62
You have no idea
Yuri
T he latest events were not what I had expected. Everything should have been much simpler. Things got complicated, and my new alliances weren't as powerful as I had hoped; either I played my cards right, or my future could be in grave danger.
Huang was terrified after receiving a visit from the Capulets. He feared they would find a way to contact Jing and link him to the man holding her, something her father was unaware of. He requested an urgent meeting to discuss the matter and resolve it as best as possible.
Huang pressured me to hand over his boss's daughter so he could have the honor of returning her, threatening to withdraw his support if I didn't comply. Losing his backing was not something I wanted. Perhaps I should consider negotiating with Jing sooner, presenting myself as the one who knew her daughter's whereabouts and negotiating behind Huang's back for her extradition. I was contemplating this in silence when we heard gunshots in the gaming area.
Huang got up from his chair and approached the surveillance monitors, nervously babbling with his men as he saw several armed men break into the hall, killing the guards, and heading towards the office door. Huang's men moved a piece of furniture on the side of the room and opened a hidden hatch. The Chinese man had an underground tunnel leading to the restaurant's parking lot as an escape plan.
He urged us all to pass through it before the Italians could break down the door. His men led the way, Huang and I were in the middle, and my men covered our backs. As soon as we emerged from the hatch into the parking lot, we were greeted by a hail of bullets. They were waiting for us, ready to turn our bodies into Swiss cheese. Huang and I were quick, using the bodies being riddled with bullets as shields, managing to position ourselves behind a parked vehicle.
There were three shooters. One was wounded by one of Huang's men, who managed to fire his weapon. My car was five parking spaces away; reaching it wouldn't be easy.
"You go first," I urged Huang. "My men will cover our backs."
Pavlov and Solkov were still inside the tunnel, waiting for my order to spring into action.
"Are you crazy?"
"I'd be crazy to stay here."
"I'm not going out first; you go." I hated cowardice. Huang didn't have the makings of a leader. It was logical that Cheng didn't want him running the business; he lacked guts.
"Fine, I'll go then," I volunteered.
I positioned myself as if I were about to sprint. Huang bent his body forward. Without warning, I kicked him, sending him to the other side of the vehicle, back towards where we came from. The bullets quickly made a tailored suit out of him while I slipped out the other side, advancing three positions.
Two more, and I'd reach the car. But on second thought, that wasn't a good exit. They likely had more men outside the restaurant. I needed a second escape route.
I observed the walls, the ceiling, and finally realized the solution was under my feet. This escape route might not be pleasant, but it was less predictable.
I signaled my men to open fire to mask the sound of the hatch sliding open. Pavlov and Solkov pulled their triggers on the Italians while I lifted the manhole cover and slipped into the hole.
As soon as I dropped, my feet splashed into the waste covering the floor. It was pitch dark and reeked of feces and urine. I brought my elbow to my nose to mask the stench that crept into my nostrils. There was no time to gag, no matter how much my stomach protested.
I turned on my phone's flashlight and started running forward. I needed to distance myself by at least a kilometer in that filthy place. Small vermin were startled by the thud of my steps. If there was one thing that disgusted me, it was those furry creatures with long tails. In the sewers, I couldn't expect any other company than rats, cockroaches, and stinking insects. Better not to think about it.
I hurried as much as I could, not hearing any sounds indicating I was being followed, which was a relief. I calculated that I had covered enough distance and looked for a way to get out to the surface.
A few meters ahead, I spotted an iron ladder that I assumed led to a street. I climbed it and pulled on the cover. It was heavy, and my gun and phone made it difficult to move it. I decided to pocket the phone. Returning the gun to its holster wasn't a good idea.
With my free hand, I managed to push aside the heavy metal. I found myself in a pedestrian street. Luck was on my side. Now I heard shouts in the sewer, hurried footsteps, and gunshots. The Capulets had found my escape route, but it was too late for them.
I sharpened my sight and fired two precise shots that ended the life of one of Capulet's men. Mine must have been dead because they were nowhere to be seen. Two more losses that pissed me off.
I pushed myself up with my arms and emerged onto the street. I wasn't going to stand there like an idiot waiting for those who wanted to end my life.
I ran. In my escape, I knocked over a lovey-dovey couple sharing an ice cream. He cursed as he was pushed, and the girl fell, staining the sidewalk with vanilla and strawberry. I didn't stop.
A bullet whizzed too close to my ear to slow down. Capulet's man had reached the exit and was hot on my heels. I recognized him; he worked for R's father. I fired but missed. I didn't have time to calm down and aim properly.
I turned right. A well-known fast-food joint welcomed me. It had to have an emergency exit, which I guessed would be on the other side of the street.
The place was packed. I shoved several customers to make my way through. I wasn't going to mess around; I brandished my gun to make it clear. Screams assaulted my eardrums. Bodies fell like dominoes, seeking refuge on the floor, which gave the Italian a clear line of sight.
