Rampage: Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, #7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

The Novel

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Acknowledgments

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Thank You!

About the Author

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For the doctors, nurses, and support staff who ended my misery, and quite possibly saved my life.

If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?

The Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1

William Shakespeare

It is impossible to suffer without making someone pay for it; every complaint already contains revenge.

Friedrich Nietzsche

PREFACE

In America, rival gangs battle for turf on a daily basis, the collateral damage incalculable. The Russian mob is one of the most brutal. With an estimated 250,000 members spread over fifty countries, and affiliates numbering as many as three million, they are involved in all manner of criminal activity including human trafficking, racketeering, drug trafficking, extortion, arms trafficking, gambling, prostitution, pornography, and much more.

Fortune Magazine estimates the Russian mob brings in over $8.5 billion per year, and they vigorously protect their territory. The United Nations recently estimated that between 2000-2017, mafias around the world were responsible for over one million deaths, with the Russian mob responsible for many of those.

And should someone witness one of their many crimes, threatening their operation, they wouldn’t hesitate to protect themselves.

In the most violent way imaginable.

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Person Street

Fayetteville, North Carolina

"I think we made a mistake with those bridesmaid dresses, said Maggie Harris as she fumbled for her keys. They’re absolutely hideous. I can’t make you guys wear those."

They’re not so bad. Shirley Belme held out a hand. Give me those.

Maggie smiled gratefully and handed over her bags then successfully retrieved the keys, holding them up triumphantly. Found them! She wagged the fob at Shirley. They’re hideous and you know it.

Vanessa Moore held up her phone with a photo of the dress in question. I don’t know, it’s not so bad.

Maggie stopped and gave her a look. Hideous.

Vanessa giggled. You’re right, they are completely hideous, but they’re supposed to be. They’re meant to make you the most beautiful woman in the room. All eyes should be on you, not the bridesmaids. Remember when Will and Kate got married? Everyone was talking about Pippa’s booty. If she had been wearing some god-awful pastel-colored thing, nobody would have noticed, but her dress was beautiful, so the whole world was talking about her can and not how beautiful Kate looked.

Maggie eyed her. I don’t really remember that.

Vanessa tapped at her phone then held up a photo.

Maggie whistled. "Wow, that is a nice ass."

Joanne Lightman leaned in. I’d switch teams.

Vanessa laughed. But if she had some foam-green dress on, nobody would have been looking and Joanne wouldn’t be questioning her sexuality.

Everyone roared with laughter and Maggie, feeling a little better, continued toward the SUV. It was late, the sun just setting. They had taken far longer than planned picking out the dresses, but no one was complaining. It had been a blast. She was elated that the wedding plans were finally moving forward again. Soon, she’d be marrying the love of her life and she couldn’t wait. He was the best man she had ever met in her life, and she loved him so much, she couldn’t wait to start their life together.

And an afternoon out with her friends that stretched into the evening was just what she had needed. She paused at the rear of the vehicle. Anybody want to grab dinner?

Heads bobbed all around as she pressed the button to open the rear hatch. Everyone loaded their purchases inside and she was about to close the trunk when somebody cried out. They all fell silent, staring about for the source. The parking lot of the strip mall was mostly empty, and no one was in sight.

Thuds followed another cry.

What is that? asked Shirley.

Vanessa held a finger to her lips. I think somebody’s getting beaten.

Are you sure?

Another cry and Vanessa hissed, We need to get the hell out of here.

Maggie was aghast at the idea. We can’t just leave. We have to help.

Vanessa vehemently shook her head. Listen, I grew up in bad neighborhoods. You mind your own business, or you get yourself killed. Let’s get in the car, get on the road, then we’ll call 9-1-1 and let the police deal with it.

Footfalls pounded in an alleyway just to their right, separating the strip mall they were just in and a Wendy’s. A man emerged and they all gasped as his face was revealed by the streetlights, bloodied and swollen. He turned and spotted them, stretching a hand toward them.

Help! Please help!

Shirley yelped and Vanessa slammed the trunk closed. Everybody get in, now!

But no one moved, all too shocked to react.

Two men rushed out of the alleyway, one with a gun held out in front of him. He squeezed the trigger twice, the muzzle flashing in the dim light, and the beaten man cried out then collapsed.

Vanessa hauled open the back passenger side door of the SUV and grabbed Shirley. We have to go now! she cried. She shoved her into the back seat and slammed the door shut, rushing back around as the men noticed them. One of them smiled and walked toward them as the other fired another shot into the victim’s head, the body jerking on the ground one final time. Vanessa grabbed the keys out of Maggie’s hand, startling her. Vanessa opened the rear door and pushed Maggie and Joanne toward it as she hauled open the driver-side door and leaped inside.

The smiling man raised his own weapon as Vanessa started the engine. Maggie snapped out of her stunned panic and grabbed Joanne, hauling her toward the open rear door. The man fired and Joanne gasped then collapsed to the ground. Maggie screamed and ducked behind the door. She darted out and grabbed Joanne under the arms, dragging her with all of her might as another shot rang out, slamming into the rear of the vehicle. She lifted her friend up, the dead weight making it almost impossible, and with one last roar of effort, she tumbled her into the rear seat.

