Payne shrugged. “A half dozen or so. Word kind of spread after our first mission, so we get contacted all the time.”
“By whom?”
“Historians, archaeologists, even some authors. Why, are you interested?
“Maybe. How much money is involved?”
“We’ve made millions.”
Cobb practically choked. “Did you say ‘millions’?”
Payne nodded his head. “We’ve done quite well.”
“Not that Jon needs it,” Jones teased. “I’m not quite sure why a billionaire would risk his life for millions. Mathematically speaking, it doesn’t make much sense.”
“I don’t do it for the money. I do it to save your ass.”
“Why do you always talk about my ass? It makes me uncomfortable.”
Cobb ignored the comment. “Truth be told, I’m in a much different place than either of you. Thanks to my discharge, I’ve lost my pension, my housing, my insurance, and my reputation. At this point I’d do just about anything to make millions.”
“Anything?” Payne asked.
Cobb nodded. “Within reason.”
“If you’re serious, I’ll put you in touch with this businessman who has been nagging us for months. We’ve never met the guy—so we can’t vouch for him—but he seems to be a serious player in the world of antiquities.”
“Define serious.”
“He’s willing to pay top dollar to get what he wants.”
“Which is?”
“Beats me the hell out of me. Despite his persistence, he’s quite secretive.”
“Did he tell you his name?”
“Yep. It’s Papineau. Jean-Marc Papineau.”
“Sounds pretentious.”
“Well, he’s French, so that goes without saying,” Jones teased.
Cobb laughed. “Out of curiosity, why weren’t you interested in the gig?”
“Well, he’s French,” Jones repeated, “I can’t stress that enough.”
“Plus,” Payne added, “he hinted that multiple people would be involved. It didn’t sound like a one-time adventure. It sounded like a full-time job.”
“Which is what I’m looking for,” Cobb admitted.
“Great,” Payne said. “I’ll give him a call as soon as I get back.”
“Thanks, Jon. I’d appreciate that. Unless…”
Payne stared at him. “Unless, what?”
“Unless you think I’m being too hasty. I mean, so much has happened lately. Maybe I should take some time off to get my mind right before I return to the fray.”
Jones laughed at him. “Relax, Jack. It’s just a phone call. If you don’t like what he has to say, then turn him down.”
Payne agreed. “No harm in talking to the guy.”
Cobb nodded. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. Considering what I’ve been through, I owe it to myself to talk to the guy.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Cobb smiled as a sense of relief washed over him.
Like most elite soldiers, he was a meticulous planner—someone who preferred to know the times and details of the weeks ahead long before they happened. Lately there had been so much uncertainty in his life he’d found himself adrift in a raging river of turmoil, unsure where the rapids may take him. But now, thanks to his friends, he found himself clinging to a life raft that may help him survive the storm.
All he had to do was hold on.
About the Author
Chris Kuzneski is the international bestselling author of The Prisoner’s Gold, The Forbidden Tomb, The Einstein Pursuit, The Hunters, The Death Relic, The Secret Crown, The Prophecy, The Lost Throne, Sword of God, Sign of the Cross, and The Plantation. His thrillers have been translated into more than twenty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. The Hunters series has been optioned by Hollywood. The first book in the series (The Hunters) is currently being made into a major motion picture. His latest novel (The Prisoner’s Gold) won the ITW Thriller Award for Book of the Year.
Before the Storm is the first novella in The Hunters: Origins.
For more details, please visit his website: www.chriskuzneski.com.
Connect with Chris
E-mail: [email protected]
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Before The Storm (The Hunters: Origins Book 1) Page 5
