“Tito to group. Code red. I need all the street lights off. Martin, notify Yakuza of what we’re doing and deploy the power outage tool within the next thirty seconds.”
“Confirm.” I get from everyone, including Martin, and ten seconds later, the lights are out. I’m getting a thrill that’s vibrating through my veins as my heart pumps steadily. Everything is working perfectly. Though we’re in a compromising position, we are well-equipped if my tech continues to work.
“Look out.” Banks pushes me to the ground as the clacks of a bullet echo through the street. I think the whirling sound of the bullets piercing the wind, zooms just over my head before I hit the ground.
Banks doesn’t reach for his gun. Instead, he reaches for one of the knockout bombs and twists it open, tossing it in the air. I use my ring to steal the mini drone towards it and pick it up before it continues in the wrong direction. Using the heat signature lens, I drift towards whoever is aiming their gun to shoot at us again and drop the bomb just as it bursts. The heat signature drops instantly, and the smoke dissipates within a few moments.
As I stand, I flick my pointed index and middle finger in the direction of the fallen, and Banks gives me a nod. Together, we move forward as I keep a close eye on my watch screen to see if trigger-happy has any other friends. We come up the curb, and Banks grabs the flashlight hooked to his belt, shining it down on the figure in an all-black suit.
“Bratva.” Banks growls, and I lower myself over him, grabbing the base of his mask and pull it off. Tattoos covering his neck, stopping at his sharp jaw, pale skin, and choppy brown hair, darkened by sweat.
“Not just any Bratva.” I look up at Banks. “This is Adrik Mikhailov.”
“Shit. He’s next in line after Kias, right?”
“Yep.”
“Didn’t Kira shoot him last year?”
“Mmhm.” I nod as I study the weapon next to him. This is a long-range sniper. Why would he be using this for us? Unless he had prepared to shoot from a distance. Somewhere like the Yakuza bar, where their leader just so happens to be holding a gathering tonight. I narrow my eyes in thought.
“What to do with you.” I stand up, pushing his cheek with the heel of my boot. There’s a black earpiece in his right ear that I would have missed had I not done this. I swiftly bend down, pulling it out of his ear so hard that it snaps away from the wire it was attached it. For good measure, I toss it to the ground and stomp on it.
“We should take him in, Tito.” Banks reaches down to pick him up.
“No.”
“Why not? These fuckers aren’t going to stop attacking our alliance, and if we don’t do something, we could cause a divide.”
“Banks, we’re doing this New Era style. We’re not kidnapping this guy.”
“Then what the fuck are we gonna do with him?” I narrow my eyes back down at Adrik. We have a bit before we need to make any rash decisions, but there’s one thing I didn’t think I would need tonight. The only reason I brought it in the first place is because Scout insisted. I reach in my pocket just as the lights of every street lamp flicker on. Another gunshot fires, but this time it’s further away. I trust the guys to deal with it as I pull out a capped syringe.
“Whoa, what the—” Banks begins, but I shush him.
“I need you to run down to the Yakuza tavern and warn them that there’s a good chance they’ll be more Bratva on the move against them. Escort them back to their headquarters while I wrap this up down here.”
“What the fuck are you gonna do to him?”
“Bank, just go.” He hesitates for a moment, then pushes forward with a huff, heading straight for the bar at the end of the lot. I don’t waste time uncapping the syringe and pulling up the leg of his black suit. After lifting his leg, I stick the needle in his calf and quickly inject him. We only have a few minutes left before this disgusting species of human wakes up, and I anxiously watch the shadows file out of the bar and down to their cars.
“Banks to Tito.” My walkie cracks. “The Yakuza are secured. Martin, Jamie, and I are gonna ride with them to their base and meet you all back at Pops. Over.”
“Tito to Banks, confirm. Over.” My knee is pressing Adrik down securely to the ground, in case he gets any wise ideas about reaching for weapons when he begins to come to. The black Yakuza vans pull away and out of sight, and the rest of my team is already filing back to the cars. I’m waiting, though. I need to see the look in his eyes when I tell him what’s going to happen from now on.
As Yakuza’s cars start down the road, his low grumble lets me know that the floodgates of my rage for his entire family can begin. He turns his head, eyes squeezed shut like he’s in pain, but I know he’s only doing this to stall. He no doubt feels the weight of my knee on his chest and is borrowing seconds to see what he can reach to disarm me.
“Morning.” I grit through my teeth, and he opens his sharp blue eyes. Anger ripples across his face as he snarls.
“What the fuck are you doing to me, San Giovanni?” He spits.
“Fuck off.”
“Wish I could.” Try to squirm, but I press down harder on him, pinning his hand down with my heel before he can move it towards me as he regains movement in it.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.”
“Oh, this’ll be good.” He rolls his eyes.