Chapter 34 #2
Dark metal appeared all over the patio. The Russians pointed their weapons across the pool. The Syndicate did the same, aiming across at the Russians.
Dominic and Sylvie were pretty much the only people in view not holding a gun. Fuck. On what planet had this seemed like a good plan?
“You’re the one bringing this shit down on our family business, Charles,” Raymond said. “I didn’t want any part of it. I just want to take my brother and the girl and walk away.”
Dominic locked eyes with Sylvie. She seemed just as bewildered as he was. His muscles tensed. If people started shooting, he was going to make a run for her.
He spotted Sandford, who was slowly inching away like he could predict the same future that Dominic could. The lawyer didn’t have a gun either.
Victor held up a hand. “Everyone, relax. The timeline of last night’s little game of telephone is getting convoluted, isn’t it?
It’s he said/he said. But we’re going to work this out.
For one, because we’ve got you outmatched.
I have twice as many guys behind me as you do, Charles.
Any of yours does something foolish? We’ll lay waste to the lot of you, since you’ve so conveniently gathered for us to play target practice. ”
Nobody replied. Nobody moved.
Victor sighed, like he was overworked and underpaid. Middle management. “Now Raymond, we already agreed to let you go. You’re adding more conditions? That wasn’t the deal.”
“I didn’t know Dominic or Sylvie would be here. I—”
“No!” Uncle Charles screamed. “I’m not letting you roll on me, you little fucking punk.”
He opened fire.
And so did everyone else.
The pool area exploded with gunshots. Raymond tried to drag Dominic to the ground. But Dominic was already scrambling toward Sylvie. She dove behind a concrete planter.
People were shouting and falling left and right. Blood spattered the patio.
Dominic made it behind the planter and grabbed for Raymond, who was right behind him, panting like he’d sprinted a mile. Dominic looked around for Sandford, but the lawyer had vanished.
Raymond dashed out beyond the planter and back again, grabbing a gun from a fallen Syndicate member. Pieces of concrete exploded from the planter as bullets plowed into it. Dominic couldn’t even tell who was shooting at them. People had scattered everywhere.
Then Dominic noticed his brother’s leg was bleeding. “Jesus, are you hit?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Raymond handed the gun to Sylvie. “Where’s Charles?”
Sylvie checked the magazine and slapped it back into place. “He’s facedown in the pool. Tends to happen when you start shooting and a bunch of Russians with machine guns are already aiming at you.”
He couldn’t even tell how many Syndicate members were still alive. But Dominic didn’t expect any favors or mercy from Victor and his men. He just wanted to get the people he cared about as far away as possible.
“We need to get out of here,” he said.
“You two go ahead of me,” Sylvie shouted over the noise. “I don’t know where the exit is.” She jumped up and squeezed the trigger, laying down cover.
Dominic took a split second to admire her. Damn, this woman was incredible.
Raymond went first, crouching low as he headed for the side of the house. The lower part of his pant leg was drenched with blood, which made Dominic’s gut wrench. That wasn’t some scratch. But the kid had shaken it off.
Dominic saw a body a couple of feet away. Alexi. The man lay on the ground in a puddle of red. Dominic crawled forward to pluck a handgun the guy had dropped. He pushed Sylvie ahead of him, then took over the job of firing behind them to provide cover.
They reached a side yard, where ferns and palm trees hemmed them in. Here, it was relatively quiet. Over by the pool at the back of the house, the gun battle continued. The lots in this neighborhood were huge, but the neighbors had to be hearing all this noise.
“Think someone’s going to call the police?” Dominic hadn’t enjoyed his recent experiences with the SWAT team, but it was the lesser of evils at the moment.
Raymond took out his phone. “How about the FBI?”
“The what?”
His brother smiled. “Sylvie knows. She can explain if she wants. I’m just trying not to piss myself at this point.”
“I doubt that.” Dominic eyed the blood on his brother’s pants, worrying over how bad the wound might be. Did he need to stop and bandage it? But Raymond had kept going, edging along the side of the house.
Sylvie went next, with Dominic bringing up the rear. There was another gate up ahead. It appeared to lead into the front yard, which covered at least an acre on its own. But he’d seen dense trees when they were driving in, so there would be plenty of places for them to hide.
Raymond swung open the gate and hobbled forward. Then he skidded to a stop. Sylvie bumped into him. Dominic stopped several paces short.
Aaron Sandford stood in front of them, aiming a machine gun.
“Drop the gun, Sylvie. Slowly.”
She lowered her weapon to the ground. While Sandford’s eyes were on her, Dominic tucked the gun he’d taken from Alexi into the back waistband of his jeans.
“The Crane brothers. First it was Warren, then I had to deal with Dominic. And then it’s Raymond who shows up. Every time I think I’m done with you, one of you pops back up again. Do you know how annoying that is? Having to clean up your messes?”
As he spoke, Sandford moved the gun around like it was some toy. Aiming at Sylvie. Then Raymond.
“And the whole time, I knew you’d run your father’s business into the ground. But did anyone want to hear what I had to say? No. Nobody listens to the lawyer.”
“What are you going to do, Sandford?” Dominic asked. “Without us, you’re out of a job.”
“You think I want this job? I fucking hate you, Dominic. God, it feels good to say that. I hated Warren, too. I danced the day he went to prison. None of you ever respected me. I warned Charles not to trust Raymond—never trust a Crane brother—and now look what’s happened? I told him. I knew.”
Dominic took a step forward, keeping his hands raised, palms out. “You’re right. Charles should’ve listened to you.”
“So now, what do I do with you? If anybody from the Syndicate is still alive, they might like to watch you get roasted on a spit.”
In the back yard, guns continued to pop like fireworks.
Dominic edged forward another step. “Or you could turn us over to Victor and his friends. They might give you something for us.”
Dominic kept slowly advancing, arms out. Sandford was backing up, the gun muzzle still pointed at them.
“Why the hell would they do that? They’d shoot you just to be rid of you. I’m sure they’re regretting their partnership with Charles and just want to wash it all away.”
Dominic was even with Sylvie now. Just one more step. That was all he needed.
Raymond had moved to the side, looking from Dominic to the lawyer. As if he could sense what was about to happen.
“What I really want,” Sandford said, “is to watch you bleed out on the ground. I think that would be sufficient payment for all the years of suffering you boys have put me through.”
“If that’s how it has to be, then I get it. But let Sylvie walk away. That’s all I ask.”
“You know, I’m really tired of hearing you say that. I’m tired of all of you. So the answer is no. You like her so much, then you can die together.” He extended the arm holding the machine gun.
Dominic stepped in front of Sylvie.
She grabbed the gun from his waistband, raised it past his shoulder, and fired.
Sound exploded in Dominic’s ear. The shot hit Sandford in the upper chest. His finger pressed the trigger on the machine gun, and bullets strafed the house.
Raymond, Sylvie, and Dominic dove to the grass, but the bullets hadn’t come anywhere near them.
The lawyer slumped onto the ground.
Minutes later, the place was swarming with FBI agents and police. But Dominic could barely hear, much less respond to their questions. He could only look at Raymond and Sylvie, his ear ringing, and think of how close he’d come to losing them.
But this wasn’t over. He could still lose them yet.