We were already running two hours late, but that wasn’t our fault. This afternoon, the barge had some sort of mechanical error that required a valve to be replaced. That had set our entire timetable back a few hours.
“This whole project feels jinxed,” Viktor complained.
I felt the same way. Nothing was going according to plan, and that usually indicated we needed to withdraw, but neither of us suggested it, because we knew this was our best chance of making some sort of indent on Bunko’s strength.
We were getting ready at the warehouse, waiting for the mechanical team to get off the boat. Once we got news of that, we would move out. The barge was moving out tonight. Our hope was that Bunko thought we were moving product and would attack. When he did, we’d be ready.
“Where is Vlad?” I asked Viktor, watching as fifteen men geared up in full military combat gear with bulletproof vests, night vision, and helmets.
“We sent him on the fool’s errand,” Viktor said. Knowing that Vlad might be working with Bunko, we had arranged for him to stake something out so that he wouldn’t see us getting prepared for battle. It was imperative that Bunko not know that we were ready for him.
Around me, some men unpacked cases of weapons, building and loading them. Other men stood around chatting, checking their scopes, drinking coffee, and triple-checking their gear.
I gave a sharp whistle, and the men gathered around. “This is tonight’s objective. We are transporting a legal shipment of goods to China, but we have set a trap, hoping that Bunko believes this is an illegal shipment. Bunko has been hitting different shipments to weaken the groups involved and put them on the radar of the authorities. We are hoping that tonight he will attempt to board the barge and engage in a fight. We will be met on the boat with Bastelli and Carl’s armed men, and everyone will be prepared for a fight. Any questions?”
No one asked any questions.
“We will be sharing comms with the other two groups. We are team Charlie.” They all nodded. “Let’s work as a team and get everyone home safe.”
Viktor stood with his arms crossed. He motioned with his head. I glanced up to see Olivia move to the top step. She wore baggy sweats and a sweater. Her hair was in a messy bun.
“That’s it. Be prepared to roll out in the next five.”
The men broke up, and Viktor stepped forward. I looked around, feeling uncertain about leaving Olivia alone. “Who are we leaving behind?”
Viktor glanced up at Olivia. “A skeleton crew, but they are some of our best men.”
I looked at him. You could never guarantee the outcome of a gunfight. You always hoped for the best, but there was always an awareness that it might be your last fight.
“Give me a few.”
I took the steps three at a time until I reached Olivia. “What are you doing out here?”
She stared down at the men below. “This is your important night?”
“It is.”
She swallowed. “That’s a lot of guns. Are you sure you need to take that many?”
I turned her face to mine and dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Don’t think about it.”
She put her hands on my face. “What time will you be home?”
“By seven—noon at the latest. I need you to go up to the loft.”
She looked up at me, her eyes sad. “Are you going to be in danger?”
“No more than usual. Now can you go up to the loft? I don’t want you to come out tonight, okay?”
Someone whistled sharply below. I looked down at Viktor.
“Mechanics are off the boat,” he said. “It’s ready for us.”
The sound of men moving and vehicle doors slamming caught Olivia’s attention. “Where are they going?”
“Olivia, I need you to go now.” Below us, tires squealed as vehicles pulled out.
I watched as she turned around and headed up to the loft. I didn’t move until I saw the loft door shut behind her.
Viktor waited as I jogged down the stairs. All our men had left already. “Let’s do this.”
“Team Charlie is two minutes out.” Viktor got into the driver seat.
I got in the vehicle beside him. “Good thing you like to drive fast.”
Viktor punched the gas as we sped along the dark industrial road. Viktor was a beast when he drove. I had no doubt that we’d catch up to the rest of my team in moments.
I read my phone. “Bastelli’s men are on their way to the barge. Carl’s men are five minutes out, and the barge’s crew are doing a pre-boarding check right now. Mechanics gave the barge a clean bill of health.”
Viktor swerved around a car. “I hate the waiting.”
“I hear you.”
There was a loud bang, and our SUV shuddered before skidding across the lane as Viktor worked to gain control. Some truck had sideswiped us hard, pushing us out of our lane.
“What is this shit?” Viktor swore, gunning the engine.
I turned in my seat. “Tinted windows. Can’t see anything.”
Our back window shattered, and Viktor swerved. “Was that a fucking bullet?”
“It was.” I threw myself in the back seat of the truck. I unrolled the window and looked down the scope of my gun. “Four unidentified males. All presumed armed.”
Viktor gunned the engine. “Can you get a shot?”
