Chapter 22

Mal crumpled to the ground once again. He knew as long as they were distracted with him, they wouldn’t go after her. But he also knew that a single bullet would end their distraction and send them on a chase. It’d be better if they just killed her. But he wasn’t going to let them kill him on the ground, like a cowering dog. He pushed himself to his feet again, his damp wrists working against the leather knot.

“You want more?” The question was followed by a blow to the solar plexus. Mal met the ground for a third time.

“J.R., come on. We don’t have time for this.”

“We have time for this.” J.R. grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hauled him to his feet. “We have more than enough time for this.”

“Let’s just take him to the rope…”

“No. I promised him once that I’d break his face. I think it’s time to make good on that promise.”