All three watched him in silence.
He forced himself to stop and swallow down his panic. This was not the time to lose his shit. Outnumbered and bound, his brain remained his only weapon, and so far, it was shooting blanks.
“Dima, I don’t know what Trevor promised you, but you won’teverget it. And Oscar will get you for this.”
“Why? I was attacked. Poor little me.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Dima ignored him and told Trevor, “Let’s do this.”
“Sure thing, but it’s gonna hurt.”
“Only if you do it right.”
They walked a few feet away and faced each other,both equally tall, with Dima looking twice as broad. Trevor stretched his neck and shook his hands, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Chris gasped when Trevor smashed his fist into Dima’s face. The man barely budged, but Trevor cursed and held his hand. “Are your bones made of iron? I didn’t sign up to injure myself!”
“You are a baby.” Dima walked to his car, and with no hesitation, smashed his head against the door.
Trevor laughed. “Now, that’s a committed man!”
Chris used the opportunity to glance around, but all he could see was trees and grass. Birds chirped loudly from all directions, and he couldn’t even hear the distant sound of traffic.
Andy crouched next to him, smelling of Doritos as he reached for Chris's face.
“Don’t touch me!” He tried to crawl away, but Andy grabbed his jacket and held him in place. The zip tie dug into his wrists, already causing small cuts.
A loud shout pierced the air. Chris jolted and turned to see Dima holding his ribs. It seemed like Trevor had kicked him.
This cannot be happening.
Andy stroked Chris’s head, running his thick fingers through his hair. “I missed you, Daniel. Did you miss me?” He sounded like he really meant that question, as if missing him was a true possibility.
Chris shut his eyes and tried to think, but his brainwas stuck on static. In the background, Trevor kept hitting Dima until the man finally blurted, “Stop!”
Chris cracked open his eyes to see Dima spitting blood onto the ground, his face a mess that would likely worsen later.
“Now do the car,” Dima said and massaged his jaw.
“I’ll fetch a crowbar from my trunk. Andy, how’s Danny?”
“He’s great!”
Trevor snickered and went to take a crowbar, then walked over to Dima’s car and began to mercilessly hit it.
“Andy, watch this!” Trevor smashed one of the windows, and Andy clapped.
Dima leaned against a tree, holding his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose, his other hand pressing the side of his body.
“You okay?” Trevor asked as he walked away from the wreckage.
“Dizzy.”
“Just dizzy? I’d be dead if I were you.”
“True.”
