“Beneath this table, I have a pistol pointed directly at you.”
Pip rolled her eyes so hard I hoped she didn’t hurt herself.
Ruslan continued, apparently committed to his little speech. “The two men at the corner table are with me. If your guard moves, they kill him first. If your men outside interfere, innocent people die.”
Juvie was still, trying to hear. Ruslan’s voice lowered more. “You understand the situation.”
For the first time since he sat down, I smiled for real.
“No.”
His brow furrowed. “No?”
“I don’t think you understand the situation.”
Beside me, Pip shook her head. “Not even a little bit.”
Svetlana’s gaze moved between us, wondering what the hell was up. I lowered my voice, too.
“Because beneath this table, I have a gun pointed at your stomach.”
Ruslan’s eyes bucked. Pip smiled sweetly at Svetlana. “And I have one pointed at her.”
The color drained from Svetlana’s face. Ruslan clearly wanted to believe I was bluffing. I watched him decide whether to risk it. Then his gaze dipped just enough. The pistol resting comfortably in my lap was impossible to miss. I had my hand steady around it. Country girl.
He cursed in Russian. I smiled.
“Exactly.”
Pip leaned closer to Svetlana. “You probably should keep breathing regular. You faint, my hand might slip.”
Svetlana swallowed.
“Juvie,” I said.
His response came instantly. “Yeah?”
“Red cap and laptop. Now.”
There were no questions and no hesitation. Juvie shifted like he had been waiting for permission. Two guns pulled and aimed before the men at the side table—one in a red baseball cap and the other with an open laptop—could move. They tried as the remaining couple of customers screamed and ducked for cover.
“Don’t,” Juvie warned.
Both men froze. One had his hand halfway inside his jacket. The other stared down the barrel of Juvie’s gun and seemed to reconsider his life chances.
Juvie’s face twisted with betrayal. “Goddamn it, Theory of Evolution! You knew about this and ain’t told me shit? I thought we was better than this! Wait til I tell Granny!”
I didn’t look away from Ruslan.
“Anybody ever tell you the big cousins don’t like the snitching little cousins?” I asked.
“Right, Sissy. You better tell him, they get their asses kicked in our family,” Pip added.
“Girl! I specifically told your husband I had this. You tryna get me killed?”
Pip laughed. I laughed. Ruslan didn’t laugh. He just looked furious.
“We seem to have a little dilemma,” I said.
