REHO: A Science Fiction Thriller (The Hegemon Wars) Read Online Free PDF Page B

grabbed the gun and shot the other sidekick before he could draw his OldWorld weapon. The goon’s chest exploded, speckling the crushed furniture crimson.
    The music continued. Had anyone even heard the gunshots?
    “You stupid nukes!” the leader screamed as he looked at both of his guys, one a nasty shade of grey, his arm and jaw broken, the other dead in a lake of blood.
    Four tables were now between them. He tossed the goon’s gun to the side and equipped his own pistol and wiped some of the blood that had splattered on his lips. “How does this help Dink?” Reho asked. “He’s dead, and now you have to explain all of this to your boss.” He broke one of his own rules with knock-down-drag-outs: keep the conversation brief.
    The thug revealed a six-shooter from behind his back. “Screw Rodman!”
    Reho dodged, sending the shot wild and into the crowd; the resulting screams rose above the music. Reho moved quickly and returned two shots. Three more flew his way as he dropped low and grabbed a broken chair leg, then rolled behind the bar. He checked his clip.
    Figures.
    He holstered his gun and checked the mirror for the ringleader’s location. Instead, he saw his uncle being dragged across the room and out the side door. Why didn’t you just run?
    Outside, a large crowd had already formed. Somehow they knew the fighting would ultimately spread to the alley.
    Dink’s brother pushed Ron to the ground. “A real fight requires a real motive.” Two shots thundered.
    Reho rushed forward, but it was over. The two bullets had burrowed into his chest, taking his uncle’s last breath. His uncle’s eyes closed and his body laid still.
    The killer tossed his gun aside and called out to Reho.
    Reho felt fire burn in his lungs. Its heat escaped through his nostrils.
    His words came out like acid as he walked into what had turned into an arena. “ A fight is what you want? ”
    “I’d say we are even now,” the ringleader said. “ Your uncle for my brother. So now it’s just us.”
    Reho snarled. “Even? How does killing an innocent man make us even?” The crowd had swollen ten people deep.
    Reho flexed his fingers and focused all his energy into keeping his body from exploding into action. His sweat burned as it spilled over his body. A trail of hot, thick blood gushed from the wound on his leg. It would heal, but not for a while.
    Both men stood, bombs lit, waiting to explode.
    Reho waited for his uncle’s killer to attack first.
    The fight ended quickly. With each attack, the ringleader weakened. Exhausted and out of breath, he missed Reho with every swing. He stopped, breathing deeply. The crowd watched, cheering first the ringleader then Reho. Reho hadn’t even attacked, only defended himself from his enemy’s weakening assaults. This was not going to be the fight the goon had intended. Instead, a public execution.
    Reho knew how this would end before they ever stepped into the alley. The crowd now knew as well. He waited for the ringleader to stop. He would take his time. Grabbing his arm in one quick, smooth move, Reho broke it into pieces with three quick snaps across his knee. The ringleader’s body fell backward to the earth, screams exploding from somewhere deep inside him. The arm, fragmented and attached only by shredded muscle and skin, swung loosely as he attempted to stand. Reho kicked the broken man in the chest, sending him flying into the air. He landed in a bloody heap next to Reho’s uncle.
    He looked up at Reho, his face painted with vomit. “Ah, come on, just–”
    Reho removed the nine-inch blade that had buried deep into his adversary’s chest, ignoring they shocked gazes of his audience.
    He knelt next to his uncle’s lifeless, disgraced body and placed a hand on his uncle’s cheek. He had deserved a better life, a better death.
    The crowd’s eyes were fixed on him, judging him for what had just happened. Instead of wild screams and cheering, there was just the silence that told