Righteous Hell: Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, #11

By J. Robert Kennedy

"One of the best writers today." (Johnny Olsen) / "A master storyteller." (Betty Richard)

FROM USA TODAY & MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDY

AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK WITH AN UNFATHOMABLE TOLL

UNLEASHES RIGHTEOUS HELL ON THOSE RESPONSIBLE.

When Houthi terrorists rape and murder their way through a cruise ship for the well-heeled, they take hostages as human shields to protect their return to Yemen.

 

The unprecedented attack infuriates the world, and the nations of the victims activate their Special Forces to retrieve those taken.

 

Including America's elite Delta Force.

 

Tasked with retrieving the daughter of a political insider, Washington sends in Command Sergeant Major Burt "Big Dog" Dawson and his team to save the young woman.

 

And bring justice for those slaughtered in the prime of life.

With Righteous Hell, award-winning USA Today and multi-million copy bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy delivers another non-stop pulse-pounding international thriller sure to leave you reading through the night. If you thrive on big action, then you'll love it when America unleashes Delta on its enemies.

Get your copy of Righteous Hell now, and join the Delta Force as they deliver justice to those who would do us and our loved ones harm…

• Language: English
• Publisher: UnderMill Press
• Release date: Apr 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224536443

J. Robert Kennedy

With millions of books sold, award-winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is a full-time writer and the author of over seventy international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers.

Book preview

Get 5 Free eBooks!

Book Stack

Award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has sold millions of books, and is now giving some away for free! Join The Insider’s Club to be notified when new books are released, and as a thank you, get his 5 book Starter Library for free along with other bonus materials available nowhere else!

Find out more at www.jrobertkennedy.com.

Follow me on Facebook, BookBub, GoodReads and X (Twitter).

BOOKS BY J. ROBERT KENNEDY

Please click here for the intended reading order.

* Also available in audio

The Templar Detective Thrillers

The Templar Detective

The Templar Detective and the Parisian Adulteress

The Templar Detective and the Sergeant's Secret

The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist

The Templar Detective and the Code Breaker

The Templar Detective and the Black Scourge

The Templar Detective and the Lost Children

The Templar Detective and the Satanic Whisper

The Just Jack Thrillers

You Don't Know Jack

Jack Be Nimble

The James Acton Thrillers

The Protocol *

Brass Monkey *

Broken Dove

The Templar’s Relic

Flags of Sin

The Arab Fall

The Circle of Eight

The Venice Code

Pompeii’s Ghosts

Amazon Burning

The Riddle

Blood Relics

Sins of the Titanic

Saint Peter’s Soldiers

The Thirteenth Legion

Raging Sun

Wages of Sin

Wrath of the Gods

The Templar’s Revenge

The Nazi’s Engineer

Atlantis Lost

The Cylon Curse

The Viking Deception

Keepers of the Lost Ark

The Tomb of Genghis Khan

The Manila Deception

The Fourth Bible

Embassy of the Empire

Armageddon

No Good Deed

The Last Soviet

Lake of Bones

Fatal Reunion

The Resurrection Tablet

The Antarctica Incident

The Ghosts of Paris

No More Secrets

The Curse of Imhotep

The Sword of Doom

The Heretics Bible

The Dylan Kane Thrillers

Rogue Operator *

Containment Failure *

Cold Warriors *

Death to America

Black Widow

The Agenda

Retribution

State Sanctioned

Extraordinary Rendition

Red Eagle

The Messenger

The Defector

The Mole

The Arsenal

The Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers

Payback

Infidels

The Lazarus Moment

Kill Chain

Forgotten

The Cuban Incident

Rampage

Inside the Wire

Charlie Foxtrot

A Price Too High

Righteous Hell

The Detective Shakespeare Mysteries

Depraved Difference

Tick Tock

The Redeemer

The Kriminalinspektor Wolfgang Vogel Mysteries

The Colonel’s Wife

Sins of the Child

Zander Varga, Vampire Detective Series

The Turned

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

The Novel

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Acknowledgments

Don't Miss Out!

