Prague

“Breanna Stockard.”

“And you, little girl?”

“Teri Stockard.”

The hospital attendant smiled at them. “You must wear these badges,” she told Teri. “Can you do that?”

“I can do it.”

“Very good.”

The woman handed the temporary hospital passes to Breanna. She pinned one on Teri, then clamped the other to the pocket of her blouse as she walked toward the elevator.

“Third floor,” called the woman behind them.

The elevator doors opened as they arrived. The car was empty. They got in. Breanna punched the number 3, then stood back.

“Is Daddy really all right, Mom?” asked Teri as the elevator started upward.

“Your father…”

Breanna’s voice trailed off. What did she want to say? That Zen was indestructible?

That certainly wasn’t true—his legs were proof of that.

That he was a remarkable man?

Teri already knew that.

“Daddy’s OK, honey,” she said finally. “He has to stay in the hospital for a day or so, but he’s fine. He’ll be as good as new when he gets out.”

“Promise?”

Breanna dropped down to her knees. “I’ll never lie to you, honey. Ever. Especially about that. OK?”

Teri nodded.

The doors opened. Breanna glanced to her right and saw the guards standing in front of the room where Mark Stoner was being kept under heavy sedation.

She wanted to see him, too. To thank him for not killing Zen.

And to tell him that they would figure out how to help him. How to end his pain, and get him back to what he had been. They owed him that.

“This way, Mom—Room 312.” Teri took her hand and led her in the other direction, down the hall. There was a guard in front of Zen’s room, too. He didn’t smile as they approached, but evidently he’d been briefed to let them through—he stepped to one side, making sure they could get to the door.

Zen was sitting up in bed, laptop open.

Working.

Working!

“My two favorite women in the world!” he said as they came in.

Teri ran to him and hugged him. Breanna, a tear slipping from her eye, hung back for just a second, watching her husband and daughter enjoy their embrace, before going ahead and joining them.

About the Author

DALE BROWN, a former U.S. Air Force captain, was born in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Nevada. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European history and received a U.S. Air Force commission in 1978. He was still serving in the Air Force when he wrote his highly acclaimed first novel, Flight of the Old Dog. Since then he has written a string of New York Times bestsellers, including most recently Shadow Command, Rogue Forces, and Executive Intent.

www.dalebrown.info

Praise

Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author

DALE BROWN

“Brown puts us in the cockpits of wonderful machines and gives us quite a ride.”

New York Times Book Review

“The novels of Dale Brown brim with violent action, detailed descriptions of sophisticated weaponry, and political intrigue… . His ability to bring technical weaponry to life is amazing.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“A master at creating a sweeping epic and making it seem real.”

Clive Cussler

“His knowledge of world politics and possible

military alliances is stunning… . He writes about weapons beyond a mere mortal’s imagination.”

Tulsa World

“A master… Brown puts readers right into the middle of the inferno.”

Larry Bond

“Nobody does it better.”

Kirkus Reviews

Also by the Author

Also in the Dreamland Series

(with Jim DeFelice)

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Whiplash

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Revolution

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Retribution

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: End Game

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Satan’s Tail

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Strike Zone

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Razor’s Edge

Dale Brown’s Dreamland: Nerve Center

Dale Brown’s Dreamland

Titles by Dale Brown

Executive Intent

Rogue Forces

Shadow Command

Strike Force

Edge of Battle

Act of War

Plan of Attack

Air Battle Force

Wings of Fire

Warrior Class

Battle Born

The Tin Man

Fatal Terrain

Shadow of Steel

Storming Heaven

Chains of Command

Night of the Hawk

Sky Masters

Hammerheads

Day of the Cheetah

Silver Tower

Flight of the Old Dog

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.