Lenny's in the doorway to his shop, firing an automatic rifle at the retreating Turkish men. He's screaming like a psycho, the gun bucking against his shoulder. I'm pretty sure he missesevery single shot, but it forces the Turks back into their vehicle. They speed off, tires kicking up smoke.
The gunfire tapers off. Lenny chases them as far as the street, waving the gun in the air like a madman. He turns, showing teeth in a vicious grin. “Nobody fucks with my customers,” he says, leaning the rifle on his shoulder.
I push myself to my knees. “Kira, are you okay?”
She brushes herself off and nods. “I’m fine. I’m totally fine. But, Stellan?—”
I get to my feet. Take one step. And collapse in pain. “Fuck,” I snarl as I touch a wound in my leg, right above the knee.
A bullet ripped straight through. My pants are soaked in blood.
“Looks like you need a doctor,” Lenny says, already taking out his phone to dial.
“No,” I say, shoving myself to my feet. “No doctor. Kira, you’re driving. We have to stop them.”
“Stellan, you’re hurt.”
“They’ve got it. They’ve got the key. I can’t let them go.” I stagger to the car, heart racing. Every step is agony.
“Hold on there, partner, you can’t just run off.” Lenny looks around wildly. “I just got into a firefight! I need witnesses to back me up!” He gestures at the driver. “I’ve got a corpse here!”
“Show the cops your security footage.” I start the SUV as Kira climbs in beside me.
“Shit!” Lenny screams. I pull out, nearly running him over. “You’re leaving me with an even bigger mess!”
I hit the road going fast. Kira has to steady the wheel.
“This is a bad idea,” she says quietly. “We have to patch you up.”
“Isak’s going to get away.”
“But you’re going to pass out from blood loss. Please, just let me fix you up; then we’ll catch him. We can still get on the plane, right?”
“He’s got one too. He’ll beat me to the bank.”
“Call Prime. Have him watch the place. We’ll figure it out, but please, Stellan. Let me help you.”
I hit the steering wheel, but I know she’s right. “The plane has medical supplies. You’ll do it when we’re taking off.”
“Stellan—”
“No more arguments.” I grit my teeth and drive faster for the airport. “I’ve got bandages in the glove compartment. They’ll keep me alive until you can stitch me closed.”
She doesn’t like it, but she doesn’t argue.
I have one goal now. There’s only one thing that matters.
Find Vural. Get the key back. Stop him from stealing the Black Book.
Everything depends on it.
STELLAN
My phone rings the second the plane lands. I limp down the steps and onto the tarmac. My leg feels like shit, but Kira did a good job cleaning me up. I’ll make sure the flight crew gets an extra big bonus for this one. I’m pretty sure I left a sizable bloodstain on the carpet.
“Prime, what’s going on?”
“Morning, boss.” Prime sounds like his usual calm and cocky self. It drives me nuts. “I’m at the bank, as instructed. The place just opened, but he’s already inside. I think he got them to come in early or some shit.”
