“What happened?”
“You were asleep.”
She sucked in a breath. “Shit.”
“It’s fine.” I nodded at the shop. “I’ve got to make a move.”
“Okay, okay, yeah. I’m ready.”
“No. Stay here, in the car, behind the wheel. You’re driving.”
“Wait, what?”
“You have a good view of what’s about to happen. When I come running, you start the car and drive north as fast as you can. We’ll switch and I’ll get us back home.”
She chewed her lip. “So I’m the getaway driver, huh?”
“Exactly. Can you do it?”
“I can do it.”
“Good.” I picked up my phone, sent another text. “Be ready.” I pushed open the door and walked out into the night.
It was a comfortable fall evening. The air smelled crisp. I walked across the street, toward the flower shop. A car door opened midway down the block and a shape stepped out.
I turned left and walked toward the park. I took a narrow black paved path that wound around some bushes and stopped at a bench.
The figure followed me, stopped a few feet away.
I nodded to Oleg. He nodded back. He had thick long hair in a messy bun and a wild, unkempt beard. He looked more like a lion than a man wearing black jeans and a black jacket.
“What’s the situation?” he asked.
“You been watching the shop?”
He nodded. “Hard not to notice it.”
“Every fifteen minutes.” I checked my watch. “We’ve got about ten before they come again. We’ll wait until the door opens, then kill the two outside, kill whoever’s inside, and take whatever they’re selling.”
“Easy enough.”
“Did you hear about Pavel?”
“We all heard.” He grunted and shook his head. “He was a difficult man. I never liked him much. But fuck the Volkovs for killing him.”
“Agreed. This is our revenge. So let’s make sure they feel it.”
Oleg’s eyes narrowed and he nodded.
I gestured and he followed me as I moved further into the park, getting into position. A row of hedges lined the park’s edge next to the alley. I led Oleg toward them and crouched down at the far corner. I could see the flower shop through a gap in the branches, about thirty feet away. Oleg crouched next to me and I could hear the rumble of his breathing.
He was one of the more dependable guys in the crew. I guessed Hedeon sent him to make sure things went well. I was happy about it, since this meant I didn’t have to worry about my backup. Oleg would perform well under pressure, and he was as ruthless as he needed to be, but not vicious or stupid like Pavel had been.
We waited in silence. He didn’t fidget or act nervous. He was a steady presence, and I felt myself keep calm. It was the quiet moment before intense violence, and I knew that this could make or break what happened next. If we got nervous, panicked, or did something stupid, it would all be over.
But I wasn’t about to fuck this job up.
I checked my watch then looked up. I nodded at Oleg and moved, staying low under the line of bushes. I got closer to the flower shop’s side door and took a deep breath.
Nothing happened for three agonizing minutes. Part of me thought maybe, just maybe, they were done for the night. Maybe they’d pack up and call it. Not enough junkies out to justify selling so late.
But sure enough, footsteps on the pavement. I parted the branches and watched two men in sweatshirts walk to the door. One had on a dark baseball hat and the other one kept pulling at his jeans as they threatened to slide off his hips.
We were close enough that I could hear them knock.
“You see that bitch with the tits out?” Baggyjeans asked.
“Yeah, man. I thought about making her pay with some pussy, you know what I mean?”
Baggyjeans laughed. “Fuck that bitch’s tits, right? Put my big dick between them titties.”
“Please, man, you got that tiny little micropenis. She’d want to end up with a real man. Make her feel something.” Hatguy laughed.
Baggyjeans pushed him then took out a cigarette. He lit up as the door opened.
I looked back at Oleg. He nodded, held up his gun, pulled back the slide. I pulled mine from my waistband and slipped into the gap between two bushes. I pushed my way through and came out, gun up and aimed.
The guy in the doorway was bald and thin. He spotted me and his eyes went wide.
Oleg crashed through the bushes and started shooting.
Baggyjeans dropped, red blooming on his chest.
I fired on Hatguy. His head exploded backwards in a spray of blood that washed over the bald man inside. Baldy staggered back and tried to shut the door, but I charged forward and slammed my shoulder against it.
Oleg finished Baggyjeans and Hatguy off.
“You gonna help?” I said through clenched teeth.