I Write Techno Thrillers Spiced With Romance
Why not! The genre interests me. I suppose it’s because of my military background, first as an Air Force brat, and then as a Navy Seabee. I’ve written several books in the genre. I usually write in a series. For example the Collateral Damage Series has three books. Red Flag, No Remorse, and Field of Fire.
Red Flag is FREE at Amazon Red Flag . The series follows the adventures of Alex and Gloria as they fight to survive in a war zone. Military action is balanced with romance. Love grows as they struggle to survive. The series is based on tensions in the Asian region that could at any time explode into warfare.
The new cover seems well received. What do you think?
Here is a sample of a more edgy book recently finished. The title is Vengeance. I hope you like it.
Chapter 1. FBI Report
Chad and Bo looked worried. More worried than I’d ever seen them.
Chad said, “You finished reading the report?” They’d just arrived and hadn’t even poured a coffee.
“Yeah, I have. For the third time.”
Vengeance EBook Cover
Vengeance eBook coverThe growing knot in my belly didn’t come from a lunch of dim sum and two beers. It came from reading the damn FBI report. It came from fear, pure fear.
I’d never known such fear. Not even when in Macau, Bo, Chad, and I took on that bastard Master Zeng and his men. The fear was there, just from reading the damn report. Crazy. I was safe at home, not mixing it up with bad guys.
I could taste this fear. It tasted metallic, like I was sucking on a silver dollar. I had to hide my feelings. Tough guys, Bo and Chad might not understand. I couldn’t let them know their leader was scared.
“Great view you have here, boss.”
From my condo, Bo looked out to the Hong Kong Island side of the harbor. A majestic skyline of office towers shimmered in the bright September afternoon sun. In the harbor, container ships stacked high with cargo churned though the blue green waters.
“Yeah, it is.”
I never tired of the dramatic view. Was I willing to give up everything to even the score? My desire for vengeance was as strong as ever. I wondered. Was risking my life worth it?
Bo asked, “Sure you want to take the risk?” He examined his long, old-fashioned Chinese pigtail as he spoke. I don’t know what he expected to find. He thought wearing hair in his grandfather’s style would bring him good luck. So far that was true. He was still alive, something many men in his line of work couldn’t say.
I thought for moment, and then said, “I’m not sure.”
Bo let go of his braided hair. With a flick of his head, it cascaded down his back. Then he said, “Better think it through.”
That comment made me wonder. Why should I risk my sweet life? Nothing I could do would bring Joy back. Then there was Amanda. I no longer knew her. She’d become brainwashed and a drug addict.
Her trail led to the Dream Hotel and Casino penthouse in Macau. How could I help her? She no longer remembered me. I missed my girlfriends and old life. My life was shattered. With them gone, nothing would ever be the same.
Chad said, “Sorry about the girls. I know you miss Amanda and Joy. We can grieve for Joy, or grieve and seek revenge. It’s your call. If you want vengeance, we’re with you all the way.”
“Thanks Chad. That means a lot. I need a little time to sort things out.”
When necessary, Chad was a cold blooded killer, but one with a good heart. That is, if you’re on the same side. You didn’t want Chad as an enemy. The strength in his six foot three, 228-pound muscular body could instantly crush most men.
How did I come to this sorry state? I’m a wealthy 29-year-old expatriate living it up in an exciting city. I’m on VIP lists for parties and theater events. I receive backstage passes for music concerts. My favorite nightclubs treat me like a rock star. There are plenty of women to chase after. And yet, here I sit depressed.
With Joy’s death, I’m considering becoming a man hunter. Mom would be disappointed in me. Killing the bastards that gunned down Joy wouldn’t bring her back. Did revenge mean so much I’d risk my life?
Chad and Bo must worry about my mental state. They expected some comment on the report. I’d buy a little time and ask them first.
I said, “You’ve had time to study it?”
They nodded their heads in unison.
“And your opinion?”
Chad spoke first. “We knew the killers were badass motherfuckers, but jeez, these guys are beyond belief. They chop off heads for sport. Then, they kick them around like soccer balls. These guys are bad news all the way. Can’t say I like our odds.”
“What’s your take, Bo?”
“My friend at the FBI asked me a good question. Why in hell would I want info on Abdul Haqq Hussein? I said I’d heard a $5,000,000 bounty was on his head. He gave me a look like I was a lunatic. Said going after this guy was pretty dumb. Likely to get me killed.”
“Maybe so. But your friend still made a copy of the report. Guess he’s in to helping the dumb.”
Bo grinned and then said, “Yeah, he’s a good buddy. We go back a long way. Help each other out whenever we can. He wished me lots of luck. Said he’d see me at my funeral. Told me not to worry. I’d look better without my ugly head.“
“Think we have a chance?”
Chad looked at Bo. Bo looked at Chad. My tough, hard ass, mercenaries hesitated.
Bo said, “A poor chance. We could get lucky. We’ll split the $5,000,000 bounty?”
“We will.” What the fuck? I’m talking like I’ve made up my mind. How stupid can I be?
Chad asked, “Same as Macau? You’ll pick up the expenses? Pay us in cash?”
“The same as Macau.” Shit fire. It’s a go. Must be the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.
Chad gazed at his latest tattoo, a souvenir of Macau. A fierce dragon in red, yellow, green, and orange ink covered his right arm. I wondered if Chad was losing his mind. He was talking to the dragon.
I guess he got some advice and said, “I’m in, with conditions. I’m not traveling to Iraq or Syria. If this guy heads for base camp, count me out.”
Bo said, “I’m a dumb fuck, but don’t want to let you down. I’m in, but with the same conditions. I don’t mind taking a risk, that’s part of the job. But boss, no thanks to insane suicide missions.”
“Ok guys. The report says our guy is somewhere in Europe. Iraq and Syria will be off limits. Let’s go for it. When we earn the bounty, we’ll split it three ways.” I’m a fool. But I want vengeance. I have nightmares about seeing Joy’s beautiful head explode like it was a ripe watermelon. Those killers deserve to die.
Chad noticed my far away look and pale clammy skin. “Sure, you’re up to it?”
When I saw the FBI report, I felt a wave of fear. Blood drained from my face and palms sweated. I still felt unsteady. Those ISIS devils didn’t seem human.
I said, “I’ll find a way to cope. A little fear is a good thing.”
Chad said, “We’d be crazy not to fear those motherfuckers. Anyone that values life would fear them.”
“I know what you mean. Killing comes easy to those animals. We won’t be reckless. We won’t take unnecessary risks. We’ll stick together and cover each other’s back. Ok, I’ve decided. How about it? You guys all in?”
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I’ll introduce more books as I go along. Thanks for reading.
