The first rumor about La Flor de Mal that Viper had told Jacob was true. They were traveling down a dark river inside the cave that was gently sloping downward. Jacob saw a glint of light reflect from the edge of the river. He moved the lantern to get a better look. There, partially buried in sand, was a skeleton. It seemed to be climbing out of the river with a handful of jewels still clutched in its hand. But what frightened Jacob about it was how there was a sword still in its back.

"What's this code Bryan's supposed to keep to?" Jacob asked in a worried tone.

"The Code of Honor. It's like the King James Version of the Pirates' Code. 'Any man who falls behind is left behind.' "

"I guess there's no heroes among thieves, huh?"

"Now, for having such a terrible image of gangsters, you're well on your way to becoming one yourself." Viper knew Jacob was offended, so he explained. "You broke a criminal out of jail, stole a bike, left Lorenzo along with some more criminals . . . " Jacob looked over the side of the boat at another pile of gold coins and jewels that had been spilled. ". . . And, you're completely obsessed with treasure."

The boat took a sudden drop, and they came to the underground lagoon Viper had spoken about. A waterfall was on the far side, and looking up, Jacob could see the gray sky through the opening at the top.

They got out and Jacob pulled the boat up into the sand. "That's not true!" he called after Viper, who had already started into the caves. Then said to himself, "I am not obsessed with treasure."

Viper climbed up the rocks with Jacob behind him. Then he crawled out on a ledge and looked down. The Black Widow had assembled in the treasure room, a huge cavern that was filled with gold, jewels, pearls, and anything else of valuable nature. But his eyes were drawn to Rachel, standing next to Blake behind the chest of cursed gold. "Dude, not all treasure is silver and gold," he said to Jacob, never moving his eyes from Rachel. Jacob knew exactly what Viper was talking about when he saw her for himself. They watched as the gang gathered around and Blake prepared to rid them and himself of the curse.

"Well boys, this is it!" Blake announced. "Five years of searching, and we've recovered every piece of gold. . . .Every piece except for this!" He pointed to the medallion on the chain around Rachel neck, and the gang cheered.

"Okay, let's go!" Jacob whispered, about to climb down from where he and Viper watched. As he reached out to pull himself up, his hand landed on a pile of gold coins.

"Not yet!" Viper said, pulling him back, and the coins along with him.

Blake's cat swivelled his little head around as he heard the coins fall. But seeing no one there, he turned his attention back to Blake.

"We wait for the opportune moment," Viper instructed as the walked back through the caves.

"When's that? When it's the best profit to you?" Jacob accused.

"Hey. Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" He didn't allow time for an answer. "Do us and Rachel a favor, huh? I know it's kinda hard for you, but please, stay here. And try not to do anything . . . stupid." He turned away and snuck silently through the caves.

Blake took the medallion and placed it in the palm of Rachel's hand. He raised his knife and she cringed. Everyone was surprised, including her, when he only cut her hand. "That's it?" asked Rachel, relieved but confused.

Blake shrugged. "Waste not." He squeezed her hand tightly around the medallion, then let go. She dropped the coin in the chest. All was silent.

Viper watched from the shadows. He knew Blake wouldn't kill Rachel. Now he was just waiting for them to realize the curse wasn't broken, and he could bargain back the girl and the Silver Angel.

He felt a presence behind him. He placed his hand on his sword and turned around quickly. But before he saw who it was, he was hit over the head and fell to the ground unconscious.

"Sorry, Viper," Jacob muttered, dropping the oar he had hit him with on the ground. "I'm not going to be your leverage."

"Did it work?" Mark asked. "I don't feel no different."

"How do we tell?" Louie added. Blake rolled his eyes and shot him in the chest. He was momentarily shocked at the smoking bullet hole, but realized nothing was happening.

"You're not dead!" Mark exclaimed.

"No!" Louie replied happily. His smile faded. "He shot me!"

The gang was unsure who to accuse: Louie and Mark for bringing them the wrong person, or Blake for ever leading them to La Flor de Mal in the first place.

Blake looked at the blood on the knife, the cut on Rachel's hand, and the medallion in the chest. "You!" he said, taking Rachel by the shoulders. "What was your father's name?" She said nothing. "Was your father Jesse Waters?"

"No," she answered boldly.

