He's not moving. Just lying there in a crumpled heap on top of the debris pile.
Then I see it. Another shape beside him. Another body.
My father.
Maksim got him out.
I reach them just as Maksim coughs, his whole body convulsing. He's alive. Barely, but alive.
"Don't move," I gasp, dropping to my knees beside him. "Don't—oh God, there's so much blood."
His eyes find mine. Even through the pain and exhaustion, they light up when he sees me.
"Told you," he rasps. "Not leaving."
Behind us, the warehouse groans. What's left of the structure shudders, preparing for final collapse.
"We have to move!" Semyon is there, grabbing Maksim under the arms. "Now!"
I look at my father. He's unconscious but breathing. Anya and one of Semyon's men are already dragging him away from the building.
Another man helps me support Maksim's other side. He coughs and chokes.
"Almost there," I tell him, even though we're not. Even though the car is still a block away and he's leaving a trail of blood behind us.
The warehouse gives its final death rattle. The remaining walls collapse inward with a roar that shakes the ground beneath our feet.
We keep moving. Stumbling. Running. Maksim's weight nearly takes us all down twice. The other men drag my father.
Finally, mercifully, we reach the cars. We load Maksim into the backseat while my father is loaded into another car. I climb in with Maksim and to my surprise Anya gets in the driver’s seat.
"Drive!" Semyon shouts to Anya. "Don't stop for anything!"
The engine roars to life. We lurch forward, tires squealing.
I look at Maksim. He’s covered in gray dust that makes his teeth and the white of his eyes look even brighter. But he’s smiling.
“You’re crazy,” I say.
“I’m alive.”
“With another hole in your body,” I mutter.
He grins and then drops his head back and the smile fades. He’s in pain. He put on a brave face, but I knew it wasn’t real. He was in bad shape.
Again.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Maksim
The hospital is chaos when we arrive. Cars and ambulances that I know are from the chaos we just left. Enemies. This has the potential to turn ugly.
“Semyon,” I say.
“I see them. Hospital is neutral territory.”
“When has that ever stopped anyone.”
