Gunslinger

“Well fuck me but this is a nice place.”
Danielle winced at the screamed comment from Jimmy as he roared past her and into the expanse of the dacha. It was a truly beautiful building, the floors all pine and shining as they shook the sleet from their boots on the doormat. The rest of the boys and Ana remained outback unloading the hire truck of the last of the boxes into the garage and basement. They looked innocent enough, the cargo marked up as fruit and bottled water when it contained anything but.
“Johnny and a million bucks gives you nice things Jimbo.”
Jimmy giggled like a girl and Charlotte couldn’t help but smile as Dani nudged her friend who immediately blushed. The two women hugged, glad to see each other again after winding up on different sides of the country. Danielle pulled her hair out from under her bobble hat and shook it free, she had forgotten how cold Russia could be and now stared at Dani. Her friend was wearing tight skinny jeans, the ink on her hip peeking out from below her t-shirt as they all hung coats up on a rack.
“You’ll get a chill.”
“Hell no, Matt has already promised to warm me up tonight.”
Dani jiggled her hips, winking at where Charlotte was self-consciously pulling at her hair. Neither were sure what to make of the shy girl and the way that Zacky had decided to claim her, the man could be such an enigma and Dani had already remarked that prison seemed to have hardened him. Danielle had noticed it too and the tension between Ana and Syn. Would make for an interesting mission. Charlotte herself was still taking in the foyer and living space of the dacha with the huge picture window that looked out on a lake far below. The sky was heavy and low, clouds that promised bad weather and Danielle was glad she had picked out heavy duty jeeps rather than risking lighter vehicles. The roads where they were going would be icy even without more snow fall.
“It’s beautiful. Have you been in Russia long ?”
Charlotte hugged herself a little tighter and smiled shyly at the other two women.
“Couple of years, I always wanted to travel. This is a little different though.”
“Relax, piece of cake. Danielle darling, Jimmy needs you in the kitchen.”
There was a sound of something crashing down and Dani smirked as Danielle stalked in that direction. This time she was determined that the two idiots would make a go of things and if what had happened had taught them all anything, it was don’t take time for granted. Now all they had to worry about was the mission itself. Dani checked the sky again and turned back as the door opened and her friends trooped inside.
“I still say I could have landed that bitch with five hundred less feet.”
“I could see the fucking squirrels in the goddamn trees !”
“Jeez Gates, you used to have balls…”
Ana shrieked as Syn picked her up and put her over his shoulder, heading for the kitchen as Zacky dumped down luggage, a box of supplies and even more coats. Johnny came behind with equipment, Matt finally closing the door and smiling around at the neat house. Sure as hell was going to beat the hanger and it was good to have the whole crew together. He walked past the girls at the window and into the huge dining room, laying his laptop bag down and looking for a power point as the others set to exploring the house.
There were eight bedrooms, Dani picking a large north facing one for her and Matt, Charlotte taking the one opposite with the forest view and being quietly happy when Zacky approved and immediately threw his coat on the bed, ghosting her lips with a cold kiss.
Jimmy hung around the kitchen chatting to Danielle and catching up with Ana as she unpacked the supplies they had picked up at the closest town in. Plenty of the essentials, plenty of booze and a little something else she had decided to keep for later. Johnny leant in the doorway, his face fixed in a cheeky grin.
“Bedroom arrangements ? We have one twin room and one double up for grabs.”
Ana blinked and glanced at Danielle who smiled sweetly.
“Ana and I will take the double so you boys can share.”
They all turned to look at Jimmy who opened his mouth, shut it again and then looked desperately at Syn. The man himself opened a beer and passed it to his friend before catching Ana’s eyes and letting a smirk cross his face.
“Sounds fine to me.”
Ana bit her lip and hugged Danielle, the two women fixing food as the evening started to close in. They gathered in the big living room, food passed around as they planned the first day out. Charlotte liked being wrapped in Zacky’s arms, suggesting that they start in the woods to the north. When the Nazis had first fled there had been a lot of fighting in that area and it seemed like a good place to begin. There was more than an hour of this before Matt lit the huge fire and Ana brought out her surprise, Jimmy and Syn exchanging a pleased glance.
“Absinthe !”
Johnny laid out the glasses, one for everyone although Charlotte looked terrified and glanced at Zacky. He downed the shot in one and reached for the beer as Syn leered across the table at her with a wicked smile.
“Take the shot !”
“I don’t really drink…”
Ana sat down beside her and swallowed both her own and Charlotte’s shot with a big grin as more alcohol appeared. Matt and Dani watched, a little more sober than the rest as Johnny drank enough to find the mounted fish on the wall fascinating and Danielle and Jimmy shared a half bottle between them, getting closer and closer all the while until a very bleary eyed Syn folded his arms and stared at them.
“Just fucking kiss already. You both want it, dooooo it !”
Zacky tore his eyes from Charlotte’s cleavage and smirked, the drink was catching up with him too and his twin had just provided the ideal target. Matt joined in too, a chorus of loud do it’s until Danielle decided that the drink was giving her enough courage. She swept her hair back and grabbed Jimmy’s hair, pulling his face to hers in a sloppy kiss. Jimmy yelped, both of them crashing backwards onto the huge rug by the fire and he pulled her closer as all the years of slow burn came to an end. Zacky grinned at his friend.
