“Why would they give you a gun?” Adam asks. He looks more scared of me holding the gun than he did of Chris a minute ago.

“I don’t know!”

Chris stares at me, and I prepare myself in case he’s about to attack again. My finger twitches on the trigger. We lock eyes for a minute, an invisible cord of tension connecting us, the threat of violence heavy in the air. Finally the moment passes and he steps back, his shoulders slumping.

“I was gonna propose to Shawnda as soon as we got paid. She told me last week she’s pregnant. That’s why I took this job.” He stares at the ground. “I just wanted to be a good father.”

I lower the gun, hands shaking. I can’t hate him now that I know he’s doing all this for his family. It’s more than Papá ever did for me.

“We’re going to stop this.” I have to believe it, or I might as well turn the gun on myself right now.

Chris nods. “Sorry about…” He gestures at his face. “All that.”

I struggle to my feet and he holds out a hand to help me up. I take it and then wipe my burning nose with the back of my jacket. Red blood mixes with the rain, which has slowed to a trickle now.

I put the gun away in my backpack. “I wouldn’t have shot you, you know.”

“No shit,” he says with a faint grin.

I can’t help but let out a small laugh. This whole situation is just so messed up.

The other three watch us like we’re crazy, but I know something’s changed between me and Chris. We understand each other now, in a way only people who have fought each other can. My face still throbs, but he didn’t actually hit me that hard. I’ve been in worse fights. Chris turns to Trent and apologizes, and the two slap each other on the back.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say. Even with the rain, we’re too visible, too exposed standing out in the open like this. The police might still be looking for us.

“Guys.” Adam stares at the street. “The taxi is gone.”

“Oh yeah,” Trent says. “It asked for more money while you were in there. It probably ran out and drove off.”

Back at the apartment building, I see Shawnda’s face at the window, glaring at us. And then I hear the sirens in the distance.

06:34

06:34

I whip my head around, trying to gauge how close they are. We take off running, down rain-slicked sidewalks, past beat-up apartments and stores, in the opposite direction of the sirens. For a few minutes all I know is the feel of my legs pumping, my heart racing, and water splattering against my face.