Choose Freedom: A Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Series (The Boston Brahmin Book 6) Read online

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  I suggest you refresh your memory and reacquaint yourself with the characters of The Boston Brahmin series. By clicking below you will be taken to a brief synopsis of the story to date, and then a summary of the principal characters. Afterward, you will be returned to the Epigraph.

  Go To Previously in The Boston Brahmin Series

  Other Works by Bestselling Author Bobby Akart

  The Boston Brahmin Series

  The Loyal Nine

  Cyber Attack

  Martial Law

  False Flag

  The Mechanics

  Choose Freedom!

  Blackout: A post-apocalyptic survival series

  36 Hours

  Zero Hour

  Turning Point

  The Prepping for Tomorrow Series

  Cyber Warfare

  EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse

  Economic Collapse

  Choose Freedom

  Book Six

  The Boston Brahmin Series

  A novel by

  Bobby Akart

  Copyright Information

  © 2016 Bobby Akart Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Bobby Akart Inc.

  Table of Contents

  Dedications

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author, Bobby Akart

  ABOUT THE BOSTON BRAHMIN SERIES

  Epigraph

  Prologue

  PART ONE November 2016

  Two Weeks Earlier Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  PART TWO December 2016

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  PART THREE January–February 2017

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  PART FOUR March 2017

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  PART FIVE April–May 2017

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Epilogue

  Thank you

  APPENDIX A THE IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

  APPENDIX B DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

  APPENDIX C CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

  APPENDIX D BILL OF RIGHTS AND AMENDMENTS

  Dramatis Personae

  Previously in The Boston Brahmin series

  Dedications

  To the love of my life, thank you for making the sacrifices necessary so I may pursue this dream.

  To the Princesses of the Palace, my little marauders in training, you have no idea how much happiness you bring to your mommy and me.

  To the Founding Fathers, whose vision and bravery built America. For what we’ve become, I apologize.

  Acknowledgements

  Writing a book that is both informative and entertaining requires a tremendous team effort. Writing is the easy part. For their efforts in making The Boston Brahmin series a reality, I would like to thank Hristo Argirov Kovatliev for his incredible cover art, Pauline Nolet for her editorial prowess, Sabrina Jean, my second set of eyes, with FastTrack Editing, Stef Mcdaid for making this manuscript decipherable on so many formats, and the Team—whose advice, friendship and attention to detail is priceless.

  Thank you!

  Choose Freedom!

  About the Author, Bobby Akart

  An Amazon Top 10 ranked author in two genres and the author of eight #1 bestsellers, in both fiction and non-fiction, Bobby Akart has provided his readers a diverse range of topics that are both informative and entertaining. His attention to detail and impeccable research has allowed him to write bestselling books in several fiction and nonfiction genres.

  Born and raised in Tennessee, Bobby received his bachelor’s degree with a dual major in economics and political science. He not only understands how the economy works, but the profound effect politics has on the economy as well. After completing his undergraduate degree at Tennessee in three years, he entered the dual-degree, JD-MBA program, obtaining a juris doctor at the age of twenty-three.

  His education perfectly suited him for his legal career in banking, trusts, and investment banking. As his career flourished, business opportunities arose, including the operation of restaurants and the development of real estate. But after meeting and marrying the love of his life, he left the corporate world and developed online businesses.

  Bobby lives in the backwoods of the Cumberland Plateau with his wife and fellow author, Dani, and their two English bulldogs—Bullie and Boom, aka the Princesses of the Palace.

  SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES and receive free advance reading copies, updates on new releases, special offers, and bonus content. You can contact Bobby directly by email ([email protected]) or through his website www.BobbyAkart.com

  ABOUT THE BOSTON BRAHMIN SERIES

  And this is good old Boston,

  The home of the bean and the cod,

  Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots,

  And the Cabots talk only to God.

  Works of fiction are frequently based on historical fact. In the case of book one of The Boston Brahmin series, The Loyal Nine, and the entire upcoming Boston Brahmin series, history repeats itself. The Loyal Nine takes its name from nine patriotic Bostonians who chose freedom over the tyrannical rule of Great Britain. As the British exerted more control over the colonists, especially in the form of taxes, anger and resentment rose to a crescendo, resulting in the War for Independence.

  Author Bobby Akart has observed similar acts of rage and discontent in America today. Sadly, many of us perceive an America which is in decline socially and economically. There are many perspectives and theories all across the political spectrum on how to save her. Methods may differ, but does it matter if the ultimate goal is achieved?

