The Decision

The Decision


Marcus's POV

Vincent's gun was directed at my chest, but I kept my hands steady.
"So, Marcus," Vincent said with that cold smile of his. "Ready to make a deal?"
I looked around the building. Ten of Vincent's men circled us, all armed. Jess was tied to a chair in the corner, blood on her face from where they'd hit her.
"What kind of deal?" I asked, even though I already knew I'd never really agree to it.
"Simple," Vincent said. "Help me catch Emma, and I'll let you and your girlfriend live."
Jess made an angry sound through her gag. She wasn't my girlfriend, but Vincent didn't need to know that.
"Why do you need my help?" I asked. "You have all these guys. You have weapons."
Vincent laughed. "Because Emma trusts you, Marcus. She won't run from you like she runs from my guys."
I tried to think about it. Really, I was counting exits and looking for guns. The warehouse had three doors - one behind Vincent, one to my left, and one behind me. There were metal pipes scattered around from old building work.
"And if I say no?" I asked.
"Then I kill you both right now," Vincent said plainly. "And I hunt Emma down anyway."
I looked at Jess. Her eyes were wide with fear, but I could see something else there too. She was trying to tell me something.
Her eyes moved to her pocket, then back to me. Then to her bag again.
Her phone. She still had her phone.
"Okay," I said to Vincent. "I'll help you."
Vincent's smile got bigger. "Smart choice. But just to make sure you don't try anything stupid..." He nodded to one of his guys, who walked over and tied my hands behind my back.
"Can't be too careful," Vincent said.
"What's the plan?" I asked.
"You're going to call Emma," Vincent said. "Tell her you're in trouble. Tell her to meet you somewhere safe."
"Where?"
"Somewhere with no escape routes," Vincent said. "Somewhere my men can surround her."
I nodded like I agreed. But inside, my mind was racing. I needed to warn Emma without Vincent knowing. I needed to get a message to her somehow.
"Can I call her now?" I asked.
"Not yet," Vincent said. "First, we move to the spot. Then you call."
As Vincent's men started packing up their guns, I moved closer to Jess. Vincent was busy giving orders, not watching us carefully.
"Sorry about this," I whispered to Jess, making it look like I was just being nice.
But what I was really doing was reaching for her phone with my tied hands. My fingers found her pocket and carefully pulled out her phone.
Jess understood. She moved in her chair to block Vincent's view while I typed a quick message with my hands behind my back.
The message was for Emma, but I couldn't write it clearly. Vincent might check Jess's phone. I had to use the code Emma and I had talked about weeks ago.
When we first started running from Vincent, Emma and I had made up a simple code. If one of us ever needed to send a secret message, we would talk about a "bridge" - but we really meant the old railroad tunnel under Fifth Street. The place where we'd first hidden from Vincent's men.
I typed quickly: "Emma, Jess here. Marcus says meet him at the bridge tonight. Says it's safe. But be careful. - J"
It wasn't much, but Emma was smart. She would remember our secret word. She would know "bridge" meant the tube. And "be careful" would tell her something was wrong.
I slipped the phone back into Jess's pocket just as Vincent turned around.
"Ready to go?" Vincent asked.
"Ready," I said.
But I wasn't ready to help Vincent catch Emma. I was ready to stop him.
As we walked out of the building, I started planning. Vincent wanted me to lead Emma into a trap. Instead, I was going to lead Vincent into one.
The subway tunnel had various exits. If Emma got my message, she would approach carefully. She would bring help - maybe the police, maybe other people who wanted to stop Vincent.
"You know, Marcus," Vincent said as we walked to his car, "I'm amazed. Most people would have chosen to die rather than betray their friends."
"Emma's not my friend," I lied. "She's just someone I got stuck with."
Vincent laughed. "Good. Because after tonight, she'll be dead. And you'll work for me permanently."
I nodded like I agreed. But inside, I was making a promise to myself. Vincent would never hurt Emma. Whatever it took, I would stop him.
We drove through the dark streets toward the spot Vincent had picked - an empty parking lot near the river. Perfect for surrounding someone with no escape.
But Emma wouldn't be there. If my message worked, she would be waiting in the cave, ready for Vincent to walk into her trap instead.
"Call her," Vincent said, giving me a phone.
I dialed Emma's number, hoping she had gotten Jess's message. Hoping she remembered our code.
"Marcus?" Emma's voice sounded scared.
"Emma, thank God," I said, putting real worry in my voice. "I need your help. Vincent has Jess. He's going to kill her."
"Where are you?" Emma asked.
"The parking lot by the river," I said. "But Emma, be careful. Vincent has guys everywhere. Come alone, but watch for traps."
I was telling Vincent exactly what he wanted to hear. But I was also telling Emma the truth - Vincent did have guys everywhere, and she did need to be careful.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes," Emma said.
"Emma, wait-" I started to say.
But she had already hung up.
Vincent smiled. "Perfect. She'll be here soon, and this will all be over."
I smiled back, but inside I was scared. What if Emma didn't understand the code? What if she really came to the parking lot?
What if my plan to save her just got her killed?
Twenty minutes later, we waited in the dark. Vincent's men were hidden all around the parking lot. Vincent kept his gun pointed at me.
"Where is she?" Vincent asked when Emma didn't show up.
That's when I heard the sounds. Police sounds, getting closer.
Vincent's face went pale. "You set me up."
"Emma's smarter than you thought," I said.
But even as the cops surrounded the parking lot, I couldn't shake one terrible thought.
What if the Emma who answered my phone call wasn't the real Emma at all?