The van lurched forward, causing me to lose my balance. Since I couldn’t
put my hands out to balance myself, I fell sideways. I braced myself for
the van floor to hurt, but instead I landed against something a little
softer. It jarred my newly sore (again) ribs anyway and I let out a muffled
cry. Losing my grip on my fight to stay calm didn’t help matters at all and
my heart pounded harder. I choked back a sob. The muffler on the van was
messed up because it was making a lot of noise and I could barely hear
Brian. Of course his voice was muffled too. I tried to right myself and
after much maneuvering I managed to sit with my back against the back of the
van wall, my knees drawn up to my chest. I scarcely heard shuffling and
then a shoulder pressed up against mine. Instinctively I tensed, but
quickly realized it was Brian. I shifted my bound hands to the left and
found his. He returned the squeeze and the panic eased just a little. Of
course, despair filled its place. Despair from the situation Brian and I
were in and especially what was going to happen when Marcus found out that
Nick was still alive.

“No! ‘If and when you can’?! Nick, you can’t go! You know as well as I
do what is going to happen when Marcus sees you. My God, why couldn’t you
have just stayed away like I told you too?!” Kevin ranted, desperately.

Nick held onto the wall in front of the door. “Kev, Marcus’ friend said
that if I didn’t do exactly what he said, he would kill Lizz or Brian. I
can’t let that happen.”

“What’s to say he will stick to his word and won’t harm them if you do
surrender yourself?” Kevin reasoned.

“I don’t know, but I am not taking that chance.” Nick said flatly. He was
scared to go to Marcus’ room, but he was even more scared of the
consequences. The seizure had stopped, but he was still shaking, probably
from the exhaustion. “Trust me, it’ll work out. Besides you know you can’t
just leave AJ in here. I have to do this.” Nick tried to convince Kevin,
along with reassuring himself.

Kevin looked pained. He glanced at the door and then at AJ. “Call me as
soon as you can. I’ll figure something out.”

Nick nodded shakily and slipped out the door, still holding onto the wall.
Kevin’s heart was beating wildly and he wondered if he had done the right
thing. His mind racing, he rushed to AJ’s side and started to pat his face
gently.

“Come on buddy. I need you to wake up. Wake up man.” He
coaxed.

AJ moaned and reached a hand up to the back of his head. “Wha- what
happened?” He croaked.

“AJ, you were hit over the head. Do you remember anything?” Kevin asked
anxiously.

AJ wrinkled up his face. “That maintenance guy, he wasn’t
really...holy
shit! That other guy...” His eyes opened a little wider and he winced at
the movement.

Kevin sighed. “It’s a long story and I don’t have time to explain it to
you now. Nick is alive. He and Lizz have been living under aliases
to hide from Marcus. I’ll explain later, but right now he is in trouble and
so is Brian and Lizz.” Kevin explained hurriedly. “Marcus’ friend
kidnapped Brian and Lizz and told Nick to surrender himself to Marcus or Bri
and Lizz die. Nick just left for his room.”

“That sonofabitch!” AJ started to sit up.

“Whoa, you got hit pretty hard. Take it easy.” Kevin urged, pulling AJ up
carefully.

“You let him go in there?!” AJ glared at Kevin accusingly.

“What else could I do? That guy told Nick if anything goes out of plan,
Brian and Lizz will get killed!” Kevin defended. He grabbed a new
washcloth and put it on the back of AJ’s head. The other one was on the
floor, tinged red.

AJ flinched away from the pressure Kevin put on his head. “And Nick is
going to get killed by Marcus! Let’s go!” He took the washcloth from
Kevin and held it himself. Then he stood up, but started to teeter.

Kevin grabbed him. “You stay here and call Howie. I’m going to find
Nick.”

AJ nodded and picked up the phone. He didn’t even bother calling
Howie’s room, but dialed his cell instead. Satisfied that AJ was staying put
and that Howie would be on his way, Kevin hurried out the door. AJ groaned
when Howie’s voice mail clicked on after the first ring. He was on the damn
thing! “Howie! Get down to my room now! We have a big pr--”

AJ was cut off by a loud crash and yelling. It was coming from right
across the hall. Without thinking twice, he slammed the phone down and made
his way to the room.

Nick nervously went through the slightly ajar door. He went into the small
living room of the suite and into the bedroom. Marcus was sitting with his
back to him, on the edge of the bed. This better work... Nick
thought to himself.