The man fired several times at Vanessa, the side window shattering as everyone inside cried out. Maggie stepped toward the door as Shirley pulled Joanne out of the way to make room. Another shot fired, taking out the rear passenger window. Maggie winced as something hit her arm and she tumbled backward, smacking the pavement hard as both men fired on them.

Go! she screamed as she made eye contact with the crouching Vanessa. Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. Go, or they’ll kill us all!

Vanessa maintained eye contact for another moment then closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. I’m so sorry. She put the vehicle in gear and hammered on the gas, Shirley screaming for her to stop. Maggie watched from the ground as the SUV leaped over the curb and onto the street, a hail of gunfire following it, then breathed a sigh of relief as the shots stopped, her friends escaping. She turned her head as the footfalls approached, and the smiling man pointed a gun directly at her head. She squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to stare at death, and as her life flashed before her eyes, one image dominated.

The smiling face of the man she loved.

And the man she prayed would avenge her death.

Delta Force operator Command Sergeant Major Burt Big Dog Dawson.

Vanessa struggled to control the SUV. The wheel violently yanked out of her hands as they bounced over the curb then the center median. Cries from the back seat were ignored as she grabbed the steering wheel and battled to regain control. Gunfire continued behind them and she hammered her foot down, shoving the accelerator into the floor as they surged away from the scene of the crime. The gunfire stopped and she sat up, checking the rearview mirror to see one of the gunmen pointing his weapon toward the ground, Maggie lying helplessly on the pavement facing her executioner.

Alone.

A bus drove past in the opposite direction, blocking her view. Something flashed and she closed her eyes for a moment, certain it was the muzzle flash of a weapon firing. She opened her eyes and slowed down slightly.

We have to get to a hospital! cried Shirley. Joanne’s bleeding badly!

Vanessa clasped the steering wheel as she battled the shock threatening to overwhelm her. Call 9-1-1!

Shirley reached into her purse, her hands trembling as Vanessa noticed the car was paired with a phone. Maggie must have put her purse in the back with her bags. She activated the voice feature and dialed 9-1-1 herself as Shirley continued to panic. The emergency operator answered immediately, and she reached back and grabbed Shirley’s hand, squeezing to calm her friend’s nerves.

And her own.

Call the guys. They’ll know what to do.

Shirley agreed and Vanessa turned her attention to the operator as she guided them toward the closest hospital.

And prayed Joanne survived.

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1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta HQ

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

A.k.a. The Unit

"I’m telling you, I don’t order them anymore. The last time I did, there was absolutely no damn cheese, said Sergeant Carl Niner Sung. What the hell is a breakfast burrito without cheese?"

It’s called McDogFood for a reason. I don’t know how you can eat that shit, said Sergeant Leon Atlas James, his impossibly deep voice rumbling across the table as the Delta Force’s Bravo Team assembled for a debrief after the latest op. They were America’s elite warriors, members of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta. The best of the best. They were brothers in arms, comrades, but they were also friends. They were Non-Commissioned Officers that did everything together professionally, and personally. Outside of their command structure, only their wives knew what they did for a living, though Atlas’ girlfriend Vanessa Moore had been read in, and Niner’s new girlfriend, Angela Henwood, had figured it out.

Beyond the dozen men in this room, the extended family included spouses, girlfriends, and children. And everyone here would lay down his life without hesitation to protect the others and their loved ones. They were tighter than most civilians could understand, the bond going beyond blood.

Niner gave his best friend the stink eye. You’re talking about an American institution, my friend. Mind your tongue or I might start to question your patriotism.

Sergeant Will Spock Lightman cocked an eyebrow. If patriotism is measured in what we say about our fast-food restaurants, then I’m not sure if this country’s worth protecting anymore.

Master Sergeant Mike Red Belme shook his shaved head that hid his natural ginger hair. This country’s always worth saving, even if McDogFood’s burritos now suck.

Command Sergeant Major Burt Big Dog Dawson leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. Oh, I don’t know if they suck. The last time I had a breakfast burrito, it tasted fine to me.

Niner spun in his chair. How many years ago was that?

Dawson shrugged as he ran his fingers over his chiseled torso hidden beneath his shirt. Does this body look like it eats fast food on a regular basis?

Amen, brother, commented the impossibly muscled Atlas, extending a fist to be bumped. Dawson leaned forward and completed the exchange as Spock yawned and checked his watch.

It’s not like the Colonel to be late.

Dawson agreed. Something must be up.

Niner wasn’t willing to let his rant go. You know what the problem is? It’s lack of consistency. You go there one day and the burrito is ice cold, the next day it’s as if they microwaved it for five damn minutes and it’s scalding hot. Some days there’s lots of cheese, some there’s no cheese, some there’s hardly any. And don’t get me started on the wrap. I swear they’ve changed something. It used to be like a white tortilla, but now it’s some wholegrain thing. Tastes like shit, and sometimes it’s hard as a rock. And don’t get me started on how they wrap it. I thought that one of the great things about going to that restaurant was that whether you were in DC, London, or Beijing, it always tasted the same. Hell, you can go to the same restaurant, and when it comes to a burrito, it’s completely different one minute to the next.

