But otherwise, it was quiet.
“Something feels off,” I said.
“I feel it too,” Robin said. “Who are they selling to out here?”
“Hedeon said this was the time and place,” Pavel said. “What the fuck are you two arguing about it for? We’re doing this shit.”
“It just seems off,” Robin said. “I mean, what’s my uncle doing selling drugs out here? He had better territory than this, right? And the boyeviks—”
“Why the fuck is she talking?” Pavel asked.
“Shut up,” I said. “Finish what you were saying, Robin.”
“The boyeviks, they’re like, important soldiers, right? They’re not just stupid street thugs. So why would more than one of them be out selling drugs when they could make money doing other things?”
I nodded slowly. She was saying out loud everything I’d been thinking.
“Let’s go back,” I said. “We’ll talk to Hedeon, maybe do it another time if the info is right. We don’t need to do this tonight.”
“Fuck that,” Pavel said. “We’re here. We’re doing it.”
“Pavel.” I leaned toward him. “Turn the car around.”
“Hell no. It’s just up ahead. Get the gun ready.”
I grunted in anger as Pavel rolled through a stop sign and made a left.
It was a quiet residential street. There was barely enough room for cars to park on the left. One enterprising local parked half on the sidewalk on the right, and Pavel barely squeezed through. The houses were quiet, mostly brick facades, though a few at the end had vinyl siding with yellow and orange awnings over fenced-in front porches.
“Up there,” Pavel said. “On your side. Empty field. They should be in there.”
“Nobody’s there,” I said, squinting in to the dark. “Stop the car.”
“I’m not stopping. Get ready. Get the window down.”
“Stop the car,” I said.
“Guys,” Robin said. “Something’s weird. I think—”
“Stop the car, Pavel.”
“Fuck that. Start shooting, motherfucker.”
“Guys!”
I looked back. “What?”
“Car!” Robin pointed through the back windshield.
A big black SUV was parked across the road, blocking our way out.
“Fuck,” I said. “Pavel, gun it now.”
Ahead, two cars pulled out from an alley on either side of the road. They were smaller silver sedans with their lights turned off. They bumped each other and formed a road block.
“Oh, shit,” Pavel said.
The doors to the houses on either side of us opened and armed men flooded out. The front few knelt down with guns pointed while the back ones stayed standing.
Pavel hit the gas and the station wagon jumped forward as they opened fire.
“Get down!” I yelled.
Robin screamed and fell forward onto the floor. I leaned out the window and opened fire, shooting wildly. I couldn’t see them as Pavel drove ahead, the wind whipping my hair. I could only aim at their muzzle flashes.
“Hold on,” Pavel said.
He whipped the wheel and the station wagon screamed. It jumped up over the curb and my head slammed against the top of the window frame.
“Fuck,” I said and came back inside.
Pavel took the car left down the alley. I reloaded the magazine and fired more shots off behind us. The alley was dirt and gravel, and it ended on the next street over. The station wagon slammed into a screaming turn that shoved me against the window.
Gunfire lit up the night as more guys came out from the houses nearby. Pavel shouted something and drove forward going the wrong way down a one-way street. We reached the major intersection and turned left, flying into traffic, clipping a car ahead of us. The station wagon almost spun out, but Pavel got it straight again and drove fast.
The gunfire faded into the background.
“Anyone hurt?” I asked and looked into the back seat. “Robin, are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Her voice was shaky and her face was pale, but she seemed okay.
“Fuck,” Pavel said.
His hand pressed against his side and blood welled up from a wound in his chest. A bullet must’ve just missed his heart.
“Okay,” I said. “Okay, you’re going to be okay. Turn the car around, get us back to my car.”
Pavel coughed and blood splattered the wheel.
“Shit,” he groaned.
“That’s not good,” Robin said.
I gave her a look then put a hand on Pavel’s shoulder. “Get the car turned around. One thing after another. Keep breathing.”
He nodded and took shallow breaths. He pulled a U-turn right in traffic and sped back toward where we’d originally met up. When we reached the empty lot, he parked half on the sidewalk and killed the engine.
“Come on,” I said. “We’re ditching this car.” I got out and Robin followed.
Pavel opened his door, managed a couple steps, then fell flat on his face.
Blood pooled around him.
“Oh my god,” Robin said. “Is he dead? Leo? Is he dead?”
I walked around the car and flipped Pavel onto his back. He took short, sharp breaths. Blood bubbled up at his lips.
“Bullet hit his lungs,” I said. “Might’ve hit a major artery too. He’s lucky he didn’t bleed out faster.”