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Niko crosses his arms, leaning his head against the window of the pickup. They’ve been waiting here for hours and it’s long past midnight now. Niko thinks they’ve been stood up.
Joel is sitting next to him in the driver’s seat, face hard and impatient. He’s never been one for waiting, and he’s off his meds until he can get a new guy. He’d been getting Ritalin off the supplier he had back in the city until he’d unexpectedly pussied out about a month ago, leaving his body buried under the shed behind the warehouse, and Joel without meds until Johnny got him someone else.
Joel sighs, hands twisting and sliding the heavy rings on his fingers. He’s been restless ever since the clock had ticked past midnight, and Niko’s about ready to call it quits when the glow of headlights starts to flicker through the trees.
Another truck pulls into view, rocking on the uneven terrain of the forested road. Niko swears, looking into the back seat. Tommi is sitting up from where he’d been slouched bored in the back now, a heavy hand clamped tight on the man’s arm.
Ahead of them, the truck comes to a stop, and the driver’s door swings open. Niko waits until the driver opens the back door of his truck and pulls a hooded man out of the back before he pushes his own door open, sliding out of his seat and jumping down to the ground. Tommi is close behind, pulling their own hostage out of the back seat and onto the road.
Joel is already ahead of them, standing in front of the nose of their pickup, waiting as the other group pulls their hostage forward, to the middle ground between their two trucks. Niko can see Joel’s gun tucked into his belt from his back, and he feels for his own, tucked by his side. He doesn’t like guns; they’re far too impersonal for his own taste, but they’re safer and better in situations like this, where things happen quickly and he has to be able to react from a distance.
Niko scowls as the others approach. They’d agreed that it would be just their groups, three-on-three, to even the playing field. On paper, Niko reminds himself, because neither of them were particularly interested in being fair players. He’d thought he’d had an advantage bringing Tommi, but his confidence in him falters as he watches the other two men come forward.
Taz and Johnny.
Only one of them was in Samy’s regular posse. Taz Fagerström might have been tall, his height rivalling even Tommi’s, but he hardly matched in bulk. No, Niko’s concern is Johnny, one of Hannes’ best. Joel stiffens beside Niko as he notices him too, his mouth hardening into a straight, thin line. Johnny was better liked by Hannes’ than even Joel, and Niko hates to think of what Hannes would do if they even tried anything against him.
Niko puffs up his chest, his stance wide and confident despite his hesitancy. He’s been in the business long enough to know that showing any weakness or vulnerability at all is to admit defeat. Samy strides in front of his own truck, gesturing for Taz and Johnny to take the hood off. Olli’s face is revealed, tired and bruised. From the glare of the headlights, Niko can see how pale and sweaty he is, heavy bags beneath his eyes.
Samy is staring at him expectantly, so Niko chucks his chin over at Tommi, who reaches up to pull the hood off of the man in his grasp. Samy’s face softens for a fraction of a second before darkening again, saying something Niko can’t hear to Johnny before gesturing toward Tommi.
Niko looks back at Tommi, who looks back, eyes flicking to Olli and then back to Niko, inclining his head. Niko knows what he’s asking. He won’t say anything – it’s not his call right now, but it’s not Niko’s either. Joel’s looking at both of them now, so Niko comes forward and translates Tommi’s silent request lowly for Joel.
Joel clears his throat impatiently, holding an arm out for Olli, palm up. “Him first,” he grunts, loud enough for Samy to hear across the space between them. Samy scowls, but motions for Taz to let go of Olli.
As soon as Olli is free, Tommi lets go of their guy without a signal, already reaching for Olli as Arttu breaks into a run. Olli stumbles awkwardly to Tommi, his hands, tied behind his back, fucking with his balance. Niko can see Arttu being tugged into Taz and Samy’s arms before being guided into the truck. Samy pauses, holding the driver’s door open, eyes on Joel and Niko. Joel gives him a nod, which Samy thankfully returns. They both know that holding an outright grudge will serve neither party.
When they get back into the front of the truck, Olli and Tommi are already in the back, Tommi’s hands picking at the knots around Olli’s wrists. “You alright?” Niko asks, looking at Olli in the rearview mirror. “They didn’t get you too good, did they?”
Olli shakes his head, leaning back against Tommi. “It’s just been a long day,” he mumbles, rubbing his sore wrists.