He shook the cobwebs loose and blushed. “Yes, well, you are very welcome.”
Cork seductively rubbed his arm. “There’s more where that came from.” She gave him a playful wink and brushed by him. “All you have to do is call — you too, Zahra.”
“Cork,” Zahra said, getting up, “I’m not—”
She waved Zahra off. “You know what I mean!” She headed out. “See you later, neighbor!”
It took Zahra three days to figure things out. She ended up donating a lot of her stuff, deciding to try a fresh approach to life. The cottage’s amenities were enough for her. She kept most of her clothes and, of course, her gear — weapons included. Chief Stefano had invited her and Cork to dinner at his home as a sort of welcome to the community. Zahra still couldn’t believe how nice everyone here was.
She climbed the steps to her front door and inserted the key but stopped. Something felt off. It was the first time that Levanzo hadn’t felt like paradise. Zahra drew her Glock from beneath her jacket, keeping it hidden from prying eyes. Not that there was anyone to see it. The property was such that no one could see the front door, except from the road. A narrow, wooded area acted as a natural boundary between her and Cork’s places.
Zahra slowly turned the key, throwing open the door, and lifting her pistol all in one motion. As she had suspected, Zahra found that she wasn’t alone. The light out back was on, and a bald, well-built black man stood beneath it, looking out over the water.
My water. Zahra felt violated.
He noticed Zahra’s presence and turned to face her, opening his mouth to say something.
Zahra growled, leaving the interior lights off and opting for the shadows. “Who are you?” she barked. “Why are you in my home?”
The stranger looked around, glancing casually over his shoulder. He didn’t look at all threatened. He flashed her a sly smirk. “Technically, I’m not inside your home, am I?”
She stepped closer, keeping her gun aimed at his face. “Don’t play games with me, smartass. You’re on my property, unannounced. I have every right to—”
“Easy, Ms. Kane,” he said, raising his hands. One of them held a steaming cup of coffee. Zahra had been so locked in that she had missed the alluring aroma.
Her eyes darted into her kitchen. “Did you make coffee?”
His smirk turned into a full-fledged smile. “It’s kind of my thing.”
Zahra was confused. “Your thing is to break into people’s homes and make coffee?” She snickered. “You need a new hobby, pal.”
“The reason I’m here is—”
“I don’t care why you’re here,” Zahra interrupted. “I’m gonna give you till the count of three to—”
“To get my lousy, lyin’, low-down, four-flushing carcass out your door?”
Zahra’s jaw dropped. “Did you just quote Home Alone 2 while at gunpoint?”
He shrugged. “There isn’t much that scares me anymore. And I’m sort of a movie buff.”
This wasn’t the intruder Zahra had expected to deal with.
“This is interesting,” he said, picking up Zahra’s grappling hook from the table. Zahra hadn’t left it there. “You wouldn’t happen to know a Tom Colombo, would you?” Zahra couldn’t hide her surprise. “You do? Oh, very interesting, indeed.”
“Why?”
“He and I worked together a lifetime ago.”
“You were with DARPA?”
He shook his head. “No, but I worked alongside them for years.”
“Who are you?” Zahra asked, needing to know.
The stranger raised his hands slightly, and then gently set the coffee mug down. He stood tall, demanding, confirming Zahra’s rising suspicion. He was military, possibly someone with real authority. A colonel? Judging by his age, he might even be a general.
Either way, this guy was used to commanding the attention of the room.
“My name is Solomon Raegor, and I oversee a little outfit called the Tactical Archaeological Command. We’re under the DOD, but it’s a pretty… loose ‘under.’” He stepped inside and flicked on the house lights. “And I’d like to offer you a job.”
Zahra lowered her aim. “What kind of job?”
Praise for the Authors
Two of the genre’s best writers team up!
ERNEST DEMPSEY, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WHERE HORIZONS END
Matt James and Nick Thacker teaming together is like mixing nitroglycerin and C4—a high energy, explosive mix that is sure to be a blast. Bring it on!
GREIG BECK, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ALEX HUNTER SERIES
You will not find a more dynamic duo than Nick Thacker and Matt James!
RICK JONES, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE VATICAN KNIGHTS
Imagine a collaboration between James Rollins and Clive Cussler, and you’ve only scratched the surface of what Matt James and Nick Thacker have accomplished!
MICHAEL MCBRIDE, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SUBHUMAN
Thacker and James are two of the very best!
ANDREW CLAWSON, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ARTHURIAN RELIC
About Matt James
Hi, my name is Matt. I’m the international bestselling author of the electrifying JACK REILLY ADVENTURES, as well as two dozen other titles, including DARK ISLAND, and the intense UNSEEN action-horror novels. Moreover, I’ve been fortunate enough to partner with USA Today bestselling author Nick Thacker to create the wildly popular ZAHRA KANE archaeological thriller series. I’m also the Managing Editor for Conundrum Publishing, and I host REAL–LIFE FICTION on YouTube, a video podcast that features the book industry’s finest talents.
My work is heavily influenced by the likes of Indiana Jones, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, The Mummy (1999), National Treasure, and The Goonies. As you can see, I’m a little obsessed with tales of daring adventure. When I was growing up, other kids went nuts for Star Wars or Star Trek. But not me. I fell in love with the globetrotting antics of Dr. Henry Jones, Jr., and the rest, as they say, was history. From that moment on, I was hooked. Though I dabble in other genres from time to time, my heart will always belong to ADVENTURE.
I live twenty minutes from the beach in sunny South Florida with my amazing wife, our two beautiful daughters, a lovable pitty, and an overly dramatic black cat.
YOU CAN VISIT MATT AT:
Website: MattJamesAuthor.com
Podcast: Real-Life Fiction
ConundrumPub.com
About Nick Thacker
Nick Thacker is a thriller author from Texas who lives in Hawaii and Colorado. In his free time, he enjoys reading in a hammock on the beach, skiing, drinking whiskey, and hanging out with his beautiful wife, two dogs, and two daughters.
For more information and a list of Nick’s other work, visit Nick online:
www.nickthacker.com