Page 16 of Broken Oath

Trying to breathe.

And failing at both.

Rook hit the ground beside him.

The world narrowed.

For one terrible moment, there was only Tex.

Only his brother.

Only the man who had shown them a picture of his little girl less than an hour ago.

Blood coated Tex’s vest.

His hands.

The ground beneath him.

Too much blood.

Rook pressed both hands against the wound as though he could force life back into him.

“Stay with me.”

Tex gave a weak laugh.

“We both know…” He coughed, and blood stained his lips. “…that ain’t happening.”

“Shut up.”

Tex smiled.

Actually smiled.

Even now.

“My girl.”

Rook closed his eyes for one second.

He already knew where this was going.

“She’s waiting for me.”

“You’re going to tell her yourself.”

Tex looked at him.

Both men knew it was a lie.

A beautiful lie.

But still a lie.

“Don’t let her forget me.”

The words were barely more than a whisper.