Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel Read Online Free PDF

swing. Rather than leaping clear, Tucker lunged forward, entering the man’s guard. He caught the deadly arm under his own and snaked his hand fully around the limb and immobilized it. With his other arm, he slammed the butt-end of the steel machete into the man’s nose.
    Bone cracked; blood spurted.
    The man went limp, but Tucker held him upright by his trapped arm.
    From the corner of his eye, he saw the third and largest opponent back away two steps and free a pistol. Tucker swung around, using his captured assailant’s body as a shield as shots rang out. It proved a meager defense at such close range. One of the rounds blasted through his captive’s neck, grazing Tucker’s shoulder.
    Then a scream bellowed.
    Tucker shoved the body aside and saw Kane latched onto the shooter’s wrist, the dog’s fangs digging deep. The pistol clattered to the street. The man’s eyes were round with panic as he tried to shake the shepherd loose. Blood and slather flew.
    Only then did the huge African remember the machete in his other hand. He lifted it high, ready to hack at the dog.
    “Release!” Tucker cried out.
    The command was barely off his lips when Kane obeyed, letting go and dropping back on the street. But the man continued his downward swing at the dog’s neck with a savage bellow. Kane could not get out of the way in time.
    Tucker was already moving.
    Heart pounding, he dove for the abandoned pistol and scooped it up. He shoulder-rolled to bring the weapon up—but he was too slow.
    The machete flashed in the sunlight.
    A gunshot cracked loudly.
    The man crumpled backward, half his skull shattering away. The blade flew away harmlessly. Tucker stared at his pistol. The shot had not come from his weapon.
    Up the street, a new trio appeared. Two men and a woman. Though dressed in street clothes, they all had the stamp of military about them. The leader in the center held a smoking SIG Sauer.
    “See to him.” He pointed to the bleeding young man on the ground. His voice had a slight Texas accent. “Get him to a local hospital and we’ll rendezvous back at the evac point.”
    Despite the concern about the injured man, the leader’s gaze never unlocked from Tucker’s eyes. From the hard contours of his face, the close-cropped black hair that had gone a bit lanky, and the stony edge to his storm-gray eyes, he was definitely military.
    Likely ex- military.
    Not good.
    The leader crossed over to him, ignoring Kane’s wary growl. He offered a hand to help Tucker up.
    “You’re a difficult man to find, Captain Wayne.”
    Tucker bit back any surprise and ignored the offered hand. He stood on his own. “You were the ones following me. Earlier this morning.”
    “And you lost us.” A hard twinkle of amusement brightened the man’s eyes. “Not an easy thing to do. That alone proves you’re the man we need.”
    “Not interested.”
    He turned, but the man stepped in front of him and blocked the way. A finger pointed at his chest, which only managed to irritate him further.
    “Listen for one minute,” the man said, “then you’re free to go.”
    Tucker stared down at the finger. The only reason he didn’t reach out and break it was that the man had saved Kane’s life a moment ago. He Owed him that much—and perhaps even a minute of his time.
    “Who are you?” he asked.
    The offending finger turned into an open palm, inviting a handshake. “Commander Gray Pierce. I work for an organization called sigma.”
    Tucker scowled. “Never heard of it. That makes you what? Defense contractors, mercenaries?” He made his disdain for that last word plain.
    That dark twinkle grew brighter as the other lowered his arm. “No. We work under the auspices of DARPA.”
    Tucker frowned, but curiosity kept him listening. DARPA was the Defense Department’s research-and-development administration. What the hell was going on here?
    “Perhaps we can discuss this in a quieter location,” the commander said.
    By now, the man’s