PRIMAL Nemesis (Book 2 in the Redemption Trilogy, A PRIMAL Action Thriller Book 6) (The PRIMAL Series) by Jack Silkstone Read Free Book Online Page A

into a creek.
    The three-man team was missing one vital component, Aleks, their leader. He was still searching for Kurtz, leaving the Critical Assault Team with an uneven number.
    All three CAT operators were dressed in mottled green battle fatigues, faces painted with camouflage cream. They wore matching lightweight body armor festooned with pouches.
    “Advance.” Kruger stalked slowly, his Tavor assault rifle held at the ready. He placed his feet gently, avoiding any sound that could give away his presence over the buzz of the jungle wildlife. As he scanned ahead he caught a glimpse of movement and a heat signature. He instinctively fired a series of rapid shots, the subsonic 300BLK rounds barely audible through the integral suppressor. “Contact front!”
    Pavel opened up with the machine gun. Tracer flashed through the darkness and the reek of gunpowder replaced the musky stench of rotting undergrowth.
    More of the glowing man-sized targets appeared behind the first and the team bounded forward, blasting the jungle with lead.
    “Check fire,” Kruger commanded. The aiming laser on his weapon switched off.
    The jungle fell silent.
    “All clear left flank,” transmitted Miklos.
    “All clear right,” added Pavel.
    He cocked his head to one side and tried to identify what sounded like a faint whistle in the air. “Incoming!” He dove to the ground as an explosion flashed through the trees and the ground shook.
    Another blast followed the first, closer. Mortar fire was being adjusted toward them.
    “Peel right, peel right!” he yelled as he leaped to his feet and ran. He almost collided with Pavel as the smaller man struggled to maneuver his machine gun in the dense jungle. They slid through leaf litter down a slope into a creek.
    Behind more bombs rocked the ground. He glanced back and angry explosions of energy flashed in his goggles.
    Miklos was the last in. He skidded off the bank and disappeared underwater. A second later he reappeared, spluttering, “I found a hole.”
    The creek offered protection from the blasts on the ridgeline above. Kruger checked his iPRIMAL strapped to his forearm. It had automatically updated the location and navigation path displayed inside his goggles. It led them straight up the creek. “Let's keep moving, ja !”
    The three operators waded through the waist deep water, scanning the banks for any heat signatures. After a minute the explosions above them ceased and the jungle went silent. A few more minutes and the insects restarted their orchestra with vigor. Fuck I hate the jungle, Kruger thought as he swatted at a mosquito buzzing in his ear. He swore he’d find leeches inside his pants once this was over.
    A few hundred yards further along the creek he led them up the bank through a patch of thick undergrowth to the edge of a clearing. He clenched his teeth as his goggles started fogging. Fifty-thousand dollar night vision technology and they still used a stick of anti-fog wax to ward off the humidity. He adjusted the goggles pushing them further from his face and focused on a cluster of buildings ahead. The hostage they were searching for had to be inside one of them.
    “No sign of security,” whispered Miklos.
    “We'll clear the three buildings starting with the closest. I’ve got point. Miklos with me, Pavel covering.”
    He moved through the knee-high grass to the first building. It was small, about the size of a motor home. He slid in next to the door and placed his hand on the knob. Once Miklos was in position opposite he tried the door. It was unlocked. He pushed it open.
    Miklos swung into the room and engaged a target with a double tap. Kruger was a split second behind and did the same, dropping the other hostile in the room. “No sign of hostage, coming out.”
    They moved to the second structure, repeating the process. They finally found their hostage in the third building. Kruger heaved the body over his shoulder. “Objective secure, boys. Let's get out of