"Deep down, you know I’m telling the truth."
"Tell your men to lower their weapons, and we’ll talk like civilized people."
"If you lower your weapon, they’ll lower theirs. You can believe me this time. I need you alive."
I nod automatically.
"I’m going to count to five."
Khalid nods and signals to his men.
"One. Two."
I lower my gun from Khalid’s forehead. I watch his men do the same.
"Three. Four."
I deliver a brutal kick to Khalid’s groin—he doubles over in pain. I place my hand on my left thigh to draw my second weapon from its holster.
Khalid’s men try to shoot, but their fate is sealed. I use both my guns and shoot one of them straight in the forehead, the second in the chest, and the third in the stomach.
They collapse to the ground, bleeding out.
I’ve never seen Khalid s
