Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone)

head under a black skull cap and dark shades, looking as suspicious as, and not unlike, a drug dealer in a family park.  
    Ryan glanced around to make sure nobody was paying attention to him, then approached Pete’s car and squatted on his knees beside the driver’s side.
    “What the fuck are you doing here?” Ryan asked.
    “Viktor wants to know your answer.”  
    “I said no, the answer’s not changing,” Ryan said, through clenched teeth.
    “I was really hoping you wouldn’t say that,” Pete said, taking a deep drag on his joint. “He’s not gonna be happy.”
    “I don’t care if he’s unhappy. This isn’t an option. I’ll pay him back, but it’s gonna take time. Another week, at most. What’s seven days to Viktor?”
    “I don’t get it, man,” Pete said, taking his shades off and meeting Ryan’s eyes, “The dude is giving you an out. An EASY fucking out. Most people would kill for this, and you’re saying no?”
    Ryan shook his head, refusing to waver. “I’m not putting innocent people at risk. You tell him I said no. He will HAVE to wait.”
    Pete shook his head, “Don’t be stupid, Ryan. We’ll be in and out, nobody gets hurt, nobody knows you were involved. Easy. As. Shit.”
    Ryan closed his eyes, stared at the pavement, littered with chunks and slivers of broken glass. Pete had a point. The problem of Viktor could turn to vapor if Ryan would just play ball. No more debt. No hovering threat of Viktor’s goons. It would all go away. But the risk was too great. He couldn’t live with himself if something went wrong. He couldn’t look Mary or Paola in the eyes if innocent people were hurt because of him.
    “I can’t,” Ryan said, “tell him no.”
    Pete let out a deep sigh, “Shit, dude, you are either the dumbest fucker ever, or the ballsiest. You sure you want me to make this call?”
    Ryan nodded yes and watched as Pete dialed Viktor on his burner cell.
    “Hey, it’s me . . . No, he’s saying no deal. He wants another week.”
    Ryan couldn’t hear what was being said on the other end, and Pete’s face was blank, save for his usual stoner expression.
    Then, something Viktor said dilated Pete’s eyes.  
    He handed Ryan the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”
    Ryan’s felt the acid in his chest rise as his pulse quickened. He reached for the phone, then stole another glance around the parking lot to make sure nobody was watching.
    “Yes?”  
    “Am I to understand you’re saying no?” Viktor’s voice said, smooth and reptilian.
    “Yes, sir,” Ryan said, “It’s too risky. We don’t need to do it like this. I just need one more week.”
    “No, you’ve had enough time,” Viktor said, “It’s time to pay. You either pay now, or we’ll have to settle. How we settle is up to you, but I’d take the easy way if I was you.”
    “It won’t work,” Ryan said, “Someone could get hurt. Someone will find out I was involved. Too much risk. If you can’t wait a week, just come and get me. I’m tired of living under the threat that you’re gonna send someone after me. You’re a businessman; you realize if your guys come after me, you’ll never get your money. So why not just wait another week?”
    Viktor settled into a quiet that lingered too long; every silent second twisted the anxiety rising in Ryan’s gut.
    Finally, Viktor spoke. “You’re right; if I hurt you, I won’t get my money. But I have a feeling that if I send some of my men to Warson Woods, pay a visit to your family, maybe that might change your mind?”
    Ryan froze, rage threatening to boil over.
    “You stay away from my family,” he said, doing his best to keep his anger contained.
    “Then you pay me tonight. Your choice. Put Pete back on.”
    Ryan handed the phone to Pete, hand shaking. Pete listened for 10 seconds or so, then said, “OK, boss” and hung up.
    “So, what’s it gonna be? You in?”
    Ryan stared, paralyzed by fear. He knew Viktor was dangerous. Knew he’d gone in too deep with his gambling. Knew that someday his luck might run out, and maybe he’d get a beat-down. But never did he consider that Viktor would go after his family. Hell, he didn’t even think Viktor knew about Mary or Paola.
    This was it.  
    Ryan was finally out of options.  
    He’d gone too far this time and now there was enough shit to make sure the fan stopped spinning forever.  
    He nodded to Pete, “I’m in.”

    * * * *

5 - LUCA HARDING

    Luca moved his Bishop in a diagonal line