“Yo, Marcus. You okay man?” He tried to make his voice have a sharp edge
to it. It was hard seeing as how it wasn’t very stable.

Marcus turned around slowly. “Who the hell are you? Where’s Vinnie? And
where’s my girl?”

Nick resisted the urge to hit him. “Your girl?” He questioned carefully.

“Yeah I was gonna fuck her six ways till Sunday. She fuckin left.”
Marcus noted sourly. “You didn’t answer my first question. Who the
hell are you?”

Nick clenched his fists. “Ah, I’m uh, Vinnie’s cousin, Frankie.” Nick
thought quickly. Soonest chance he got, he was taking Marcus down.

“Vinnie doesn’t have any cousins.” Marcus stated.

“Yeah, well we don’t talk all that much. He called me the other day and
told me what was going on. He figured I would have a few good ideas on how
to have even more fun with y’alls friends.” Nick bluffed. He decided to
stroke Marcus’ ego. “Nice work on Carter, by the way. You are quite the
pro at this shit aint ya?”

Marcus grinned. If this guy knew about him killing Carter, then he must be
okay. Vin wouldn’t tell just anyone. “He left awhile ago to go fuck around
with that skinny little freak and probably Carter’s pathetic friend. Man,
you shoulda seen the bitch I had in here. I woulda shared her. Her sister
was coming up too, I wonder what the hell happened to her, but when I see
her again...” Marcus trailed off, leaning into the bed.

With a sudden rush a adrenaline and a vicious cry, Nick leapt at Marcus.
“I AM NOT GOING TO LET YOU FUCKING HURT MY FRIENDS EVER AGAIN! THIS FUCKING
ENDS NOW YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!” He screamed. Marcus was taken
completely by surprise and Nick used that to his advantage. Blow after
blow, he aimed at Marcus. Nick felt a crunch when his fist connected with
Marcus’ nose. Marcus yowled in pain, but finally regained his senses. He
used his massive size to throw Nick off of him and began his own attack.
They both struggled to their feet.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Marcus screamed at Nick.

Nick didn’t answer. The adrenaline fled him as quick as it came and he
braced himself on the edge of the desk that was in there. Marcus bounded
over to him and punched him hard in the gut. “I WANT ANSWERS!” He yelled,
the pounding in his head from the hangover made him even angrier.

“Fuck you.” Nick whispered.

Marcus snarled and lunged at him, attempting to strangle him. Nick coughed
and gasped, but couldn’t get Marcus off.

Just then the door burst open and Kevin flew in. He came to a dead stop
when he saw Marcus’ hands around Nick’s neck. “LET HIM GO!” He bellowed.

Marcus jumped back in surprise. “You! What are you doing in here.” The
cloudiness from his hangover wouldn’t let him make the connection.

Nick struggled to a sitting position on the floor, his hands wrapped around
his already bruising neck. He removed one hand to wipe the blood from his
mouth.

Kevin’s eyes widened and then narrowed into angry slits. “Get away from
him.” He said evenly.

Immediately the door flew open again and AJ burst through. “Nick?” He
said uncertainly, staring at him.

Marcus’ head whipped around. “Nick? It isn’t possible. What the
fuck IS GOING ON HERE?!” His voice raised as he darted his face between
Nick’s and AJ and Kevin’s in the doorway.

Nick still didn’t say anything.

“Holy shit. It is you, isn’t it? I already killed you once! I guess I
will just have to do it again!” He lunged at Nick once again, attacking him
with all his might.

“NO!” Kevin and AJ both lunged for Marcus. Kevin reached first and tried
to pull Marcus off. He finally got a good hold and yanked him off Nick.
Kevin wrapped his arm around Marcus’ throat, trying to cancel his
resistance. It didn’t take much. Marcus was still suffering from the
effects of the alcohol and promptly passed out. AJ locked the door and then
Kevin made him sit down on the other bed. AJ argued, but finally gave in
when he realized his head felt like it was going to explode. Not to mention
the blood that was everywhere, most of it Nick’s, was making him queasy.
Kevin tended to the unconscious Nick, lifting him onto the other bed. He
was a mess and would be in a helluva amount of pain when he woke up, but
nothing seemed to be life-threatening. Howie got to the room about 15
minutes later. Kevin briefly explained the whole situation. AJ and Howie
had a good shock, but both of them tried to focus on the matter at hand.
They couldn’t go to the police because Brian and Lizz were still in
jeopardy. All they could do was wait.