BLOOD TIES (Decklan Jennings Thriller Book 1), Philip Duncan [bill gates book recommendations TXT] 📗

for the best opportunity. Parker was now beyond hysterical and was only getting worse by the second. He dropped his gun while trying to check the ammo, and as he bent down to pick it up, he stepped directly into Decklan’s crosshairs. He grabbed the gun off the ground, looked up, and locked eyes with his big brother. It was at that moment that he knew all the pain was about to end.

Decklan fired a single shot, striking Parker in the chest. Parker stumbled back against a tree and slid down to the ground. Decklan, seeing that his brother was no longer a threat, quickly ran over to him. He knelt down, grabbed Parker's hands, and looked directly at him.

“Don’t worry little brother, it’s all over now. You can go be with Emma,” Decklan said, not really knowing if he would actually see his wife again. After all, everything Parker had done would probably land him on the wrong side of death.

With blood seeping out of the bullet hole and through his clothes, it was hard for Parker to talk. He just looked up at his big brother, knowing his would be the last face he ever saw, and whispered with his final breath, “I’m so sorry.”

Parker’s head slumped down to the side, and his hands fell to the ground. The last life he would ever be responsible for was his own.

Decklan took his hand and shut his Parker’s eyes, stood up and looked at him one final time.

“I’m sorry it had to end like this, brother.”

He walked past his body and headed out of the woods, leaving his little brother all alone.

CHAPTER 24

A week had passed and Decklan had his house up for sale. He needed a fresh start away from this place. He didn’t know exactly where he was going, but he knew he had to go somewhere new. He had called the local police after killing his brother to inform them that someone had been shot somewhere in the mountains inside Camp Alkulana. He had hung up before they had a chance to ask any questions and drove straight home. The Parker chapter was over, and now it was time to focus on bringing down the big guy. Igor Abdulov.

He wasn’t sure where to start, but that didn’t stop him from finding Vladimir so he knew he would find a way. For the first time in over a month, he finally felt something other than gut-wrenching pain and guilt. Having brought down two of the men who played a part in killing his family, he felt some semblance of peace, although he was nowhere near normal again. He didn’t know if he ever would feel normal again, but he would take what he could get and take it day by day.

Despite his house being a murder scene, not once but twice, it sold unbelievably fast. Apparently, some older couple from up north needed a place to vacation during the winter months. Plus, he had the list price a fraction of what he and his wife paid for it when they bought it, but Decklan didn’t care about the money. He had plenty of that since his wife had been so successful, plus her life insurance policy. He just wanted to leave as soon as possible. After the house sold, he told the buyers he only needed a few days to get packed and moved out. He rented the biggest U-Haul he could get and took everything he thought he needed and wanted. He cleaned the house completely out. He wasn’t even sure he was going to have enough room to store it all, but there was no way he was leaving anything that had to do with his family behind.

It was the last day before the new owners would arrive and Decklan had just taken out the last box. The only thing left was the furniture, and he figured he would just buy new furniture once he figured out where he was going. He sat down on his couch for the last time and thought about all of the crazy and unimaginable shit that had taken place over the last month and a half. One thing did seem to give him hope. No matter where he went in this world, no matter where he ended up next, he would always have his family with him in his heart, and they would be watching over him.

It was time to go. He stood up, but before he could take one step, he heard a knock at the door.

Who the hell could that possibly be?

Aware that Igor and his men were still out there, Decklan pulled his pistol from his waistband. He always had it on him, no matter what. He slowly moved toward his newly replaced door, being very aware of who could be standing on the other side.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

“Decklan, it’s me,” a female voice spoke.

Where do I know that voice from?

Decklan slowly opened the door, only to see the beautiful face of someone he knew a long time ago.

“Selena. How did you know where I lived?” Decklan asked.

“I’m really sorry, but I didn’t know where else to go. I’m in a lot of trouble and I need your help!”

About the Author

Philip Duncan was born and raised in East Tennessee, where he still lives. He played many sports growing up, eventually switching his full attention to baseball, where he played four years in high school and four more years in college.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and currently works in the healthcare field. Since the age of sixteen, he has had many jobs including landscaping, farmhand, deli clerk, and personal trainer, but writing has always been his genuine passion.

He is very much a pantser with his books, and he enjoys letting the characters he creates dictate where the story goes. He currently works a full-time job, so he has to find time to write early in the morning, late in the evening,