Before the Storm

By Chris Kuzneski

The first story in THE HUNTERS: ORIGINS focuses on the team leader of the Hunters. After his unexpected discharge from the U.S. Army, Jack Cobb finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. He flies to Florida to meet with his contacts at MacDill AFB, but he is denied entry because of the scandal that ended his military career.

Thankfully two of Cobb’s closest friends (Jonathon Payne and David Jones) come to his rescue. Braving an approaching thunderstorm and some of the worst beach music they’ve ever heard, their tales of adventure do more than cheer him up. They open Cobb’s eyes to an opportunity that will change his life forever.

NOTE: This is not a full-length book. It is a short novella that takes place prior to the action of THE HUNTERS. The goal of ORIGINS is to delve into the backstory of the major characters in the Hunters series while providing clues and insight into future books and THE HUNTERS movie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Kuzneski
• Release date: Dec 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9780990925613

Chris Kuzneski

Chris Kuzneski is the international bestselling author of The Lost Throne, Sword of God, Sign of the Cross, and The Plantation. His thrillers have been published in more than twenty languages and are sold in more than forty countries. Kuzneski, who grew up in Pennsylvania, now lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

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Smashwords Edition

BEFORE THE STORM

All Rights Reserved © 2016 by Chris Kuzneski, Inc.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

Book cover by Jeremy Robinson

Revised in November 2017

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9909256-1-3

ISBN-10: 0-9909256-1-7

A NOTE ABOUT

THE HUNTERS: ORIGINS

The Hunters series opens in the middle of a daring heist as four strangers attempt to steal an important relic from Russian mobsters. Jack Cobb, Sarah Ellis, Josh McNutt, and Hector Garcia prove their worth by breaking into a heavily guarded compound in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach while being attacked by an army of goons and chased by the FBI. Based on the team’s success, Jean-Marc Papineau hires them to find something far more valuable than a single artifact: a treasure train filled with Romanian gold.

If you’ve read THE HUNTERS, THE FORBIDDEN TOMB, and THE PRISONER’S GOLD, you know what happens next. But have you ever wondered what the team members were doing before the first heist? If so, I’ve got some great news for you. Over the course of several short novellas, THE HUNTERS: ORIGINS will delve into the history of the major characters in the series while providing clues and insight into THE HUNTERS movie and future books.

The first story is called BEFORE THE STORM, and it focuses on the team leader of the Hunters. After his unexpected discharge from the U.S. Army, Jack Cobb finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Thankfully, two of his closest friends (Jonathon Payne and David Jones) come to his rescue in the oppressive heat of Florida. But their tales of adventure do more than cheer him up. They open Cobb’s eyes to an opportunity that will change his life forever.

PRAISE FOR THE HUNTERS SERIES

The Daily Mail (UK)—

THE HUNTERS is taut and fierce.… It feels like the draft of a movie, and it could just be Kuzneski’s breakthrough novel. In fact, it deserves to be.

Herald Sun (Australia)—

THE HUNTERS is Mission: Impossible on steroids.… It’s all about the action, which never stops. Half the fun is imagining the all-star cast for the movie that was clearly in Kuzneski’s mind. Final verdict: Thrill Ride.

Steve Berry, #1 international bestselling author—

Kuzneski does it again. Another terrific tale, filled with action and deception, bringing the unimaginable to life. My kind of story!

Scott Mariani, #1 international bestselling author—

THE HUNTERS kicks off a brilliant new series from Chris Kuzneski. Adventure, history, mystery, and more—everything you’d want in a thriller!

Boyd Morrison, #1 international bestselling author—

If Indiana Jones joined the crew of Mission: Impossible, you’d get the action, history, and wicked sense of humor in THE HUNTERS. With a thrill ride that pins you to your seat until the very last page, Kuzneski sets a new standard for adventure.

Graham Brown, #1 international bestselling author—

THE PRISONER’S GOLD hits like a hammer, with intense action, suspense, and intrigue that echo to the very last page and beyond. Fantastic!

PRAISE FOR CHRIS KUZNESKI

James Patterson, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski’s writing has the same raw power as the early Stephen King.

Clive Cussler, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski writes as forcefully as his tough characters act.

Nelson DeMille, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski is a remarkable new writer, who completely understands what makes for a good story: action, sex, suspense, humor, and great characters.

Vince Flynn, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski is a master in the making.

James Rollins, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski writes with an energy that is contagious! Action, suspense, mystery, and a biting thread of humor…. What more can you ask from a novel?

Lisa Gardner, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski has mastered the art of the quest novel, bringing to life lost treasures, exotic locales, and fresh conspiracies.

Douglas Preston, #1 international bestselling author—

Chris Kuzneski is a monster storyteller who never disappoints.

ALSO BY CHRIS KUZNESKI

Payne & Jones Series

The Plantation

Sign of the Cross

Sword of God

The Lost Throne

The Prophecy

The Secret Crown

The Death Relic

The Einstein Pursuit

The Hunters Series

The Hunters

The Forbidden Tomb

The Prisoner’s Gold

The Hunters: Origins

Before the Storm

BEFORE

THE

STORM

___________________

CHRIS

KUZNESKI

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Copyright Page

A Note about The Hunters Series

Praise for The Hunters Series

Praise for Chris Kuzneski

Also by Chris Kuzneski

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Sample of The Hunters

Sample of The Plantation

About the Author

Connect with Chris

CHAPTER ONE

Tuesday, August 14

Clearwater Beach, Florida

(23 miles west of Tampa)

Jack Cobb wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone.

Not the hostess, not the locals, and certainly not the shirtless tourists who whooped with glee as they drank their piña coladas while listening to a white guy with dreadlocks play a reggae version of Margaritaville.

Cobb rolled his eyes and gulped his beer.

Another fucking day in paradise.

Prior to his trip to Florida, he