A quiet ride

The streetlights flicker past. Dmitri is focused on the road, steering the old car between traffic and pedestrians. Your phone is off, wrapped in tin foil in the glove compartment. As he comes to a stall at a red light, he looks over at you.

"Lev, are you sure you're ready for this?"

"I don't even know what I need to be ready for, yet. But yes. Whatever Uncle needs, I'm here for." Continuing the monotony of your current schedule is not an option. You have to do something to escape from it. To bring your family into the life they should be living. Whatever it takes.

Dmitri nods, remains silent, and continues driving.

A while later and you're at a row of brownstones, not unlike the one you live in. The avenue is dark, most of the streetlights blown out, and Dmitri parks along the street next to an old Cadillac. As the car goes into park, he kills the lights and points to a brownstone a few doors down.

"Jorge lives there. After the police raid during our last deal, he turned. We heard he is trying to trade information about us for his freedom. And you know what that means."

"No snitches."

Dmitri nods, continuing, "That's right. You will see what happens to those who break our rules. Stay here. Say nothing, do nothing."

He reaches under his seat, withdrawing a black plastic case. He sets it on his lap, flicking open the rubber latches on it, and opens it. A matte black pistol is inside, with a silencer beside it. He withdraws both and sets the case aside. The pistol has a bracket mounted to the ejection portal with a small bag on it, preventing any bullet casings from being lost. With a quick yank on the slide, he peeps the chamber and sees it's loaded. Without saying another word, he screws the silencer into the pistol and steps out of the car. The pistol disappears within his jacket.

Moments later, he is knocking on the door of one of the brownstones. A familiar face answers it, Jorge, and says something. You can't hear anything at the distance they're standing, but you know you don't need to. The conversation is short.

Jorge tries to close the door, but Dmitri's foot stops it. The pistol reappears, raised at the Hispanic man. You know what is going to happen next. What all of this was for. But still, your heart sinks. The slide ejects once, twice. Jorge disappears. Dmitri pulls the door shut and walks back towards the car. A woman screams, heard even at this distance. Another life altered.

Then you're on the road again, driving away in silence.