Copyright
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Copyright © 2020 by Derek Shupert
Cover design by Derek Shupert
Cover art by Covers by Christian
Cover Copyright © 2020 by Derek Shupert
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictionally and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For information contact :
Derek Shupert
www.derekshupert.com
First Edition
Contents
Also by Derek Shupert
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
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About the Author
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SURVIVE THE FALL SERIES :
POWERLESS WORLD
MADNESS RISING
DARK ROADS
TOTAL COLLAPSE
FIGHT BACK (PREORDER NOW)
THE COMPLETE DEAD STATE SERIES :
DEAD STATE : CATALYST (PREQUEL)
DEAD STATE : FALLOUT
DEAD STATE : SURVIVAL ROAD
DEAD STATE : EXECUTIONER
DEAD STATE : IMMUNE
DEAD STATE : EVOLVED
THE COMPLETE DEAD STATE SERIES BOX SET
THE COMPLETE AFFLICTED SERIES :
GENESIS (PREQUEL)
PATIENT ZERO
RIPTIDE
DEAD RECKONING
THE HUNTRESS BANE SERIES :
THE HUNTRESS BANE (SHORT STORY)
TAINTED HUNTER
CRIMSON THIRST
THE COMPLETE BALLISTIC MECH SERIES :
DIVISION
INFERNO
EXTINCTION
PAYBACK
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CHAPTER ONE
RUSSELL
The white Chevy Silverado tore down I-66E at full tilt, hugging each sharp turn they plowed through. Clyde glanced at the rearview mirror, searching for the older model brown Trailblazer that had tried to run them off the road a few miles back.
“Do you see them?” he asked, looking to the sideview mirror. “I’ve lost sight of the SUV.”
Russell turned in his seat, then looked past Cathy and her German shepherd, Max, to the back window of the truck. The road behind them sat empty of any vehicles. “I don’t see anything back there except open road. I think we’ve lost them, or their engine finally gave out. I thought I spotted smoke coming out from under the hood. I guess that’s what we get for trying to help someone in need. The only thing they wanted was to kill us and take the Silverado.”
Clyde kept his hands at ten and two on the steering wheel–attention focused at the winding road ahead. “Good. Let’s hope it stays that way. Whoever they are, they’re not getting my damn truck. No way that’s going to happen.”
Cathy wedged her body between the door and corner of the bench seat. Her right leg stretched out across the rich leather upholstery. She braced her hand against the back of Russell’s captain’s chair to keep her from sliding through each hard turn. Her lips pursed, face scrunched in discomfort from the gunshot wound she’d sustained the day before.
“How’s the leg feeling?” Russell asked, glancing at her upper thigh.
“It’s feeling a bit better, but still throbs some. The pain pills are helping, though,” she replied.
Max, laid next to Cathy with his chin draped over her shin. He looked at Russell with his large, uncertain eyes.
“I’ve still got some of that liquor I found back at that convenience store we stopped at if you want something additional to take the edge off,” Russell said, patting his pant pocket.
Cathy shook her head, then waved her hand. “No thanks. I already feel a bit out of it from the pills. Adding alcohol would only make it worse, and right now, I need to be alert.”
Russell nodded. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Are we still looking good to make it to Philadelphia in the next few hours?” Cathy asked. “I want to get to Amber as fast as we can.”
“Now that we’ve lost that Blazer, I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t make it to your daughter soon,” Russell answered, hopeful.
“Perfect,” Cathy said, looking out the window. A loud pop sounded from the front of the truck. It swerved from side to side.
“Oh, crap,” Clyde said, grabbing the steering wheel tighter.
Russell faced forward in the passenger seat, then stared at the dash. “What was that? Did one of the tires blow out?”
Clyde studied the steering wheel, then looked at the gauges on the dash. “Yeah. I think so. Hold on.”
The Silverado drifted toward the shoulder of the road. Clyde fought to keep the truck within the painted lines. A loud thumping noise filled the cab. It grew louder by the second.
“We need to pull over and check it out, then. We mess up the rim, we’re screwed,” Russell said, feeling the truck shudder underneath him. “You’ve got a spare tire, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a full-sized tire mounted under the bed of the truck.” Clyde pulled onto the shoulder of the road. “It’ll take a few minutes to get it down, though. They don’t make it easy.”
The truck came
