Ruthless Spring

Men in our position aren’t supposed to get in the middle of shit like this anymore. We’re supposed to sit on the sidelines and watch the shit happen. It’s how our father’s lasted so long in this world, they sent out the foot soldiers to take all of the damage.

But we run things a little differently, we have to when there isn’t as many of us as there used to be.

"We’re going,” Giovanni says with a sigh, pushing his door open with one hand and reaching for his gun with the other.

I climb out, following him. The shots are loud and rapid. It’ll only be a matter of minutes before the police are all over this place. But I know Giovanni won’t get back into the car until Maximo is in it and neither will Enzo. And Maximo…

My eyes find him. He’s standing over a man pointing his gun right at his temple with a wicked grin on his face.

Fuck, I’m not sure even wild horses could drag that motherfucker away.

In the middle of all the action, Diamond is sitting on the ground, one hand on his bleeding shoulder and the other on his pistol.

My lips curl as I look at him.

The fucker deserves a bullet, deserves to die, but not here and not like this. Not when he was helping the family.

I take cover as I make my way to him. He looks up, pointing his gun at me before recognition flits through his eyes. He turns in the opposite direction, shooting at a cartel man who’s approaching with both guns blazing.

The man goes down.

More shots ring out, but it isn’t enough to drown out the sound of sirens.

Shit.

Some of the men begin to run back to their cars while others stay, weapons still drawn.

I duck down, just barely missing a bullet in the ear. I turn, shooting blindly as I try to figure out where the shot goes down. When no more bullets come at me, I figure the threat is neutralized. I don’t let go of my gun but I finish my trudge to Diamond.

“Can you walk?” I ask him.

His jaw grits but he doesn’t look at me, focused on the action still going on around us. “Yeah, I was just grazed.”

“Then get the fuck up,” I tell him, keeping an eye out, but it seems everyone is making a dash for their cars now. The sirens are louder and I can see the flicker of red and blue lights on one of the buildings.

“Fuck, come on, get up,” I order him.

But it quickly becomes apparent that he was lying when he tries to get up. The second he tries to put pressure on his left leg, it buckles right under him.

“Shit.” I sweep in, throwing my arm under his and pulling him to his feet. He has no choice but to throw his bleeding arm over my shoulder and I’m sure it’s only doing more damage, but it’s better than getting caught by the cops at a shootout.

I look around for Giovanni, but I can’t find him and I cuss again, knowing it’s going to be a long trek to our car.

“You better fucking move, Diamond,” I bark at him.

He hops on his good leg, doing his best to keep up as the first cop car turns into the lot.

“Fuck, we aren’t going to make it.”

“I bet you’re regretting coming for my ass now, aren’t you?” Diamond asks, letting out a dry laugh.

“Shut the fuck up, I could still leave you here.”

He starts to say something but it’s cut off by a car flying to a stop in front of us.

I instantly recognize our car and the door is throw open by Enzo who quickly scuffles to the other side. “Come on,” I hurry Diamond up, giving him a shove into the car. He sinks against the seat and I slide in next to him.

The fit is tight with me, him, and Enzo all sitting side by side, but I try to ignore it.