After almost losing Tyler, I am damn near ready to strangle Vivian. I had no idea she was this crazy… I mean, she did total my Ferrari and show up to my job to sexually harass me in front of my clients, but this? This is next level psychotic. Marty and I arrive outside of an old, abandoned warehouse, and we scope out the place before getting to close. We’re able to climb up a fire escape and peer in through a high window, and there’s Vivian.

In the corner, we can see Laurel and Mary tied up and two big guys standing nearby watching them. Vivian’s on the phone, getting ready to send a text. Probably to me. I text Brandi and give her the address –letting her know so that she can tell the police exactly where to go. I get a text back from Brandi that reads: They’re on their way. Stall, but don’t do anything stupid, Jonathan, please!

I send Brandi a reassuring text that I won’t just as Vivian’s latest message beeps in. It reads: Tick-tock. The kid is next.

“We can’t go in there,” Marty says. “They’ve got guns, and they’re obviously after you. She’ll shoot you dead, man.”

“Brandi said to stall,” I say, so I send Vivian a text. “Let’s try this.”

I text her: We’re on the way. I can’t find where you’re talking about. Are you sure that’s the right address? Please don’t hurt them, I swear, I’m coming.

“She’s not going to fall for that,” Marty says.

“Let’s just hope it gives her time to think about it,” I say. “The police should be here soon.”

“If she hurts Mary, I’m going to kill her,” Marty says. “She’s just a kid. Why would she bring her into this?”

“I don’t know, but this is messed up,” I say. I stare down into the window at Laurel. She looks more pissed than scared. That’s my girl.

“We should get down before they spot us,” Marty says just as I hear a gunshot.

“Fuck!” I shriek, and I look down at the ground where a third guy is pointing a gun up at us. What takes place next happens so suddenly, yet I feel as though I am watching it in slow motion. I glance over, and I see Marty gripping his side. I see his eyes widen and then narrow, and he steps back. I fling my arm out to grab him, but I’m not fast enough. He falls –far. I hear a loud thud as he falls two stories down, landing flat on his back. “Marty!” I scream, and I feel my throat tighten.

“Come down,” the man with the gun says. “Or I’ll put a bullet in his head.”

It’s not like I have a choice. I climb down the ladders, and my initial instinct is to go towards Marty. He’s laying out flat on his back, his eyes closed. “Marty?” I question; he doesn’t move.

“Inside,” the man says to me, and I look at him for the first time.

In my panic, I hadn’t realized who it was. “Donte,” I growl. I try to keep my head. I look over at Marty. “He needs an ambulance.”

“I don’t give a shit,” Donte snarls. “Inside, now, or I’ll finish the job.”

It’s not like I have a choice. Fucking Donte! I fucking knew it. But a lot of this still isn’t making sense. Why are Donte and Vivian working together, and what the hell do they even want? I glance back towards Marty. “Marty!” I call out again, hoping that he will at least flinch to let me know that he’s okay. He doesn’t move.

“Go!” Donte snaps, and I feel the hot barrel of the gun burn through my shirt against my back. I do as he says. I keep glancing back at Marty. I can’t lose another one of my friends. I’m going to kill this son of a bitch.