The minute the battered and bruised Callen got in the SUV, Vlad had a gun pointed at his head. "Hand over the gun you took," he demanded. Callen slowly pulled it out and handed it to Vlad. One party favor gone.
Vlad pocketed the weapon but did not put his own gun down. "That was Jasmine's father, the cop. I know. Don't try to deny it," Vlad shouted angrily. "Are you trying to set us up?"
Callen scoffed and shook his head at Vlad in disbelief. "I'm not stupid. You have Jasmine. Look, I did what Anton wanted. Here is the drive," he said reaching in his pocket and tossing it to Vlad.
Vlad caught it but didn't lower the gun.
Callen tried to rationalize with Vlad. "I told your boss that was a bad place to meet. That area is Jasmine's fathers beat. So let's see, a cop hears gunshots and sees a man running, what do you think he does?"
"How do I know you didn't tell him anything? Tip him off?"
"Hello. You still have Jasmine. Besides, did you see the size of him from your comfy, safe seat in the car? You're damn lucky I'm here."
Vlad lowered the gun, skeptically.
"I got the drive as requested and I'm trusting Anton to keep his word. After all, I like to think there is still honor amongst thieves. Besides, if Jasmine's dad arrests you, he arrests me too and frankly, I'm not keen on going back to jail, being a virgin and all."
Vlad laughed and finally put the gun away. "My friend, you make good sense. And the money?"
Callen handed over the backpack. "Here. All accounted for unless any blew out while I was running for my life. This would have gone a lot smoother if Anton let them keep the money."
"Tough economic times. It seemed a shame to give it to those thieves." For the first time since Callen got in the car, Vlad took a good look at him. "You're bleeding?"
Callen shrugged it off. "Scratch."
"Lot of blood for a scratch."
"Ok, maybe two scratches, but nothing good vodka won't cure."
Vlad laughed and told the driver to head back to the warehouse. Callen truly hoped his team was tracking them; for once in his life he didn't want to be an alone wolf. There was too much at stake.