Thank You!

About the Author

Also by the Author

For seven-year-old Amina al-Hassouni, the only victim of Iran’s attack on Israel, April 13, 2024.

By God, I am broken from the inside. It’s not normal, I don’t feel like a human being. I can’t breathe properly like other human beings. We suffer from the forced niqab, child marriage, divorce shame, domestic violence and honor killings. I don’t know…as if we are aliens. They [male family members] have to oppress us and we have to stay oppressed–like a puppet controlled by strings.

From Yemen: One of the Worst Places in the World to be a Woman by

Amnesty International, quoting a Yemini interviewee.

God Is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.

Yemeni Houthi Terrorist Motto

PREFACE

On October 7, 2023, the democratically elected government of the Gaza Strip, Hamas, executed an unprecedented attack on Israel, launching thousands of rockets and sending an estimated 3,000 troops across the border. They attacked military and civilian targets, ultimately killing 1,139 men, women, children, and babies, and took hostage 253 Israeli and foreign citizens, using them as human shields.

The subsequent war has killed thousands and drawn in proxies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and countries like Iran. Another significant player is the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, who have launched rocket attacks against Israel and ships in the Red Sea, disrupting commercial shipping and forcing companies to transport goods around the continent of Africa, adding to inflation around the world.

In response, the international community has deployed their navies to the area to protect commercial vessels, and stop the Houthis from continuing to disrupt the worldwide economy.

And while ships now avoid the area and the warships of democratic nations patrol the seas around Yemen, the waters are vast, and the terrorist group’s capabilities, funded by Iran, continue to grow.

It’s just a matter of time before they accomplish something truly horrific.

1 |

Yemen

One day from now

Master Sergeant Mike Red Belme advanced down the narrow corridor, the lights taken out by their initial assault. His night vision goggles gave him a hazy view of what lay ahead. Movement had him adjusting his M4’s aim slightly as he continued to advance, Sergeant Danny Casey Martin at his side, the other four members of his team behind them. They had already cleared two rooms, eliminating three hostiles, but had so far found none of the hostages.

The team lead, Command Sergeant Major Burt Big Dog Dawson, reported through the comms. Two hostages recovered. Still no eyes on Jenny Larsen, over.

He continued forward. An open metal door lay ahead, and the figures he was seeing were rushing through it and away from him and his men. The door swung shut, and he cursed as a heavy lock falling into place echoed along the cinderblock walls.

He rushed forward and grabbed the handle, attempting to open the door, but as he suspected, it was locked from the other side. He motioned for their breacher, Casey, to come forward. We’re going to have to blow it.

Yes, Sergeant.       

Casey pulled out several pieces of detasheet explosive from his pack, applying generous portions to the hinges and where he estimated the locking mechanism would be, but not enough to injure his teammates in the confined space. He inserted the shock tube into each before running the rig back down the corridor.

Red gave a thumbs-up and Casey yelled, Fire in the hole!

Everyone took cover, and he twisted the ignitor, setting off the controlled explosion. The door tore off the hinges and Red was about to rise when a second massive explosion erupted, blasting them all off their feet and skidding down the narrow corridor.

What had happened, what had gone wrong, Red didn’t know.

Nor could he.

His world had already gone black.

2 |

Pool Deck, MS Horizon

Arabian Sea

One day earlier

I love my life!

Jenny Larsen shoved both fists in the air and howled, the scores of onlookers ringing the pool joining in as she somersaulted off the diving board and into the water below. She bobbed to the surface, treading water for a moment before swimming to the side. Darnell Williams smiled down at her, a margarita in each hand. He was so hot. Scorching. And she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his six-pack abs. Before this booze cruise was over, she intended to explore every inch of him.

Are you gonna help me out?

He held up the drinks. What would you have me do?

She smirked. If it were me, I’d drink one of them, help you out, then take you back to my room and ravish your body.

