Silent warning

Axel snickers at Ryan teasing Leo and waits for Leo's yelled response back. But nothing came.


Leo wants to shout back to Ryan, but knows better. At the moment, he feared for his life.

Alec blinks. Was that Ryan's voice? He hadn't seen her, and now he wasn't sure if she was here or not. But he couldn't stop to care about it. He was here to do a quick job of this.

Leo swallows hard, feeling the blade against his skin. It wasn't as sharp as a knife, but it would do just fine, especially with the pressure whoever it was, was applying. "What... what do you want-"

"Shut up," Alec hisses. "Where's the key to the money drawer?"

"I...I don't... I mean-"

"Where?!" Alec's whispers are hoarse and he tightens his grip. "Tell me now."

"In... in the bottom..." Leo lamely points to another set of desk drawers. He winces as Alec moves and the letter opener digs into his flesh. Cringing, he can feel a bit of blood ooze down his neck. He wasn't a religious man, but a prayer for help was definitely thought of.

Alec shoves Leo towards the drawer, keeping a firm hand on him the whole while.


Axel quirks an eyebrow at the silence, and turns his attention from the car and his hand. "Hey, Leo!" he calls out. "You smash those remaining brain cells or what?"

Nothing.

Axel looks at Ryan and frowns. Maybe Leo really had hurt himself this time. Axel sets down his wrench, still cradling his one hand, and he wanders towards the office. "Leo..." He swings open the door. "What are you..." The phrase trails off, and he stops dead, the half-open door still in his hand.

Alec's head jerks up and he shifts Leo around, the letter opening still held against the vulnerable skin. "Back off," he snarls.

"Whoa, whoa..." Axel's heart beats faster as he tries to figure out what was going on. Evidently this was someone out to rob him. But something was uncannily familiar about him, and Axel immediately recognized the resemblance he saw. "What's going-"

"Get in here," Alec snaps, hoping to maintain an eye on the newcomer so he didn't call the cops. "Do as I say, or your friend dies."

Hesitating a moment, all Axel can do is motion with his hand behind his back, waving towards the back entrance. He hoped Ryan would see him. If she went around back, she could come in through the other door and take this guy by surprise. Or, she could see in the window and call the cops. Either way, he couldn't let her come through this way.

Hoping she'd seen him, he slips inside, obeying the thief for fear of Leo being harmed.

Leo cringes as Alec's weight shifts and the blade increases pressure. His one free hand gripped Alec's wrist, but it didn't do any good. This guy was very strong and knew what he was doing.

"Get the key," Alec barks to Axel this time.

Axel obeys, but moves slowly. His mind raced. There had to be a way out of this. "Look, if you need-"

Alec wasn't going to take the time for games. In one quick movement, he lowers the blade, only to reach across and slash the top of Leo's hand, letting the blood run.

Leo cries out in pain, but can't struggle as the letter opener is again pressed to his throat. He presses his free hand against his side to ease the bleeding, but since it was the top of his hand, it was difficult.

"Now move!" Alec directs Axel again. "Or next time it won't just be his hand."


Ryder shrugs lamely at Thirteen's question. "I guess... because I think you're worth it. You deserve more than you've been dished out in your life and... I like being your friend. Everybody needs somebody they can trust."

He cocks his head. "Why wouldn't I help you? Besides, what everybody else does is their own choice. Reese will hit the roof when he knows I've got you here, but... I did it because I care about you, Thirteen. And you're worth every minute."