Page 90 of Merciless Union
“Duck down!” I shout at Nik as I keep driving. I try to shield my face as best as possible as I run right into two of them, sending them flying across the road. They lay there, not getting up.
The other two are still shooting at us. I park the car and get out, firing my gun at them, using the car as protection.
I shoot of the guys in the head, killing him instantly. The other guy is shot in the leg but not by me. I glance over. Nik’s out of the car, breathing heavily. He lowers his gun, giving me a nod.
I approach the other man, shooting him too. I don’t have time to waste on traitors. Thinking back to Arseny, I should have just killed the bastard. I’m sure Denis ran for his life. He was always a coward.
And Stepan, well… this ends today.
He’s standing on the porch of the cabin, his shin still bleeding, looking way too smug after four of his followers just got killed by me and Nik.
“If you remember correctly, Maxim. I still have your wife and sister. If you hurt me, they die.”
I grip my gun tighter as I approach him. Nik trudges after me. “What have you done to them?”
“Nothing too terrible. Yet. They’re right inside. But if you try to get past me, one of my guys inside will shoot them in theirverypretty little heads.”
“No,” Nik shouts.
“Oh, I’m being very serious.” He whips his gun out and shoots at us. Nik and I duck behind another car.
Stepan runs into the cabin. I stand up and chase him.
Before I reach the door, I hear the sound of a loud crash, then the sound of a gunshot.
I stop dead in my tracks. Did Arina or Elena just get shot? No, that can’t be. I can’t lose anyone else.
The sound of another gunshot spurs me into action.
I rush into the cabin, Nik right behind me.
What I see makes me stop for a different reason than fear. Confusion.
Stepan is laying on the ground, looking dazed. A broken chair lays beside him. Arina and Elena, both alive, are standing above him, Elena holding onto a gun.
Elena spins in my direction, raising the gun.
“Don’t shoot!” I shout.
She pauses, registering me. “Maxim?” She drops the gun, running up to me and pulling me into a deep hug. She’s never been this affectionate towards me before. I quickly hug her back before motioning for her and Arina to step behind me. Arina is looking at me with wide eyes.
“There’s no one else in here,” Nik says. “This fucker was bullshitting us.”
I turn to face Stepan. He looks up at me, holding a hand up.
“Don’t shoot me, please,” he begs.
“Even at the point of death, you’re a fucking coward.” I press my gun to his head and pull the trigger, killing him instantly.
The cabin is silent.
I turn to face Arina and Elena, tucking my gun away.
Arina approaches me slowly. “You found us.”
“Of course. I’m always going to be there for you, Arina.”
She looks away. “Honestly, before I called you, I wasn’t sure.”