I fired three shots into the windshield of the truck. The truck swerved and backed off.
“Who are these fuckers?” Viktor swerved at the sound of bullets pelting the side of our SUV. “Is this Bunko’s team?”
“I am assuming.” I dialed a number to reach my team ahead of us.
“Lada speaking.”
“Lada, we are two minutes behind you, moving south on 99. We are currently engaged with a white truck. Shots have been fired. Is the team under attack? Radio check.”
“Read you clear. Things are quiet up here. You need assistance. Radio check.”
Viktor gunned the engine, and a second truck came out of nowhere.
I spoke into the phone. “Roger. Second vehicle has appeared. We require your assistance.”
“Roger that. We are turning around—ETA two minutes. We will be moving north on 99. Over.”
“You might want to put on your seatbelt.” Viktor gunned it harder, barely staying ahead of the truck.
I pulled my seatbelt on moments before they clipped our back bumper, sending us into a tailspin. Viktor did remarkably well, regaining control of our truck, but when we slammed into the cement meridian, we flipped once over it before landing back on our wheels.
“That’s going to hurt tomorrow.” I shook my head, looking at the smashed windows. The truck was totaled. “You okay?”
Viktor swore as he picked up his gun. “I just fucking detailed this vehicle. Why the fuck did I spend an hour polishing leather this afternoon?”
I took off my seatbelt and spun in my seat, gauging the location of the two trucks. “Thirty seconds before they are on our ass.”
Viktor kicked at his door until it opened. “Let’s get out for this fight.”
I followed him out, taking up residence behind our truck, and looked down my scope. The two trucks had pulled over to the side of the highway. “I count eight men. They are discussing their game plan before they engage.”
Within twenty seconds, they were driving towards us with tires squealing.
There is always a calm right before you get into a gunfight, a few seconds before a fight to the death when you glimpse all the wrong turns you took in life and wish that you had made better decisions.
Tonight, those seconds felt like hours. I thought of Olivia. I needed to get through this fight in one piece. I needed to get her to safety.
And then the bullets started to fly.
Gunfights tend to be over pretty quick, but this one seemed to go on forever. Viktor and I were better shots, but there were eight of them and only two of us.
Viktor ducked beside the SUV and loaded his gun. “I had a bad feeling about this shit,” he bitched. “Right from the start.”
I thought about what was happening. Bunko, somehow, knew our plan. “Bunko isn’t planning to hit the barge.”
Viktor looked up at me. “What are you saying?”
I lifted my arms and fired five consecutive shots at the men. “This hit is to take me out.”
It felt like white heat, knocking through my body like a thunderbolt, spinning me around. I fell back against the SUV, knowing instantly that I had been hit. My voice was surprisingly calm. “Can you help me with the medic kit?”
“Shit,” Victor swore, crawling over to me. “Hang on.”
He fired haphazard bullets over the side of the car and then ripped open my medic kit, tore open a gauze, and pressed it to my shoulder.
I swore at the intensity of the pain that tore through my body as he pressed on my wound. “You need to work on your bedside manner.”
He grabbed his gun and shot randomly over his head. “Where’s our team? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”
“Viktor.” I coughed. My chest felt cold. “We have to talk.”
“Shut up,” he said, ripping open another gauze package with his teeth.
I thought about Olivia and how vulnerable she would be without me. “I need you to get her someplace safe. I have stuff put aside for her, so she can have a fresh start, but she’s going to need help.”
“You’re not dying. Take care of your own woman.”
My own woman. Olivia was mine. I had done my best to protect her, but I had failed. I wanted more than anything to give her a chance to get out of this mess. “Can you help a guy out?”
He paused, looking me in the eyes. “You know you didn’t even need to ask.”
“You need to get her out of here. Go on the run. Keep her safe.”
Before he could answer, the rest of our team roared up behind us. The gunfire was deafening, and then, in a moment, it was over.
Viktor looked at me. “We need to get you to the doctor. Come on.” He stood up. “I need some help over here.”
Someone helped him lift me into the back of the vehicle. I felt weak and cold, like all my power was draining out of me. The vehicle began to move.
Viktor hovered. “You’re losing blood, fast. Hold this to your shoulder.” He ripped open another gauze, stuck it on the other, and put my hand on it.
I felt light-headed. “Promise you’ll take care of her. No matter what.”
“Call the surgeon,” he yelled at the driver. “Tell him we’ve got a single bullet wound in the left shoulder.”
I grabbed his hand. “Promise me.”
His face swam before my eyes. “I promise.”
