The Malta Escape Read online

  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. I can’t wait for the next Payne & Jones adventure!”

  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, as his trusty duo of Payne and Jones rely on their elite military training to slay bad guys, solve riddles, and save the day.”

  Douglas Preston, #1 international bestselling author—

  “Chris Kuzneski is a monster storyteller who never disappoints. Payne and Jones are simply fabulous!”

  Boyd Morrison, #1 international bestselling author—

  “Chris Kuzneski knows what thriller readers crave—nonstop action, ancient mysteries, twisted villains, and memorable heroes. Kuzneski’s books have got it all!”

  Graham Brown, #1 international bestselling author—

  “Chris Kuzneski is such a good writer that I asked him to write this for me.”

  NOVELS 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 Malta Escape

  The Hunters Series

  The Hunters

  The Forbidden Tomb

  The Prisoner’s Gold

  The Hunters: Origins

  Before the Storm (novella)

  THE MALTA ESCAPE

  All Rights Reserved © 2018 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

  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: 978-0-9909256-2-0

  ISBN-10: 0-9909256-2-5

  THE

  MALTA ESCAPE

  ____________

  CHRIS KUZNESKI

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Praise for Chris Kuzneski

  Novels by Chris Kuzneski

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgements

  Preface

  Map of Malta

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Gag Reel

  About the Author

  Connect with Chris

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  It takes a village to publish a book. Here are some of the people I’d like to thank:

  The Malta Tourism Authority for my invitation to the Mediterranean, their unbelievable generosity, and the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

  Anna Gauci, Stephen Calleja, and Audrey Marie Bartolo for your warmth, knowledge, and incredible hospitality. You truly were the perfect hosts.

  Graham Brown, Boyd Morrison, and Randi Morrison for being a part of one of the best weeks of my life. Thanks for making it so memorable.

  The amazing people of Malta, who welcomed me like one of their own. I am totally in love with your country, and I simply can’t wait to return.

  Ian Harper, my longtime friend/editor/consigliere. He reads my words before anyone else—and then tweaks them until they’re perfect. If you’re looking for an editor, please let me know. I highly recommend him.

  Kane Gilmour, who helps with a lot of things behind the scenes. Not only is he an incredible author, but he is a publishing whiz. I’d be lost without his assistance.

  Jeremy Robinson for taking time out of his busy schedule to design an amazing book cover. And then taking even more time when I changed my mind again and again and asked him to tweak it.

  Elizabeth Cooper, Dee Haddrill, and Joyce Kuzneski for their proofreading expertise.

  Scott Miller, Dorothy Vincent, and everyone else at Trident Media. I wouldn’t be here without your efforts.

  All the fans, librarians, booksellers, and critics who have enjoyed my thrillers and have recommended them to others. Without you, I’d be broke and unemployed.

  Last but not least, I’d like to thank my friends and family. I work strange hours and disappear for months at a time when I’m working on a project. Thanks for putting up with my weirdness. Your unwavering support means more than I can put into words.

  PREFACE

  Malta is a former British colony, which means many locations in Malta are spelled with British spellings. However, this book was written in American Englis
h, so it utilizes American spellings and punctuation. Out of respect, proper nouns will keep their native spellings, but common nouns will be converted to American English. (For instance, the Grand Harbour in Valletta is spelled with a “u”, but general references to the body of water will be spelled harbor.)

  If this doesn’t make sense to you, feel free to take a pen and write in the missing letters—that is, if you actually own a physical version of the book. I don’t recommend this technique with borrowed books, library copies, e-readers, or computer screens.

  Okay. Now that the grammar lesson is out of the way, it’s finally time for the good stuff. Without further ado, please sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story….

  PROLOGUE

  Wednesday, June 6, 1798

  Valletta, Malta

  A storm was coming, one that would radically change the landscape of the small Mediterranean nation and alter the course of history. But unlike the rains that soaked the islands during the winter months, this was a different kind of storm.

  This one was bringing cannons.

  According to Maltese spies, Napoleon was on his way with an invasion fleet of over 30,000 men. His ultimate goal was to sail further south to Egypt, where he would establish a French presence in the Middle East and use northern Africa as a steppingstone to reach India. But before he did, he planned to seize Malta, which was being protected by a chivalric order formally called the Knights Hospitaller.

  Also known as the Order of Saint John, the Knights of Malta had cemented their reputation during the Great Siege of 1565, when they had repelled the vastly superior numbers of the Ottoman Empire in its attempt to invade the island nation. The Maltese victory was celebrated across Europe, for it had ended the perception of Ottoman invincibility while opening the door for European expansion across the Mediterranean.

  As a token of appreciation—and a way to curry favor with this legendary order—financial assistance had come flooding in from royal families across the continent. In the decades that followed, the Knights had strengthened the inner harbor, constructed watchtowers along the coasts, and built several fortified cities, including the new capital city of Valletta.

  Their goal was to be ready for the next attack.

  Whenever that may come.

  For the next two hundred years, the Knights had flourished on Malta, shepherding in a cultural renaissance that led to extreme power and wealth. Recruits came from across Europe, bringing with them a fighting spirit, a sense of adventure, and enough foreign connections to fill the Knights’ coffers beyond belief. And yet very few members of the Order knew how rich they actually were, and even fewer knew where the Maltese treasure was kept.

  The reason for this was obvious.

  Diverse backgrounds led to diverse loyalties.

  Particularly in the time of war.

  And plenty of battles occurred during those years, many of which reshaped the political landscape in Europe. Patrons were killed, assets were seized, and enemies came to power—all of which weakened the infrastructure of the organization.