I like how you think. He downed one drink, then the other, tossing the glasses onto his lounge chair. He hauled her out of the water and into his arms. They were face to face, barely an inch between their mouths. Now, what were you saying you’d like to do to me?

She tingled all over. Oh, I think you heard me.

A smile spread, lust in his eyes. First move is yours.

She licked her lips. I thought I already took it. But just so there’s no doubt. She planted her mouth on his and her fellow partiers cheered as he carried her away from the pool deck, their bodies intertwined.

This was why she was here. This was why she had begged her father to let her come. They were rich. Everyone here was. And while that was all well and good, in the real world, it meant somebody always wanted something from you. You always had to put on a show. You always had to be perfect. The rule here was, selfies were permitted, but no one could take a picture of anyone else without their permission. Candid shots posted on social media meant not only were you kicked off at the next port, you were permanently banned from ever attending again.

And this was the ultimate party. Everyone who was anyone wanted to be here. Two weeks of fun in the sun. Every year a different, exotic starting point. This year, it had started in India. Last year, it had been Greece, but she had been too young and her father had refused to let her go. Not until you’re twenty-one.

But the legal drinking age is eighteen on the cruise.

I don’t care. Twenty-one.

She was finally twenty-one, surrounded by her people. It was a nonstop party. She had barely slept since she came on board, and most of that was from passing out drunk. But she didn’t care. She was young, her recovery time was fast, and she had to let loose. She was heading into her final year of college, then she had a decision to make. Strike out on her own or get her law degree and join the firm.

She grunted as her back hit the wall of the elevator, Darnell continuing his assault on her face, his excitement pressed against her sending waves of pleasure through her, all her stresses, all her worries, all her insecurities washing away. She grabbed him by the hair and repositioned his head so she could whisper in his ear. You better be ready to go all day and all night.

He pulled back and grinned. Baby, I don’t intend to come up for air until we hit Cape Town.

She stared into his eyes. I knew I chose the right guy.

The elevator dinged and Darnell slung her over his shoulder, carrying her to his room as she squealed in delight. He smacked her bare ass, her thong providing no protection, and a wave of exquisite pain rushed through her as he opened his cabin door. He tossed her on the bed of his suite that matched hers, then pulled off his swim trunks, and she gasped at what waved at her.

My God, are we gonna have a good time!

He grinned and struck a superhero pose. Brace yourself!

She stripped out of her bikini and thong, and he leaped on the bed atop her. She wrapped herself around him, kissing him hard, ready for the time of her life. She couldn’t recall ever being this turned on. She had been with a few guys before, but she was normally one to take it slow. This wasn’t her, but she had sworn that on this trip she would shed her inhibitions and go wild, be irresponsible.

Once she finished college, even if she went to law school, adulthood was upon her. The fun would soon be over, especially if she worked for her father. The man was no nonsense, always serious, always professional, always in control. There can’t be even a hint of impropriety with the clients I represent. These are the biggest names in politics and they count on me to deal with their own scandals. They certainly don’t want to be hearing about mine or my daughter’s. His words had kept her in a cage throughout her teenage and college years, which was why she needed this. She needed a place like this where she could be safe from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

Darnell abruptly stopped what he was doing and she groaned. Oh God, don’t stop!

Did you hear that?

She shook her head and grabbed him by his, pulling him back. I didn’t hear anything.

He returned to the only thing she wanted him concentrating on when someone shouted in the hallway. She ignored it, squeezing her eyes shut, focusing on the indescribable feelings coursing through her body when the ship’s horn blared. He stopped as it pulsed again. More shouts followed by a rapid alarm had Darnell bolting upright, rushing to the balcony.

She pushed up on her elbows, frustrated. What’s going on? she asked, unable to disguise her annoyance.

I don’t know.

The entire room tilted as the ship banked hard to port. Something was definitely wrong. This was a luxury cruise, the experience always smooth, so smooth you could be forgiven for forgetting you weren’t on land.

There are boats approaching.

She eyed him. What? What do you mean, boats? What kind of boats? Whose boats?

