They ended the call and Nikolai found the car where Isaac had said it would be.He was in a weird kind of bubble as he drove.Acutely aware of the reality around him, and yet it was as if he was operating in a dream.Maybe he was more tired than he'd realized.
He parked outside his apartment building and jogged up the stairs to his apartment, not noticing anything weird until thehair on the back of his neck stood on end.
He whirled around when he had two steps left to his landing and jumped out of the way just in time.A black-clad figure swiped at him, but Nikolai managed to push the arm away at the same time as he shoved the man down the stairs.He wore a black balaclava, but wide eyes met his as he lost his balance.Something metal gleamed in the man's hand, and Nikolai roared.A fucking scalpel.
He rushed down the few steps the man had fallen and kicked the hand with the scalpel as he drew his gun from the holster on his hip."Freeze!Police!"
Furious eyes glared at him, and Nikolai didn't need him to remove the balaclava to know it was Saylor.
An apartment door on the floor above opened, and footsteps hurried toward him.Nikolai kept the gun aimed at Saylor."Call the police, say Detective Nesterova has Saylor and give them the address."
"What?"The voice shook, sounding young.Nikolai chanced a glance.A teenage boy was staring at him with wide eyes.
"Call the police--" Pain sliced through his calf and a pained shout left him.Fucking hell.He looked down and found another scalpel in Saylor's left hand.
He aimed at his thigh and pressed the trigger.The shot echoed in the staircase, momentarily deafening him.Did he need to shoot him?Maybe not, but he'd claim self-defense.
He meant to crouch, but lost control of his leg and fell on top of Saylor.With the knee of his uninjured leg pressed against Saylor's chest, he managed to get the scalpel out of his hand and threw it some distance away.How many scalpels could one man have?
Once his ears started working again, Saylor's screams almost deafened him.The boy was staring open-mouthed.
"Have you called?"
He shook his head but got his phone out of his pocket.Nikolai grabbed his cuffs.He wanted to flip Saylor over and secure his hands behind his back, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to, and he wouldn't risk him getting away.
There was blood everywhere, and he didn't know how much came from him and how much came from Saylor.
He got his hands secured and kept his knee on him.
"Are they on their way?"He chanced another glance at the pale boy above him.
He nodded."Yes, ambulance and police.Shouldn't take long."
A perk of living in the city.A lifetime had passed before the ambulance had reached Frode's house, but Nikolai's apartment was only a few minutes away from the EMS station.
He didn't dare relax until shouts were coming from the building's entrance.
"Nikolai!"Isaac's voice was loud.
"Up here!"
Footsteps thundered on the steps, and Isaac appeared in a swarm of uniforms.
Nikolai breathed a sigh of relief and moved off Saylor when two officers told him to.Isaac grabbed his arm."How bad off are you?"
Nikolai glanced down at his blood-soaked jeans."No idea.He cut me in the calf."
Isaac nodded."No arteries or you wouldn't be standing, so I assume you'll be fine."
Nikolai glared.
Sirens sounded from right outside and blue lights flashed through the window.
"I think your ride is here."Isaac didn't let go of his arm as he guided him around Saylor and the officers.
Trying to walk down the steps had black dots forming in his vision, but he managed with one hand on the handrail and Isaac taking some of his weight.
"Green will come and snarl at you any second, so hop into one of the ambulances and escape to the hospital."