Atlas rolled his eyes. There’s a simple solution.

What’s that?

Stop getting it, then you won’t be disappointed.

But I like my burritos.

"Clearly you don’t like their burritos."

Yes, I do, when they get it right. I might have burritos there ten times in a row. One or two times it’s perfection, but the other eight or nine times it sucks.

So why punish yourself?

Niner shrugged. Angela asked me the same thing the last time we had breakfast together and I got another shit burrito. I think—

The door burst open and their commanding officer, Colonel Thomas Clancy, rushed in. Everyone leaped to their feet before he could wave them off. They returned to their seats but Dawson remained standing as Clancy made eye contact, his expression revealing something horrible had happened.

That was when Dawson noticed the phone gripped in Clancy’s hand.

The colonel closed the door. Something’s happened. Hold your questions. There’s been an incident and I’ve already brought an ops center online to coordinate with the locals.

Dawson collapsed in his chair as Clancy continued to make eye contact with him.

I’m going to give it to you straight. This is what we know. Maggie, Joanne, Shirley, and Vanessa left the dress shop less than fifteen minutes ago. A man was shot in the parking lot by two other men who then opened fire on Maggie and the others. He turned to Spock. Joanne took a round.

Spock’s jaw dropped, but words escaped him.

Dawson asked the question his friend couldn’t. Is she…

We don’t know yet. She just arrived at the hospital. Three of them managed to get into the SUV and Vanessa got them out of there.

Three. And Vanessa drove, not Maggie.

Clancy faced Dawson. Maggie was left behind.

Dawson gripped the arms of his chair, his knuckles turning white. They left her there?

There was no choice, not from the situation that was described to me.

So, what you’re saying is—

I’m saying nothing. Police are still heading for the scene, and the ops center is pulling every camera feed we can to try to see what happened, but I have to tell you, Vanessa thinks she saw them shoot Maggie before she lost sight of her.

Dawson tore the arms off his chair then thrust to his feet, grabbing what remained and hurling it against the far wall. Who’s responsible?

We don’t know. Clancy approached and put a hand on Dawson’s shoulder. But I promise you this, Sergeant Major, we’re going to find out. He turned to Red. Shirley is okay, so can you handle the debrief?

Red nodded, the concern in his eyes for his friends evident. Yes, sir.

Good. Niner, you take BD to the scene of the attack. Atlas, you take Spock to the hospital. The rest of you, let’s get this debrief out of the way, and then you’re all on leave for one week.

Atlas helped the stunned Spock to his feet as Niner rose and led Dawson from the room. The four of them headed to the parking lot in silence, Dawson’s mind a jumble of thoughts. Just when they were finally getting their lives back on track after the incident in Paris, now this. His chest ached and his stomach churned. He resisted the urge to vomit as he reached his Mustang and leaned against the cool metal. He squeezed his eyes shut, letting his anguish turn, a rage forming that turned from a growl to a roar as he slammed both fists on the hood.

He turned to the others. "We find out who did this then we deliver justice."

Spock stared at him, his jaw clenched. We kill them all.

Atlas drew a breath, his massive chest expanding. Every last one of them.

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Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Main Floor

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Atlas rushed up to the front desk at the hospital, shoving ahead of the gathered throng. We’re here to see a patient that was brought in with a gunshot wound. Her name is Joanne Lightman.

The nurse tapped at her computer. Are you family?

I have her husband with me, Will Lightman.

The nurse pointed toward the elevator. Fourth floor. ICU.

Atlas lowered his voice. Is she…

Go to the fourth floor Nurses’ Station. They’ll let you know.

He turned and pointed toward the elevators, Spock following without comment. The ride here hadn’t been long, though it had felt like an eternity, his irrational guilt gnawing at him in the silence with the knowledge Vanessa was unharmed. Yet was she? His years of experience on the battlefield told him the emotional scars she could suffer might run deeper than any physical. Calls had been made on the ride here and Spock’s family was on the way, though they wouldn’t be here for some time. For the moment, Atlas was Spock’s support network until the rest of the team could get here after their debrief.

They rode up to the fourth floor, the elevator crowded. The doors opened and they stepped through, the Nurses’ Station directly ahead.

Atlas!

He spun toward Vanessa’s voice and held out his arms as she raced toward him. He embraced her, holding her tight, not saying anything as she sobbed in his arms. He let her go, remembering why he was here.

Joanne? asked Spock anxiously.

Vanessa reached out and took his hand in hers. I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t get her here in time.

The color drained from Spock’s face. Is she…

Vanessa’s shoulders slumped and her chin fell to her chest. The bullet penetrated her stomach. She bled out in the car. I’m so sorry. She hugged him, his arms hanging loosely at his sides.

Where is she? His voice was barely a whisper.

Vanessa indicated a nearby room as she let him go. She stared up at him, her eyes wells of tears. It happened quickly. She didn’t suffer much. She pointed toward a doctor standing nearby. "That’s her doctor. He can answer any questions