"Where's his child? You had the medallion, you must have met Jesse's child one way or another! Where?" When she didn't respond, he backhanded her. She fell on the ground behind him.

As Blake argued with his gang about whose fault it was that the curse was still upon them, Rachel reached up and took the medallion from the chest without attracting any notice. Then she ran.

Rachel tried to remember the way she'd came. But no matter which way she turned, every cave and cavern looked the same. She heard Blake and the gang getting close on her trail. She bolted. Then she fell off the edge of a sudden cliff.

"Gotcha!" a familiar voice said as a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the ledge just below where she'd fallen. She pushed the hair away from her eyes and looked up. There stood Viper with his arms crossed, smirking down at her.

"You!" she said accusingly, rising to her feet.

"Me," Viper said with a nod. He turned away and started back through the caves. When he noticed she was just standing there, dumbfounded, he whistled and motioned for her to follow him. "That's twice I've saved your life now," he said when she caught up with him. "You owe me."

"Okay. I owe you. Now what are you doing here?" Rachel asked as they arrived back at the lagoon.

"Rescuing you. What does it look like?" Viper replied.

"Oh, right. Like I'm gonna believe that."

"No, he's right," Jacob said, appearing behind them.

Rachel turned around suddenly. "Oh," she said. Then looked at Viper. "In that case . . . thanks."

Viper's jaw dropped. "How'd you do that?" he asked Jacob, pointing at Rachel. They heard the gang close behind. Viper pulled out his sword. "You two get back to shore! I'll hold them off!"

"You don't have to do this. If we can get away, you can too," Jacob reasoned. The sounds of the gang's approaching got closer. "Good luck," he said, and hastily helped Rachel into a boat and rowed out.

Viper hurried around the edge of the lagoon, taking the oars out of all the boats and throwing them into the water. Then he ran and hid. When the gang came back to the lagoon, they had no way out. "The oars are missing! Find them, you worthless pack of disease ridden . . . " Dalton ordered, but stopped when he saw Viper emerge from the shadows.

"You," Louie said in astonishment as they all gathered around Viper. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"I'm not?" Viper replied, putting two fingers to his wrist to check.

"No. But we'll change that soon enough," Mark threatened, taking out his sword. The others followed suit.

"Parliley," Viper said. They all looked confused and lowered their weapons. "Parli lelay lulu," he tried again. His mind still mixed up from his whack on the head, he thought intently and muttered to himself, "Parlilay, parsnip, parsley, par . . . partner, parlor . . ."

"Parley?" Mark offered.

"That's the one!" Viper exclaimed, pointing at Mark. "Parley! I plead Parley."

Mark grinned proudly, but his smile faded when he saw the angry glares around him.

"Curse the man who thought up Parley," Louie growled.

"That would be the French," Viper informed.

Jacob pulled the boat ashore and helped Rachel out. Viper's gang stood there waiting for them.

"No more gangsters," Rachel sighed as she saw the men surrounding her.

"Hey, cuz!" Bryan greeted, hugging her tightly.

"Bryan? What are you doing here?" Rachel asked when they pulled away.

He didn't answer. He looked at Jacob. "Hey, kid. Where's Viper?"

Jacob looked at the gangs worried faces and said regretfully, "He fell behind." They all knew what that meant. He was either dead or captured. Every spirit fell.

"A'ight, boys! Get the bricks outta your pants! Let's ride!" Jenni ordered, knowing she was now the leader.

Blake walked up and stared at Viper blankly. The gang surrounded them, expecting a fight.

"How could you have possibly gotten out of the desert?" Blake muttered.

"When you drugged me and left me to die out there in that godforsaken wasteland, you forgot one very important detail." Blake crossed his arms, waiting for him to continue. "I'm Viper deMarco."

"Ah. Well, I guess I won't be making that mistake again," Blake said. He looked around at his gang. "Boys, you all remember Zach deMarco!" They cursed and laughed knowingly. "Kill 'im," he added, then turned away as every gun aimed at Viper.

"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" Viper said, just seconds from death.

Blake stopped in his tracks. "Hold fire!" he shouted, much to the disappointment of the gang. He turned around and looked knowingly at Viper. "You know who's blood we need?"

A devilish smirk appeared on his face, as he realized everything was going his way. "I know who's blood you need."