Trident Fury (The Kurgan War Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

twisted the barrel of his pistol on the side of his hostage’s head. They set their weapons at their feet and moved away from the cell entrance.  
    Abbas, the mercenary, and their hostages stepped out of the cell. He brought his pistol around and aimed it at Sheridan’s head. “If you think this means the end of my operation, you and your precious fleet have seriously misjudged me. I have a dozen places spread throughout this sector where I can begin again.”
    Sheridan stared down the barrel of the automatic pistol. His heart was jackhammering in his chest. If he was going to die, he wasn’t going to let Abbas see him flinch. “You’re never going to make it off this planet alive and you know it. Any ship attempting to flee will be stopped or blasted from the sky. Give yourself up.”
    Abbas chuckled. “Not likely, Captain.” Before anyone could react, he pointed his weapon at Cole’s chest and pulled the trigger. The sound of the pistol firing echoed down the long corridor.
    “No,” screamed Sheridan. In desperation, he turned and reached for his friend only to be grabbed from behind by Abbas’ mercenary. Sheridan watched in horror as Cole’s body crumpled to the floor. Cole writhed in agony for a couple of seconds before exhaling and lying deathly still.
    “You’re coming with us,” said Abbas. “I think the military would pay handsomely for the safe return of the son of an admiral.”
    With hate burning in his eyes, Sheridan spun about and glared at Abbas. “That was a really dumb move, Abbas. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make you pay for that.”
    “I don’t think so. Now, march!”
    Sheridan did not move. He stood there staring at Abbas.
    Abbas saw the defiance in his opponent’s eyes, swung his pistol over, and shot one of the prisoners still inside the cell right between the eyes. “Start walking or I’ll kill these two girls right in front of your eyes.”  
    “Okay, you win,” Sheridan said, turning about.  
    A minute later, they came out near the execution pit. Sheridan could hear the bears moving about, startled by all the noise coming from above.  
    “Head for that elevator,” said Abbas, pointing over at the far wall. “It’ll take us to my private shuttle craft.”
    Sheridan moved as slowly as he could. “Think about it, Abbas, you’re not going to make it. Surrender is your only option.”  
    “Captain, your people will never see me. My ship has the latest in stealth technology built into it. I’ll be past their pathetic blockade and on my way to freedom long before anyone notices me missing.”
    Sheridan gritted his teeth. If anyone had access to the best in stolen military technology, it would be Abbas. He had to stop him before he got to his ship and vanished. When he was less than a couple of meters from the elevator, he remembered that he still had a ceramic knife hidden in his jacket. He slowed down and stepped to one side to allow Abbas’ thug to press the button for the elevator. The moment the mercenary’s arm was extended, Sheridan whipped out his blade and jammed it as hard as he could into the man’s hand.
    The mercenary screamed in pain and pulled his hand back.
    In a flash, Sheridan smashed his right hand into the injured man’s head, knocking him senseless. The man’s pistol fell to the ground. Before Abbas could get a clear shot, Sheridan grabbed the mercenary by the neck and spun his body around, using it as a shield.
    The two girls with them saw what was about to happen, screamed in panic, and pulled themselves free from Abbas’ grip. He snarled at them but let them go; he wanted to kill Sheridan more than he wanted the girls. He could always get more girls. He did not care that one of his men was in the way. Without hesitating, Abbas opened fire.
    Sheridan felt each bullet as they struck the guard’s body. Luckily the man was wearing some form of light body armor under his jacket or the rounds would have passed through and struck