ログインThey stayed behind the rock till the sirens got quiet. Maybe twenty minutes. Guards were looking but going the wrong way. Deeper in the woods away from where they were."Gotta move," Maya said. "Before they come back."Dominic tried getting up. Made it halfway and his leg quit. Fell back down."Can't," he said. "Something's busted. Ribs maybe. Leg. Don't know."Maya looked at him. Face all swollen. Eye barely open. Blood all over. They'd worked him over good before she got there."I'll carry you," Maya said."You can't carry me," Dominic said. "I'm twice your size.""Then I'll drag you," Maya said. "We're not staying."Got under his arm. Pulled him up. He leaned hard on her. Started moving. More like stumbling. Real slow.Every few steps Dominic made a sound. Tried holding it in but couldn't. Everything was hurting him.Made it maybe a hundred yards before he stopped. "Can't. Need a break.""No breaks," Maya said. "They're gonna find us.""Then go without me," Dominic said. "Save your
Maya sat outside the gas station trying to figure out what to do. No car. No help. No clue where Dominic was. Just a cheap phone and a gun with twelve bullets.Phone rang. Marcus."Got something," he said. "Made calls. Paid people. They got him at the Viper compound. Same place you were before.""You sure?" Maya asked."Yeah," Marcus said. "Guy I know works security there. Said they dragged someone in an hour ago. Beat up. Sounds like Dominic.""I gotta get in there," Maya said."That's crazy," Marcus said. "Place has guards everywhere. Cameras. You won't make it past the gate.""Then help me," Maya said. "You got cash. Buy me a way in."Marcus went quiet. "Maybe one thing. Guy said there's a delivery tonight. Food truck. Comes every week. Could get you in the back.""What time?" Maya asked."Seven," Marcus said. "But Maya once you're in I can't help after that.""Don't need help after," Maya said. "Just need in.""I'll arrange it," Marcus said. "I'll text the address."Hung up. Maya
Maya waited on the hill. Watched the park fill up with people. Couple with a kid on the swings. Old guy feeding ducks. Lady jogging. Normal morning stuff.None of them knew what was about to happen.Nine o'clock. Three hours to go. Maya's legs were cramping from sitting still. She adjusted position. Kept the rifle aimed at the pavilion.Ten o'clock. A black SUV pulled into the parking lot followed by another and another a total Of Four. The Vipers started getting out. Maya counted. Twelve guys. All wearing vests. All carrying."Crap," Maya whispered. Twelve was more than expected. Way more.She texted Dominic. 12 guys, 4 SUVs and armed.Response came fast. Saw them. Still going.The Vipers spread out around the pavilion. Two by each vehicle. Four at the pavilion itself. Smart positioning. Covering all angles.Except up. They weren't watching the hill.Eleven o'clock. Marcus showed up. Alone in his car. Carrying a laptop. Walked to the pavilion. One of the Vipers stopped him. Searched
Marcus called back next morning. Maya was asleep in the passenger seat. The phone call woke her up."Got it done," Marcus said on speaker. "Tomorrow. Noon. Park outside the city. Riverside Park. Got picnic spots. People will be there but not packed.""He said yes?" Dominic asked."Took work," Marcus said. "Had to prove the cash was real. Sent bank papers. Proof. He wants to watch the transfer happen before you leave.""We're not paying him," Dominic said."I know," Marcus said. "He doesn't though. Told him we'd transfer it right there. Laptop. Bank stuff open. Once he sees you're clear to go.""He's bringing people," Maya said."Obviously," Marcus said. "Ten or more probably. You need backup.""Can't get backup," Dominic said. "Everyone's gone or arrested.""Then how are you doing this?" Marcus asked."Working on it," Dominic said.Marcus was quiet. "You're gonna die.""Maybe," Dominic said. "But waiting for him to find us kills us anyway.""There's other ways," Marcus said. "Cops. Pr
They drove till morning. Stopped at a rest area. Maya went to the bathroom, pured cold water on her face, looked at her self in the mirror, didn't know who was looking back.Eyes had dark circles. Hair was a mess. Face looked thinner and sick.Back at the car Dominic was on his phone. Hung up when she got there."Who was that?" Maya asked."Nobody," Dominic said."Tell me," Maya said.Dominic let out a breath. "Tommy. Just talking.""About what?""The restaurant," Dominic said. "Cops got twelve Iron Wolves. Jake and Connor are on the news. Warrants for them.""Us too?" Maya asked."Yeah. You especially," Dominic said. "They want you for multiple homicides. Your picture's everywhere."Maya felt her chest get tight. "Let me see."Dominic showed his phone. News article. Her student ID photo. Big letters said STUDENT WANTED IN BAR MASSACRE."I look so young there," Maya said. Weird thing to think about right then."You were young," Dominic said. "Two months ago you were just a student.""
They drove for three hours. Some town Maya didn't recognize. Gas station off the highway. Nothing else around.Dominic pulled in. "Need gas and food."Maya got out. Her legs hurt from sitting so long. Inside she grabbed chips and bottles of water. Dominic paid with cash. Back to the car.His phone rang. Carol.Speaker on. "Yeah.""Wrench made it," Carol said. But her voice sounded wrong. Shaky."Good," Dominic said."Not really," Carol said. "Hospital called police. Had to report the gunshot. Cops came asking stuff.""What'd you say?" Dominic asked."Nothing," Carol said. "But they checked my ID. Saw it was fake. Arrested me right there.""Where are you?" Maya asked."Still here," Carol said. "Cop's standing outside my room. Said I'm getting charged with lying to them. Fake documents. Other things.""Can you get out?" Dominic asked."Not without getting locked up for real," Carol said. "They're doing paperwork now."Dominic slammed his hand on the wheel. "Dammit.""There's more," Caro