The .22 had grazed his skull窶廃lowed a furrow above his left ear, knocked him cold, stopped just short of his brain. Enough blood to fool anyone. Not enough to finish the job.
Kael dragged himself through glass and runoff. His forehead left a red smear on the rocks. His fingers found the pistol窶冱 grip.
They dragged Kael by the zip-ties. The plastic cut deeper, but Kael didn窶冲 feel that either. Death Before Dishonor 2 Pistols Zip
The rain had stopped. The ravine was quiet except for trickling water and the buzz of flies already gathering. Kael窶冱 body lay twisted among broken pallets and trash. His eyes were open. Glassy.
Then one finger twitched.
Lobo窶冱 smile didn窶冲 waver. He pulled out a second pistol窶蚤 compact .22 with a suppressor already threaded on. 窶弋hen you die knowing something true. Shame you won窶冲 tell anyone.窶�
窶廸o.窶� Kael窶冱 voice was gravel and fever. 窶廬 just chose.窶� Kael dragged himself through glass and runoff
He pressed the muzzle against the plastic between his wrists, turned his head away, and fired.
Behind him, a man who sold his soul for a cartel contract lay still. And ahead, a man who refused to die with a lie on his lips walked toward the border窶俳ne zip-tie still dangling from his wrist like a broken bracelet. They dragged Kael by the zip-ties