I rounded the corner and searched the faces in the crowded mall. Milo's voice grated across my mobile, "Find him, FIND HIM!" I gritted my teeth, and ended the call. This was the gang's turf, and Antonio was trespassing. My mobile rang again--Milo. I hated him, what he'd done to my family, the advantage he had on me.
I heard shouting, the others had spotted Antonio running towards the exits, he hadn't seen me and I ducked back around the corner to head him off. I watched him running towards me, a look of panic on his face; our eyes locked and he shook his head, almost begging me to step aside. I looked away for a split second, and saw my kid brother taken away by one of Milo's guys--just a distant memory. I had no choice, and stepped into Antonio's path and tackled him to the ground. Seconds later the others were lifting him to his feet, dragging him to one of the quiet corners of the mall. Reluctantly I followed knowing Milo's plans for poor Antonio.
Milo sauntered up, cocky as ever. He was ruthless in his greed for power, but still small fry in the district. Six months ago, I'd been careless when I'd borrowed the identity of one of his men--they'd seen me. News got back to Milo, and he tried to recruit me into his gang, I wasn't interested. This really twisted him into a rage, he yelled threatening my life--but he didn't scare me. Then he went quiet, and the others shifted nervously. I had the impression that this wasn't a good sign. He pulled one of his guys to one side and muttered something in his ear, I swallowed when his eyes flicked towards me, and then his goon left.
He walked up, looking up at me; although he was short, his demeanour was that of a wild and dangerous animal. He smiled, corners edged into a sneer of a predator that's just cornered its prey. An hour later, he had my kid brother and to keep him alive I found myself working for Milo.
---
We crowded around Antonio, holding him in place. We waited, Milo waited until he'd said his piece, threatening that his brother would kill us all. I knew his brothers background, Milo was small fry in comparison. I discarded the thought and focused on my own brother. Milo picked at Antonio's sunglasses, but had his hand slapped away. His hands balled, and he mustered himself as the smile returned. "Let's see how valuable you are, I want to extend my 'hood--" he prodded at Antonio's chest, "now I've got you, I don't think your brother will stand in my way."
I watched Milo make a FaceTime call to Antonio's brother--Raymond. Antonio started to struggle again; I leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "Stop moving, otherwise you’re a dead man."
"You know my brother will come for me," he muttered to Milo.
"So what if he does, I got all the cards," he replied with a sneer.
Raymond's face appeared on the screen. "You! What the fuck as you calling me for you weasel."
"I want you to give me the south district," Milo grinned.
"You're an idiot, don't waste time."
"Have you lost anything?" Milo lifted the phone and showed Antonio. "Look what I've found, on my turf," Milo sneered. Then he dropped the facade, "I don't want your shit stinking up my 'hood."