Killer Thrillers Box Set: 3 Techno-Thriller, Action/Adventure Science Fiction Thrillers Read Free Page B

approaching Iraqis — the ones coming up the hill from the east, behind Rodriguez’ position.  
    He was being crushed between two oncoming forces, and he was the only American soldier left. At least five men were coming up from the west, and now he saw the silhouettes of three more. One carried a sniper rifle and was no doubt the one who’d killed Rodriguez.  
    Shit. This was going to end very painfully . Bryce readied himself, and lowered his torso to the ground. He fired three bursts at the men coming from the direction of the camp, and two of the men fell. Turning, he aimed for the three coming from the east.  
    They were aiming back at him.  
    A muzzle flash flared outward from the gun held by the man on the left. A split second passed, and Bryce felt the round pierce his shoulder. He screamed, and dropped completely to the ground. Blood trickled down his forearm, and he loosened the grip on his gun.  
    A second flash twinkled in Bryce’s eyes, this time from the sniper. He heard the round whiz by, just over his head.  
    I’m going to die here, he thought. He tried lifting his rifle to his eye, but the pain from his shoulder wound was too great. Then his knee lit up in a fiery wash of pain. Too weak to scream, he let out a low wail as he buried his face sideways into the sand, calmed by the gentle warmth of the Iraqi desert ground.  
    His left hand reached up to his shirt pocket, and he shifted a little, slowly, trying to grab at the small notebook he’d stolen from the camp.  
    If I’m going out like this, I’m going to at least figure out why, he thought.  
    He brought the book up to his head. Straining to open his eyes, he let the cover fall open and glanced down at the first page.  
    Nothing.  
    It was completely blank.  
    What? No! Had he grabbed the wrong book? He flipped through another ten pages, all blank.  
    All empty.  
    He wanted to scream. Had he been set up? Why would this notebook — this blank notebook — be the subject of so much scrutiny, so much bloodshed?
    And why was it addressed to someone named M.J. ?
    He moved his hand down, closer to his chest, and pushed the book under his body. He’d wanted to throw it, but he didn’t have the strength. If it was an object that was never supposed to be in enemy hands, he intended to make it that much more difficult for them to find.  
    One last shot rang out as the men started up the hill. One more time Bryce felt the piercing burn of metal, punching through flesh. This time, his left arm took the brunt of the shot, though the bullet had only strafed. He thought about home; about his mom.  
    Mom . He wasn’t going to be able to get to her now.  
    To save her.  
    He squeezed his eyes shut and let the sand blow over him, willing the desert to swallow him.  

CHAPTER 2

    10:22 PM - WHITE ROCK, New Mexico, USA
    The gust of wind hit Jake in the face and jolted him upright in his seat. Had he fallen asleep? He quickly squeezed his eyes open and shut a few times, working out the grogginess. Rolling up the window of his 2008 Ford Focus, he set his gaze on the dark, winding road in front of him. After making this hour-long trip from Santa Fe to the laboratory twice a week for the past two years, he knew the mountainous highway pass could be treacherous, especially at night. The Albuquerque and Santa Fe news stations routinely reported accidents along this section of Highway 4   —   and accidents that usually involved casualties.  
    As the road ahead straightened out, Jake stole a glance toward the phone in his lap. Had he really been out of it enough to miss a call? With one hand on the wheel, he thumbed through his messages and tapped the number of the missed call.  
    “Jake? Where are you?”  
    “Hey honey   —   I must have missed your call. Sorry about that. What’s up?” He knew even before he said it exactly what was “up.” Feigning ignorance was an attempt to distract her; let her calm down.  
    It didn’t work.