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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

“You,” Barrett said, pointing at the man with his Glock 17 Gen5. “Stand up and come over here.” He was cold and calculating. He had to be. He was a killer, not a monster.

The suburban joe stood up, but his wife tried to hold on to him, terror forming on her face as her husband was pulled away from her. “No!” she cried, as the man turned back to look at her.

As if preternaturally sensing the end of his time on earth, that his time with his soul mate, whom he adored, and all other experiences were about to end, he bent over, placed his hands on her face, and kissed her firmly on the lips. “I love you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. No matter what happens, it will be okay. I promise.”

“I love you always,” the woman said, and released her grip on his arms, tears already falling down her cheeks. There was nothing else to say.

The man straightened up, looked at Barrett, and started walking toward him, a condemned man moving forward under his own power to his demise. Barrett had to give him credit. The man knew what was likely coming and was facing it like a man. I promise I’ll make it quick.

He looked at his watch. Forty seconds to go. The coward wasn’t going to show. Well, I guess he can live with more blood on his hands, which made Barrett wonder, for the very first time that night, exactly what kind of man they were facing.

Suburban Joe reached Barrett, stopped in front of him, and waited. They studied each other for a brief moment, and Barrett saw a combination of fear and anger in the man’s hazel eyes. The man broke the silence first.

“First, you’re going to burn in hell for this—for all of it. No matter what you do, you’re a condemned man and a coward,” the man said quietly, careful that his words didn’t carry back to the assembled mass of hostages. “Second, make it quick and then move my body out of the way. These people shouldn’t have to see it.”

Barrett smirked and nodded. “Fair enough.” He looked at his watch. Fifteen seconds. He looked up one last time, and said, “Turn around. This will be over before you know it.”

“Go fuck yourself. Have fun in hell,” the man said, turned around, and stared at his wife, fighting to stoically control the panic he felt gripping him.

“Oh. I’m well aware of my divine fate. Trust you me, my friend,” Barrett replied in a smooth, hushed voice. “Now, say goodbye to your wife.”