He fired again, grazing my thigh.
" Govnó! "
He nearly blew my femoral artery.
I gained momentum and leaped over the counter. I grabbed the trembling cashier and lifted her as a shield.
"Do you have an emergency exit?" I demanded. The poor girl whimpered.
"Don't kill me, please, I'm a single mother."
"You should've thought of that before getting knocked up," I spat, dragging her with me. "Answer my question!"
"Th-there's a door at the back of the kitchen that leads to the other street."
More screams echoed as Capulet's man fired, seeking a tricky angle to hit me. "Too risky," I smiled inwardly as a soft gurgling indicated my bulletproof vest had done its job.
"Thanks for your help. You'll be a guardian angel for your wonderful kid," I murmured before letting her go. Two more shots elicited screams of astonishment. Both came from my gun. The Italian crouched.
I walked backward, so I didn't see the fryer attendant trying to play hero. He stuck out his foot, attempting a pitiful trip. It would take more than that to stop me.
Without hesitation, I grabbed his head and dunked it into the boiling oil. Horrified screams zigzagged through the kitchen as the flabby body convulsed. The Italian peeked, and I blew off a chunk of his ear. He ducked again.
I pulled the guy out of the fat bath. He had passed out from the pain. I ran, dodging the three bullets that roared without mercy. Reaching the end of the central island to my right, I saw my coveted door and what felt like a bonus prize in a video game.
In the upper left corner, there was one of those convex mirrors placed at street intersections with poor visibility. It was strategically positioned to see the cashiers and the line forming on a typical day behind the counter. I crouched. Using the furniture as cover, I didn't need to peek. I crossed my right arm over my chest, raised the barrel, calculated the trajectory, gently squeezed the trigger, and pierced his heart with a single shot. My father would be proud.
Thirty seconds later, a taxi stopped.
That was close. The adrenaline kept me in an euphoric state, hard to calm down. A good shootout always excited me. It was one of those moments when life was savored on another level. I gave the driver the port's address and thought of Romeo.
I found it amusing to give him a call to let him know that his family's efforts had been in vain.
I had his number thanks to Irene. The redhead hadn't shown any signs of life since the hospital incident. After what happened, she was probably dead and dismembered at the bottom of a swamp.
I pressed the call button and waited for his answer.
My body tingled. My cock tensed as soon as his deep voice brushed my ear.
"Yes?"
"Hello, asshole, did you miss me?" I reveled in his heavy breathing.
"Yuri. To what do I owe the honor of such an illustrious call?" he replied sarcastically.
"I was worried you'd be fretting over my life. Tell daddy Capulet thanks for the chase; it was invigorating. Although I've left a good trail of corpses behind, give him my deepest condolences and let him know it doesn't matter how many of his inept men he sends, I'll finish them all."
"Careful, don't fill your mouth with bullshit; you might choke to death."
"Your humor always puts me to sleep."
"What puts me to sleep is your cowardice. Using your sister as a shield instead of having the balls to face me is utterly lazy."
I chuckled deeply.
“What I am is smarter than all of you combined, and I won't deny that I like having aces up my sleeve.”
“What you call an ace, I call lack of manhood. I know everything you've done to force Nikita to become my wife, I know everything you've put her through to make her accumulate enough hatred to want to end me and my family. But I also know that you've never stopped using her because you lack the courage. If you haven't faced me, it's because you're such a little man that you disgust me. That's why you pretended to be dead instead of seeking confrontation.” His offensive words made a vein in my neck bulge. “You'd never dare to face me alone.”
“How little you know me…” I muttered. “Is that what you want? For us to meet alone and confront each other?”
The idea made my loins tighten.
“Why not? That's how real men settle their differences, and I'm not afraid of you.”
“Well, you should be. I can end you with a single bullet.”
“Prove it. Let Nikita go and face me.” I laughed again.
“My sister has brainwashed you with her cock. Do you think she loves you? She's in on this with me; she has been since I took her from Santorini. She'd never betray me. The hospital was a charade so we could leave together.”
“You know what? I don't believe you. You're more alone than you think. If I were you, I'd run like the rat you are and hide in the most inhospitable place in the world so I wouldn't find you. Because, the day I do, I won't show a shred of mercy.”
“Empty words. I've thought that maybe today I'll kill your son.” I could imagine him going crazy with worry at the threat.
“Don't you dare touch that baby.”
“Why not? Nikita is eager to abort. A couple of pills, and it will flush right down the toilet.”
“You're a son of a bitch.”
“I see you already know your mom's profession. She was always good at spreading her legs.”
I was nearing the port, so I had to hang up.
“I'm coming for you, Yuri. I won't rest until I kill you.”
“Too bad you'll die first. See you soon, asshole.”
“You have no idea.”