Page 113 of Roberto

The leader grinned and pulled something out of his jacket pocket.

There was aclick –

And the steel of a switchblade glinted dimly in the gloom.

As Mei-ling pulled out the pistol from her trench coat and pointed it at the thugs, I thought,My friend, you just brought piss to a shit fight.

The three men shouted in surprise and took a step backwards.

But then Mei-ling’s arm began to shudder.

Not just a tiny tremble, but violent shaking.

If she had fired the gun, I wasn’t sure she would have hit anyone.

The leader’s expression turned from alarm to wolfish cunning.

Mei-ling shouted something at him, but I could hear the terror in her voice.

The leader smirked and started towards her again, testing her resolve.

That was when I decided to get involved.

I reached over and took the gun gently from her hand.

She released it without a struggle.

Then I aimed the gun right at the leader’s head.

He looked uncertain – especially since my arm didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Balls or head,” I said.

Mei-ling looked at me, her eyes wide. “What?”

“Ask him if he wants it in the balls or the head.” When she continued to stare at me, I said, “Askhim.”

She turned to the asshole and presumably translated what I’d said.

He looked surprised – then laughed and started cursing at me.

I didn’t need to speak Cantonese to understand.

You won’t do it, you fucking pussy!

So I pointed the gun at the ground beneath his feet and fired.

BLAM!

The alleyway echoed with the gunshot.

Mei-ling screamed –

But the three assholes screamed even louder. I was fairly sure at least one of them shit their pants.

In a country where guns were illegal and even street thugs rarely saw one, having a pistol fired at you was terrifying.

At least, more terrifying than it was inmyline of work.

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