Page 34 of The Perfect Stranger

He giggled nervously, hands becoming agitated. The haze in his eyes was now replaced with fear.

“No, no, no,” he stammered, still unsure of the predicament.

The women who were still cowering since the altercation began, whimpered, clutching each other in preparation for the bloodshed.

Before Gregorio could open his mouth to spill the truth, I fired. A neat hole pierced the middle of his forehead. His eyes rolled, his body propelled backward until he folded like a limp doll into the spa bath. Water splashed over like a fountain and the two hookers bathing yelped in fright, scrambling to the edges of the tub. In unison, they pulled themselves out, their naked bodies pink from the heat.

A billowing cloud of blood swirled through the hot soapy water. I met Gabriel’s quizzical and humored stare. This wasn’t what he had in mind for his evening, and he certainly didn’t expect me to follow through on the kill.

“Ex-Special Forces, eh?”

I gave a short nod.

“You’re a long way from home.”

Again, I nodded.

“A traitor to Uncle Sam.”

“You can look at it that way.”

A smile reached his eyes. “Well, welcome the fuck to Colombia.”

It was that moment it happened, and it was easier than I thought.

Antonio Suárez existed no more.

I now belonged to the Los Santos cartel.

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