Protecting the Innocent

Prepare for edge-of-your-seat suspense in this Thriller Short.

Originally published in THRILLER 2 (2009),
edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler.

In this Thriller Short, bestselling author Simon Wood brings his thirst for risk into play with an unusual tale of love.

Nick, stubbornly love struck, is getting ready to take his relationship with Melanie Lassen to the next level by proposing to her. But when Melanie’s brother, Jamie, learns of Nick’s marriage plans, he warns him to break it off and never see her again—or else.

Despite Jamie’s pointed and repeated threats on his life, Nick is undeterred and goes on the offensive. His sleuthing uncovers a dark secret about Jamie that he uses as the ante in a high-stakes game of poker—one where both men’s lives are at risk.

Don’t miss any of these exciting stories from Thriller 2:

The Weapon by Jeffery Deaver
Remaking by Blake Crouch
Iced by Harry Hunsicker
Justice Served by Mariah Stewart
The Circle by David Hewson
Roomful of Witnesses by R.L. Stine
The House on Pine Terrace by Phillip Margolin
The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away by Marcus Sakey
On the Run by Carla Neggers
Can You Help Me Out Here? by Robert Ferrigno
Crossed Double by Joe Hartlaub
The Lamented by Lawrence Light
Vintage Death by Lisa Jackson
Suspension of Disbelief by Tim Maleeny
A Calculated Risk by Sean Chercover
The Fifth World by Javier Sierra
Ghost Writer by Gary Braver
Through a Veil Darkly by Kathleen Antrim
Bedtime for Mr. Li by David J. Montgomery
Protecting the Innocent by Simon Wood
Watch Out for My Girl by Joan Johnston
Killing Time by Jon Land
Boldt’s Broken Angel by Ridley Pearson