and pooling on the pavement. "I don't think I'll ever accept it." Tyler breathed, bringing Evan back to reality.
The pink neon light in the window buzzed and flickered.
Evening wind pulled at Evan's hair and drifted through his spread fingers. He held his hand out the window of the Corvette, now repaired and clean. In the rearview mirror, he could see the blue BMW following them through the palm tree lined streets of L.A towards what Tyler called home. When Evan saw the street that would take him home, he had turned to Tyler, almost expecting him to turn onto it but he kept going straight.
Leaning his head back against the seat, Evan tried to resist the air flowing around the car with his hand only to have it pushed back, so he moved his hand up and down slowly, allowing it to float on the wind. A few minutes later, near the heart of L.A, the car turned into a parking garage, coming to a stop a few moments later beside a black and yellow Charger. As Tyler turned the key and got out, Evan stayed for a moment longer, taking a breath to calm his nerves before getting out. He followed Tyler towards a heavy metal door, Jonathan and Craig joining them, both carrying Craig's supplies. Tyler held the door for them, and lead the way to elevator once they were inside. Evan hadn't been in such a nice place like this before. The elevator looked like it was made of glass coloured a shimmering sea green, the floor polished. He looked around the brightly lit elevator, his gaze landing on the red numbers that counted slowly up. Standing in the middle of these gangsters in this glittering elevator, Evan could only wonder what their apartment looked like. He fidgeted with the sleeve of his red jacket, watching the numbers slowly tick up.
When the doors finally opened, Evan followed Tyler and the others down the hall to a door which Tyler unlocked and pushed open. The sound of music and laughter surrounded Evan. The smell of food reminded him how hungry he was.
"Where the hell have you been?" A new voice asked. Nervously, Evan stepped closer to Tyler, almost stepping on his heels as he walked into the large apartment. It was all open, the far wall only windows. A hallway lead off to other rooms on the far side. In the living room where large, expensive couches, a big TV and a coffee table that was currently covered in Chinese take-out containers. The large kitchen was a bit cluttered, but such a beautiful place made it seem like nothing. Most of all, it was so bright. Evan's home was never this bright, this open.
"A couple of Brian's guys caught up to us so we had to lay low for a little bit before coming back." Tyler explained, walking across the room to lean against the side of one of the couches where four men were sitting, plates on their laps or empty on the table. Evan wanted to follow him but instead, he stayed by the entrance, fidgeting with his sleeve again. He didn't know what to do, he wasn't sure if he was really welcome or not.
"Hungry? I'm sure we got something." Craig said to Evan as he headed towards the kitchen. Evan nodded and started to follow him.
"Who's he?" Evan stopped.
"Evan. The kid we found who Brian had beat the hell out of. You know that, Daithi." Tyler explained. He waved Evan over who only moved when Jonathan and Craig gave him a reassuring smile. "Evan, this is Daithi, Brock, Marcel and Smitty." Tyler gestured to each of the four. Only Brock smiled at him.
"I thought you said you weren't letting anyone join after what Luke did." Marcel said as he set his plate down on the table. Evan looked back over his shoulder at Jonathan who was in the kitchen with Craig but Evan had a feeling that he was listening. "Why are you letting this kid join?"
"He's going home once this is done." Tyler crossed his arms. "I know we're all still shocked and upset because of what Luke did but that isn't reason to take it out on him."
"Do you know the code?" Smitty asked Evan who said nothing.
"Did he tell Brian the code?" Marcel demanded. "Has he told you the code?"
"Stop it. We're not getting into that right now, okay?" Tyler snapped. He straightened up and headed down the hall, leaving Evan alone in the large room with people he didn't know. Fidgeting with his sleeve, Evan turned away from the four sitting around the coffee table and walked towards the windows. He'd never seen Los Angeles from this high up before. With the sun setting over the water, the city was a silhouette before him, dotted with glittering lights.
"The door opens." Jonathan laughed, pushing the sliding door opened beside Evan who watched Jonathan step out onto the balcony. Evan glanced back at the others and followed Jonathan outside.
"It's beautiful." Evan said quietly.
"Yeah." Jonathan leant against the railing looking out over the city. They could hear sirens in the distance. On one side of the balcony was a row of flower pots, the flowers bright and blossoming. Evan wondered who tended to them. "You're really brave, I hope you know that." Jonathan said. Evan looked up at him, nodding slowly. "You're braver than me. If I was you and Brian left me for dead…" Jonathan shook his head. "Don't listen to them if they say anything to you." Jonathan gestured to the guys inside. "They're just as scared as you are since Luke left. It's as if Brian can get in anyone's head. Tyler told me that you didn't tell him the code when he asked. You didn't tell Brian even when he almost killed you, did you?"
"I promised." Evan said, his eyes on the glittering lights.
Jonathan laughed, looking back out over the city. "Yeah...You're braver than me."