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Back The Neighborhood Save as PDF
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

As the two vehicles passed the ambush site, the world exploded in thunder and rock as small chunks of pavement were propelled upward in two clouds of dirt. The windshield of the Range Rover was instantly covered, and the SUV was moved even further to the right by the concussive blast of the IEDs. Zack held on to the steering wheel as the right tires moved from the pavement onto the dirt, and the SUV started to vibrate violently. He flipped the windshield wiper switch upward and pulled the Range Rover back onto the road. The wipers smeared the dirt away, and Zack was relieved to see the Mercedes intact in front of him. Guess that driver really is worth his weight in gold.

As the explosions reverberated across the road, the two vehicles sped northward, the vehicular game of cat and mouse once more underway. Step one—survive. Step two—capture Moretti alive. A bend in the road lay just ahead, followed by a short straightaway that led to Popeye Village. And more innocent civilians and potential collateral damage.

* * *

While his sociopathic tendencies were a liability that often controlled his emotions, it was his methodical and relentless pursuit that dictated his actions. And for Griffin Huntsmen, as he watched the perfectly planned ambush literally go up in a flash of flame, smoke, and debris, it was the latter that urged him forward. Okay, Zack. Let’s see what you do next. I’ll play.

It was obvious that his soon to be former team member was intent on capturing Moretti alive, which meant that the alternate extraction plan might come into play.

He grabbed an encrypted Motorola handheld radio off his vest, and said, “Maintain ISR. Also initiate and standby for alternate exfil. I say again, standby for alternate exfil.”

A young female communications officer in the USS Carney’s combat information center replied, “Roger, Hunter Actual. Moving alternate exfil into position. Standing by for further orders.”

“Roger. Hunter Actual out.” Griffin slid the radio back onto his vest and looked at Charles, who shook his head groggily as he regained consciousness. Griffin viciously slapped him on the right side of his face, and Charles’s eyes flew open, searching for the source of the fresh pain.

“You’re alive. And so are Zack and Moretti. No more Caine Mutiny stunts, or I won’t just knock you out next time. I will kill you. We’re getting the Range Rover and following our former teammates. We may be using the alternate extraction point.” He paused for the briefest of moments and then added in a genuinely menacing tone, “Am I going to have any more problems with you?”