He didn’t, which was why he was meeting Oscar this evening to have the kind of conversation he never imagined he’d ever have.
“You don’t have a solution, and you don’t practice with your gun. You’ll regret it. I know a good shooting place.”
“Westside Rifle and Pistol Range?”
“Not that one.”
“It’s a fifteen-minute walk from here.” The thought of getting out to practice felt more appealing the more hethought about it. It would also help reduce some of his stress before meeting Oscar.
“We’ll need a car to get to the place I was thinking of,” Dima said.
“How long of a drive?”
“Twenty minutes.”
He had three hours until he was supposed to meet Jay for them to go see Oscar. “Okay, let’s go. But I can’t stay too long.”
“Bullets move fast. We’ll take my car.”
“You sure?”
“I don’t trust others to drive me.”
They left Chris’s office and walked to the elevator. People gave them funny looks, as there was no apparent reason for someone like Dima to spend so much time there without actually working. But Chris had decided to let people wonder and gossip instead of trying to convince them of a lie.
Dima pressed the button for the minus-five floor.
“Why did you park down there? Minus four is never full.” It used to be, but after Covid, many people continued to work from home.
“I like number five,” Dima said flatly.
Chris rolled his eyes. He had gotten somewhat used to the man’s presence, but not enough to remotely like him.
When they got out of the elevator and into the parking lot, only one car was parked in the wide space.They walked over to the black Toyota SUV and climbed inside. After Chris put on the seatbelt, he pulled out his phone to text Jay where he was going. There was no reception down here, but the message would be sent once they reached the street.
Before he could text, Dima snatched his phone. “Not now.”
“What? Why?”
“No reception.”
“So? I can still write a message. Give it back.”
Dima shook his head, his crooked smile sending a bad feeling down Chris’s spine. “Dima, give me back my phone.”
“You don’t need it, little brother.”
Chris's eyes shot to the rearview mirror.
Trevor pushed himself up in the middle seat, smiling broadly in the mirror.
This is not happening.
Chris reached for the door handle, but the car was locked. He slammed his fist against the window. “Help!”
Trevor laughed and shouted louder,“Help! Help!”
The gun.Chris reached underneath his jacket, but Dima caught his intent and grabbed his hand. He swiftly reached underneath Chris’s jacket and pulled out the gun, then handed it over to Trevor.
