Page 100 of Unspoken

I’ve always been the kind of guy to keep it together on the job. I knew how to trample down my emotions and just be a shell of a person until the situation resolved itself. I can’t seem to do the same now, can’t seem to make all these feelings—especially fear—disappear.

"Ivan, take your team and sweep the perimeter," Vlad orders, his voice urgent. He adds something in Russian, then switches to English, "We will wait here."

Ivan nods curtly, signaling to his companion as they melt into the desert night. I spot several more shadowy figures slipping out of the cars to follow him.

"We will have a conversation," Vlad says a bit later, "once we get my brother back."

I take a moment to respond. My mind is chaos and I don’t want to say something that’s going to amplify Vlad’s rage. It’s not a good time to make him even a bigger enemy. "I care about him," I supply simply. "He’s important to me. You can fire me instead of accepting my resignation if that makes you feel better. Fine by—"

The door swings open and Ivan’s voice cuts me off in Russian before I get all the words out. More Russian speech follows from Vlad.

He glances at me over his shoulder, climbing out of the vehicle. "Let’s go."

I fall into step beside him, my senses heightened, every nerve on fire.

We move silently, a group of roughly ten men. A small army of people working for Vlad. The only sound is the soft crunch of sand beneath our footsteps and the occasional rustle of fabric. There’s a series of what looks like abandoned buildings, appearing ahead. Shattered windows are staring down like soulless eyes, darker than the void itself.

My own eyes dart from corner to corner, searching for any sign of movement. I'm still convinced running this by Stan would have been a good idea. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle, a primal warning of danger lurking just out of sight.

As we approach the first building, the tension reaches a fever pitch. My heart pounds in my chest, pushing adrenaline through my bloodstream. Beside me, Vlad's jaw is clenched, his finger hovering over the trigger of his gun.

The silence is absolute as we press up to the wall, blending with its shadows. Somewhere ahead, Ivan and the rest of the crew are scouring the corners.

Suddenly, the night erupts in a hail of gunfire, the sound deafening in the stillness. Flashes strobe in the darkness across the crumbling walls.

"Get down!" I yell, tackling Vlad to the ground as bullets whiz overhead. We scramble for cover, pressing our backs against the cold concrete of the building.

"It's a fucking ambush," I growl, risking a glance around the corner. Why did I not consider the possibility?

"No shit," Vlad spits, furious. He fumbles for his phone and I see him dialing Ivan.

Ivan's voice crackles over the speaker just a second later, "Pinned down on the east side. Count at least six hostiles, heavily armed." He adds something in Russian at the end.

Vlad curses under his breath, his eyes scanning the surroundings, "Hold your position. We're coming to you."

He turns to me, his expression grim. "We need to flank them, hit them from both sides. You take the north, I go south. We meet in the middle and fuck them up."

This is the first time I’m seeing Vlad being more than a guy in an overpriced suit. "It’s too dangerous," I supply. "We don’t know how many more of them are hiding in that building." I wave my hand toward the structure where the bulk of gunfire came in.

Vlad's lips twist in a humorless smile. "Are you suggesting we remain sitting fucking ducks, McKenna?"

"I’m suggesting we remain fucking alive," I counter. "Sasha’s not here."

"How do you know?"

"They wouldn’t have sent us where they hold him. Besides, the tip felt suspicious."

Vlad's quiet as if he’s waiting for an explanation. Somewhere in the distance, guns rattle again.

"Why didn't you say something?" he whispers angrily.

"I don't know."

"You do not know? Huh? Why the hell did I hire you in the first place?"

I ignore the jab, sensing that he doesn't really mean what he's saying right now. "The source it came from… We should wait for Stan’s intel and not rely on the street. You’re a stranger to most organizations in this city. Some of these families have been around for generations. People are out to get you."

Vlad's eyes harden briefly before he nods, acknowledging my point. He looks around, sizing up the situation once more. "Fine. But we are sticking together. And if you see an opening, take it. Do you understand?"

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