  By the end of the eighteenth century, the Order was a shell of its former self. Its ranks had been depleted, and the Knights were no longer capable of defending Malta, particularly against a force the size of the French fleet. The Grand Master of the Order—a German named Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim—knew this. He also realized that nearly two-thirds of his Knights were of French descent, which complicated things further.

  In the heat of battle, which side would they be fighting on?

  Would they be with Napoleon or against him?

  Although Hompesch had never met Napoleon, he was familiar with his tactics. He knew it would take a lot of money to wage a foreign war so far from home. Which meant Napoleon’s first order of business upon capturing Malta would be to seize the Order’s holdings. He would then use those riches to fund his journey across Africa and beyond.

  But how could he seize what wasn’t there?

  Facing a battle he couldn’t win and a timeline he couldn’t change, Hompesch made the most logical decision possible. Instead of wasting his time on the short-term protection of Malta, he decided to ensure the long-term future of his Order.

  And he would do that by moving the treasure.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Present Day

  Saturday, June 9

  Mars, Pennsylvania

  (13 miles north of Pittsburgh)

  Jonathon Payne was covered in sweat as he stared at the ceiling fan above his bed.

  He hadn’t slept well in weeks, and it was taking its toll.

  But unlike his military brethren who often struggled with the things they had done for their country or the horrors they had witnessed overseas, Payne’s recent nightmares had come to life the day he had left the service. And he didn’t need a shrink to tell him why.

  He knew why he was miserable.

  The answer was abundantly clear.

  For the past decade, he had been doing a job that he hated and living in a home that didn’t feel like his, and it was finally catching up to him.

  As much as he worshipped his grandfather—the man who had raised him after Payne’s parents had died in a car crash—and wanted to protect the company that his grandfather had built from scratch, he knew it wasn’t the life for him.

  He wasn’t suited for the business world.

  He was built for something else.

  He was built for combat.

  Payne stood 6’4” and was a chiseled 240 pounds. He had brown hair, fair skin, and a body littered with scars. Though he was quick to smile and generous to a fault, he burned with a quiet intensity that demanded respect.

  A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Payne had been so effective behind enemy lines that he was selected to lead the MANIACs, a highly classified special operations unit composed of the best soldiers the Marines, Army, Navy, Intelligence, Air Force, and Coast Guard could find. Established by the Pentagon, the MANIACs’ goal was to complete missions that the U.S. government couldn’t afford to publicize: political assassinations, anti-terrorist acts, etc.

  The squad was the best of the best, and their motto was fitting.

  If the military can’t do the job, send in the MANIACs.

  Payne had thrived in that environment, accomplishing the impossible on more than one occasion. Despite the danger—or maybe because of it—he had loved every minute of it. Putting his life on the line for a worthy cause was the noblest job he could imagine.

  That is, until his grandfather died without warning.

  Leaving Payne as the sole heir to his fortune.

  Suddenly, he was forced to make a choice.

  Do I continue the job I love, or do I honor my grandfather’s wishes?

  It had taken him less than an hour to decide.

  Payne had called in every favor he could and was honorably discharged from the military in less than a week. It might have been his most impressive accomplishment to date. Top-level operatives were rarely let go by the Pentagon, but they had made an exception for Payne.

  Sadly, the day he was officially released was also the day of the funeral.

  And it had forced Payne to mourn twice.

  For the loss of his grandfather and for the end of his career.

  Of course, things could have been worse. He wasn’t digging ditches or shoveling shit. He was running a global corporation from a swanky office in a city he loved while living in his grandfather’s mansion in the suburbs. He set his own hours, worked with people he liked, and had an unlimited expense account.

  And yet, his life rarely brought him joy.

  In fact, it did the opposite.

  Every single day he was forced to put on a mask and pretend to be happy. He knew the best leaders didn’t bitch and moan about their problems. They sucked it up, put on fake smiles, and encouraged their underlings to do their best. So that’s exactly what he did.

  But it was killing him.

  Day after day, meeting after meeting, t
he conflict welled up inside of him. If he didn’t do something about it soon, he knew he was going to burst.

  So he eventually did what he did best.

  He planned his escape.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  If his grandfather had owned a restaurant or something similar, Payne would have sold the family business years ago and moved on with his life.

  But Payne Industries was a different beast altogether.

  It was a multibillion-dollar manufacturing conglomerate with a burgeoning tech division, and Payne was its main shareholder and CEO. His departure was going to affect more than just him; it was going to negatively affect the lives of thousands of employees around the globe.

  Unless he executed his plan to perfection.

  With the help of his best friend, David Jones—who had been his second-in-command with the MANIACs and had departed the military shortly after Payne—they discreetly researched several men and women who were potentially suited to take over as CEO. They eventually winnowed their list to five candidates, and with the assistance of key members of the board of directors, they secretly interviewed each for the position.

  In the end, the decision was unanimous.

  The new CEO of Payne Industries would be Sam McCormick.

  Not only was he one of the board’s longest serving members, he was a carryover from the final years of Payne’s grandfather. Someone who was well-versed on the company’s history, but also a forward thinker who felt they should continue to pump money into the new tech division to prevent the company from becoming stagnant.

  Payne had the utmost confidence in McCormick and considered him a mentor of sorts. His office had been right down the hall from Payne’s, and he had always been there to offer advice, particularly in the early years while showing Payne the ropes. Some people would’ve resented the nepotism—an inexperienced family member coming in to take over a large company—but McCormick had never talked down to him and had always treated him with respect.