Page 107 of Moros

“Point it away from my heart and fire.” I told him.

Khadri kissed me, removed another gun from a thigh holster and checked it. Once it was back in the holster, he opened the backdoor of the place and stepped out.

Taking up my position at the corner of a window at the far end of the place, I realized I could see everyone now, clearly.

The first vehicle held two men in the back, one in the front. They stepped from the vehicle with a half conscious man that they had to half drag, half carry forward.

The second car held Pasha, who was seated in the front passenger seat with two other men in the back with another man whose face had seen better days.

“Tex?” I called into the mouthpiece attached to my wrist. “Who’s the guy in the middle of the second group?”

“Paul Newman.” Tex replied. “Sit tight—you’ll get a chance at him.”

“I’m not moving from this position unless Khadri is in danger.” I told him without thinking. “Until he tells me to.”

“You like him, don’t you.”

I blushed but why lie?

“Don’t worry,” Tex said. “We have his back.”

As they drew closer, I recognized the half-conscious man was Torez Sloan. The number of times I’d seen his picture, his image was burned into my brain.

I figured they took what Khadri had said literally—he didn’t care what condition Torez was in when they brought him, as long as they brought him.

The two men dumped Torez by Khadri’s feet and stepped back.

“Poke told us who you are.” The overweight man explained. “We don’t want any trouble. The Grotto may not seem like much to others, but it’s our home.”

“We couldn’t risk you were serious.” One of the men spoke, he had a slight French accent. “He’s not worth losing the home most of our friends have.”

Pasha walked across the space to stand by Khadri’s side.

“Thanks.” He told them.

“What do you want us to do with that one?” Another man asked, hauling a struggling Paul forward.

“Leave him with me. My girl would like to have a few words with him. Also, come back here tomorrow—I have something for all of you.”

The men nodded and went back to their vehicles.

After they left, Khadri motioned for me to come and soon, I could hear Boswell’s footsteps approaching us. We stood over Paul and Torez, silent as if we were all amazed that threat had worked.

I was happy it didn’t come to Khadri having to act out.

“Boss, take Torez.” I instructed.

“I’ll inform the Army that we have him.” Boss reached down to pull Torez to his feet. “I’m assuming with the wanted poster, they’re gonna want to talk to him.”

Khadri nodded.

Torez lost his mind then.

“You can’t hand me over!” He screeched. “I can’t go to military prison!”

He tried fighting back but Boss merely hit him so hard, he went unconscious again. I watched as Boss handcuffed Torez then hauled him across the lot and all but tossed him into the backseat of a squad car.

I wish I felt bad for him.

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