Page 103 of Rules of Engagement

I hung up and pressed my back against the wall as two sets of footsteps moved down the stairs and hit the lobby. Something dropped onto the floor.

"Lexi must have told you if Solomon kept more cash in the house," said Damien. "Where is it?"

"If there is any money here, I don't know about it. Lexi didn't tell me. What are you planning to do anyway? Steal as much as you can, sell it to some creep you know is up to no good, make a payoff and all will be okay? Or are you going to live your life on the run, looking over your shoulder every single day?"

"I have to make a payoff or my brother is going to die. I got two warnings and the next one won't be just a warning. They'll kill Solomon, or me, or my sister. Maybe even Lexi. I have to do this."

"No, you don't. I can help you."

"No one can help me! I owe too much."

"We can help. We can take down the people you owe the money to."

Damien laughed. "You think going to jail will stop these people? I pay, my brother lives. I sell them out, we all die."

"Put down the gun," said Maddox.

"I can't."

I took a deep breath and stepped out from the kitchen, quickly finding my target. Damien had his back to me, his gun aimed at Maddox. Maddox stood at the front door with his hands on his head and his gun nowhere to be seen. "Do what he says, Damien," I ordered. "Or I will shoot you and then it really will be all over."

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