Darnell grabbed his trunks and pulled them on. Get dressed! he ordered as he returned to the window, the alarms still blaring. She sighed and leaned over the side of the bed, retrieving her skimpy outfit when Darnell gasped. Oh, my God!

Her chest tightened like a vise at the horror in his voice. What’s wrong? she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

They’ve got guns!

3 |

Bridge, MS Horizon

Arabian Sea

M ayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is the MS Horizon. We are under attack by unknown hostile forces. I count five vessels approaching, all with armed gunmen. We require immediate assistance! Our GPS coordinates are—

Bullets crackled, muzzles flashing from a small boat that had pulled ahead of them, and everyone on the bridge ducked, including Captain Ali Shakur, interrupting his broadcast.

What the hell do we do? asked the navigator, panic in his eyes.

Keep turning us. Head deeper to sea. The rougher the waters, the harder it’ll be for them to pursue. Full speed! I want full speed!

Full speed, aye, Captain!

The engine surged, and they tilted more to starboard as gunfire continued to rattle from the port side. The ship leveled out, now heading directly south and away from the Arabian Peninsula. They were supposed to be far enough from the danger. The original plan made last year was to take the ship through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and finish in the Mediterranean. But with all the trouble coming from the Houthi rebels in Yemen, that plan had been quashed, a new route filed that had them ringing the Arabian Sea’s northern ports of call, then cutting southwest to South Africa where his passengers would disembark and go on a one-week optional safari, most of them having opted in.

Corporate had assured him they were hundreds of nautical miles outside the range of any missiles, and even farther beyond any naval activity. Yet here they were, under attack by terrorist scum.

This is the USS Roosevelt calling the MS Horizon. Do you copy, over?

Cheers erupted as Captain Shakur activated his mic. USS Roosevelt, this is the MS Horizon. We copy you, over.

MS Horizon. This is Roosevelt Actual. Who am I speaking with?

This is Captain Shakur.

Very good, Captain Shakur. This is Captain Finley. What’s your status?

We’ve changed course due south and have increased to full speed. We have five vessels in pursuit, overtaking us.

What kind of weapons?

Shakur checked port and starboard. It looks like machine guns. I don’t know. I’m not very familiar with this stuff.

No problem, Captain. Do you see any guns mounted on to the boats themselves?

A louder weapon opened up, everyone ducking, the starboard side windows shattering, confirming what Shakur was about to report. At least two of the boats have guns mounted on the forward deck.

Copy that, Captain. Do you have any weapons on board?

Negative. We’re a civilian cruise ship. We have no weapons. We need your help.

Help is already being deployed. ETA one hour.

His first officer stared at him wide-eyed. Captain, this will all be over by then.

Shakur closed his eyes, activating the mic. We appreciate your assistance, but I’m afraid it will arrive too late.

Yes, Captain, I understand that. Here’s what I want you to do.

4 |

Darnell Williams’ Cabin, MS Horizon

Arabian Sea

Jenny Larsen caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and froze as Darnell piled everything that wasn’t nailed down against the door, following the order just given by the captain over the PA system. Gunfire rattled outside, causing her to flinch yet again. She had been around guns all her life. Her father had taught her how to shoot at a young age, but that was always as a hobby, always in a controlled environment.

This was different. She pictured October 7th. What had happened to those people, what had happened to the women, so many gang-raped, countless lives shattered, too much of the world ignoring the fact because it was Jewish women. She gripped the Star of David necklace around her neck, a gift from her father at her bat mitzvah. He wasn’t Jewish, but her mother was. She had been raised Jewish, though more casually than most. Her mother had died from cancer when she was ten, and her father had tried his best.

I need clothes.

Darnell continued his work. What?

I need to put something on. If they catch me like this…

He stopped and stared at her for a moment, confused. Then his eyes shot wide. Oh, my God. You don’t think…

It’s what they do. She held up the Star of David. Especially if you’re a Jew.

He grabbed his suitcase and tossed it on the bed frame, the mattress now against the door. He rifled through it.