“Well that settles that then. Any more advise bro ?”
“Never trust a woman.”
There was an awkward silence, Ana grabbed the whiskey bottle and got up, making sure to give Syn the finger as she padded towards the huge staircase and disappeared. Syn looked down at his glass and swore softly, pouring himself another drink as Charlotte watched their expressions. Zacky hadn’t told her much, only that they had been married a long time and had broken up. She wasn’t stupid and knew there was more too it as Jimmy say up, Danielle hugging him close as he glared at Syn.
“Classy, really classy.”
Matt removed the whiskey bottles and stood up, the look on his face telling them all that the party was over. Syn remained where he was, letting the others say their goodnights until it was only Matt, Dani and himself left. He kept drinking, the guilt in his chest now forcing the anger down until that bottle was removed too and he found himself between his two friends. Dani grabbed his hand and forced his face around until he couldn’t avoid looking at her.
“Sort it out with her. You still love her and she still loves you. What’s done is done Brian, don’t make this even worse by continuing to blame her for something you started.”
“I was going back for her, I never thought she would stab me in the back.”
Matt sighed, he was tired and now could see the damage that prison had done. Brian had never been a bitter man, he worked hard and he played hard but never to the point of taking the kick downs personally. His friend now looked vulnerable and matt didn’t like it.
“Go talk to her man.”
Syn grunted and they left him in front of the fire, turning the lights down as they left. The stars were the only other light coming in from the window and he stretched out, comfort was feeling good even if the conversation had taken a turn for the worse. Now all he could think about was that he was alone and they were probably right. He doused down the fire and wobbled up the stairs, noting that the only room with the door ajar was the twin.
Even this room was luxurious, the carpet thick under his feet and Syn pulled off his shirt before heading towards the bathroom and the door to the balcony. It was ajar and he could see Ana outside, her feet up on the wooden rail as her breath rose in the air. It seeped in the crack and raised goosebumps on his arms as he opened it further and awkwardly stepped out.
“Hey…”
Ana didn’t turn, her face in shadow as she looked out into the forest and tried not to look around at him. This whole thing had been a mistake and she wanted out whether she got the money or not. He could go to hell and she would go back to South America. She badly wanted a hit and it made her voice harsh.
“Come to take another crack ?”
“No. That was a cheap shot and I’m sorry.”
Ana shook her head, Syn taking the seat next to her and they both concentrated on the silence until he touched her arm and she turned. His face was pained, pale and nervous and she too could see the toll it had taken. Her laughing boy had become a gaunt man and the tears welled up in her eyes. He leant out, touching them before smiling.
“Can we at least talk inside, I think I froze my nipples off.”
She smiled, standing up and his arm went around her as they stepped back into the warm room. Ana tried not to enjoy that, his body heat was intoxicating and it felt safe to be held by him as he slammed the door and locked it. She decided to be honest, if he was going to ever trust her again she would have to tell him and so she pulled away, taking his hands in hers and looking up at him.
“The money’s gone Bri. I used it to get out and for my….problem.”
“I know.”
Syn tried not to smile as her jaw dropped, it was getting harder not to hold her and he was conscious of the curves of her body under the thin vest and shirt she wore. Her eyes came back to his and she stepped back a little, suspicion clouding her face.
“You know ?”
“They asked me for authorisation, a lot of money coming out of a joint account meant they had to. They knew where I was and I owed you. I fucked up and had a lot of time to think about it.”
Ana sat down on one of the twin beds, her shoulders sloping as she wrapped her arms around her knees. He sat too, opposite her so that their knees touched as they had in the police van. There was a laugh from somewhere close by and the sound of breaking glass, all of the noises clouding the silence as she spoke quietly.
“I never wanted you to be locked up for that long. I was angry and I was stupid. All those years you never let me down and then all of a sudden you were gone.”
“I never thought you would turn your back.”
Ana looked up as his voice broke and saw the tears, Syn never cried. Not in all the years she had known him, through the worst of times and the best and it broke her. In one movement her arms went around him and he relaxed into her shoulder, both of them clinging to each other. She stroked his hair, her tears dampening it as they tried to find words to make it right.
“Forgive me Brian, for all of it. We can start again, this job will give us a chance at least.”
“I forgive you, just no more drugs and shit.”
Ana pulled his face up and they stared at each other, a slow smile forming on his face as she crossed her heart and crossed her eyes. He touched her face too, the sudden peace that was starting to come over him could be the drink but it felt too good to argue with and when she gently pressed her lips to his it was enough.
“I promise. I forgive you too. Just remind me to get us a double bed next time.”
Syn giggled, the two of them falling over themselves to rearrange the room which considering how much they had drunk was no mean feat. By the time the two beds were pushed together both had bruised shins and were too tired to think of anything other than sleep. A fact that Syn was certain he would make up for at some point but right now it didn’t seem to matter, her arms around his waist and head on his shoulder were his own little piece of heaven and this fragile peace was priceless.

Notes