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Jasha
The train screeches to a halt two meters away from the SUV parked sideways across the tracks, smoke billowing from the hot iron wheels into the winter air as they struggle to stop the 150-ton vehicle from hitting our roadblock. If they knew what was about to happen, they’d ram through it, but their ignorance will be their downfall.
We emerge from the tree line, all fifty of us prepared to take on an empty passenger train that should only have an engineer and a conductor inside. We’ll find out in a moment.
“Don’t shoot anyone unless you see a gun. It’s unlikely that anyone on board knows about the cargo,” I command as the boarding begins.
We should be able to commandeer the train without any casualties, and I prefer a clean job. The F.B.I. has been all over my ass lately, and I’d like to keep them far away from this case.
I grip the cold metal railing hard as I board the train from the back. I hear voices inside already, panicked shouting from the conductor as his compartment is raided by my men. It’s almost time to go. We can’t wait out here for very long.
The moment everyone’s on the train, I radio the driver of the SUV to take it off the tracks. We can’t afford to lose any time. The train was already late, and every second that goes by is another chance for the Italians to get a whiff of what we’re doing and catch up with us.
The inside of the train isn’t much warmer than the outside, but they wouldn’t keep this thing heated without passengers. Only the conductor’s car and the engineer’s compartment all the way at the front of the train will be warm.
I pull my wool coat tighter as I walk back past a cluster of my men to the conductor. He’s already being held at gunpoint by six different men, and one is firmly holding the back of his shirt.
“Who’s on this train?” I demand, pulling a pistol with an extended magazine out of my coat and pointing it at him. “Five seconds to answer or I’m blowing your brains out.”
That usually gets them to start stuttering and start talking. I’ve never been the patient type, and I certainly can’t afford to be now.
“J-just me,” the man says, “And… and a security guard. And also, the engineer.”
I lower my gun. “Well, consider yourself lucky. You’re the only one who gets to leave the train while it’s still stopped,” I say, nodding at my man to let him go. “Now get off this train before I put a bullet between your eyes.”
He doesn’t have to be asked twice. He hurries out of the compartment and makes a run for the exit. I watch from the window as he jumps off the train and nearly breaks his legs in the process as he lands on the tracks.
“Could’ve just climbed off,” I mutter, turning away. “Alright,” I say, much louder now to address my men. “Let’s take out that guard. I only need a couple of you. The rest can stay behind and make sure the conductor doesn’t try to sneak back on board and play the hero.”
I grab a few of my most capable men, ones who’ve been loyal to the Antonov Family for a long time, and I take them with me toward the front of the train. I don’t know where the guard is, but I figure he’s more likely to be closer to the front of the train with the engineer.
As we breach the third compartment, the train shudders to a start, rolling slowly at first but picking up speed quickly.
Business as usual. They don’t even know they’ve been boarded.
I lead the way, taking a brisk walk through the remainder of the compartments until I see a dark shape through the iced-over door leading to the compartment just before the engineer’s room.
I hold my hand up as I stop, and my men open up behind me in V-shaped formation to prevent crossfire. “I will deal with this,” I say, flicking off my pistol’s safety switch. I push the button to open the doors, and I’m met with the bewildered expression of the guard.
I shoot twice, hitting him both times in the chest before he has the chance to reach for his gun. I doubt he’s ever had to use it, but now, he never will.
The light leaves his eyes as I step over him, making my way toward the engineer’s room. They’ll have heard the noise by now, and maybe they will come out to check what’s happening. It’s better to take them by surprise than to allow them to process what’s going on and have time to prepare.
As I reach for the handle to the engineer’s room, the door opens, and I’m met with a wide-eyed woman in a navy-blue pencil skirt and white blouse.
I lower my gun, equally taken aback as she is, but for an obviously different reason. “Lola,” I breathe.
“I see you remember my name,” she says, looking past me down the hallway. “Do you mind telling me what the fuck is going on? And why you have a gun?”
“I’m commandeering the train,” I reply, holding up my gun and grinning.
“Oh, good,” she replies sarcastically, “I thought you might’ve finally come back to kill me. I’m glad that’s not the case.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not that special, darling.”
“But you did remember my name, so that must count for something.”
“Not in the least, and I don’t have time to cater to your narcissism,” I snap, regaining my frigid composure. “I’ve already kicked your goofy little conductor off the train, and the guard is lying in a pool of his own blood in the hallway, so you’re the last one on the train to take care of.”