  The Boston Brahmin series takes the reader on a journey based on historical fact—both in its character development and the events that take place during the timeline of the series. The Boston Brahmin series is about the societal and economic collapse of America. This type of collapse event is gradual and not sudden. The events portrayed in
the series will rise to a crescendo, forcing the characters to make a decision—suffer under tyranny or choose freedom. They will be challenged physically and emotionally. As always, nothing is what it seems.

  As the country slowly descends into economic and social despair, America is one bad news story away from collapse. In Cyber Attack, book two of The Boston Brahmin series, the reader is taken through a very realistic scenario that would bring America to its knees.

  The remainder of the series deals with the aftermath of the collapse event. It’s our fellow man, not the event itself, which poses the greatest threat to our safety. The Boston Brahmin series illustrates the societal collapse, but concludes with realistic solutions to place the nation back on sound economic and political footing. Perhaps a reset was exactly what America needed to be restored to her greatness envisioned by the Founding Fathers.

  Writing a series of this magnitude takes a considerable amount of time and research. It also asks the reader to become invested in the journey of the characters. Creating a book series about societal and economic collapse is a marathon, not a sprint. Read with me. Learn with me. Get involved in the backstory and details of the novels by frequently visiting my reader-dedicated website www.TheBostonBrahmin.com. I encourage you to interact with me on social media. I truly enjoy conversing with my readers—all of whom I consider friends.

  If you have not had the opportunity, please read Seeds of Liberty, a #1 bestseller in the Politics, Social Sciences, and Modern History categories. Seeds of Liberty is a companion nonfiction guide to The Boston Brahmin series, which provides both a sociological analysis and a complete historical perspective of America’s penchant for rebellion.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed this epic, history-rich thriller series. A story torn from the headlines, The Boston Brahmin series presents a nation plunged into chaos by enemies foreign and domestic. Only the Loyal Nine, a patriotic group of descendants of our Founding Fathers, can navigate the collapse and restore the American republic.

  I suggest you refresh your memory and reacquaint yourself with the characters of The Boston Brahmin series. By clicking below you will be taken to a brief synopsis of the story to date, and then a summary of the principal characters. Afterward, you will be returned to the Epigraph.

  GO TO PREVIOUSLY IN THE BOSTON BRAHMIN SERIES

  Epigraph

  What do we mean by the Revolution? The war?

  That was not part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people before a drop of blood was shed.

  ~ John Adams

  *****

  Give me liberty or give me death!

  ~ Patrick Henry

  *****

  The essence of government is power.

  Power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.

  ~ James Madison

  *****

  They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

  ~ Benjamin Franklin

  *****

  A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.

  ~ Thomas Jefferson

  *****

  The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government.

  ~ Thomas Paine

  *****

  Choose Freedom!

  ~ Henry Winthrop Sargent IV

  Prologue

  Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016

  Noon

  The Jackson Family Home

  Muddy Pond, Tennessee

  Drew Jackson stepped out of the chilly November air and into the warmth of the Jackson family home. An early dusting of soft, powdery snow began to fall just after midnight as he walked the perimeter fence rows with his brother. The moisture falling on his face conjured up the feelings of that fateful day—when he thought he was dead.

  As Drew walked into the open family room, he could feel the warmth of the Jackson home soak into his body. He removed the cast-iron skillet of corn bread from its tripod perch over the fire and placed it on the table. His mom immediately slit each wedge open and inserted butter made from goat milk into the center.

  He could hear the melting butter sizzle on the hot corn bread skillet as he set a couple of split logs on the fire, providing added warmth to the glow surrounding his family. Their home was filled with the scents of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and a twenty-pound turkey deep-fried in hot oil. It was not that different from any other Thanksgiving—but it was.

  As the Jackson family gathered around the Thanksgiving table to say the blessing, Drew reminded himself of how thankful he was to be alive. Drew’s father—the Judge, as everyone called him, including his missus—said the blessing. But Drew’s mind was hundreds of miles away.

  “Thank you, God, for the food we’re about to eat, for our family, to share these blessings …”

  As his father blessed the Thanksgiving meal, Drew held hands with his mom to his right and his sister to his left. Unconsciously, he gave each of them a little squeeze, thanking them for healing his wounds and nurturing his soul. The Jacksons were a close-knit family, which was essential to survival in this post-apocalyptic world. It was the Jackson women, however, who helped Drew keep it together in the aftermath of seeing Abbie Morgan leave him behind that day in hurricane-ravaged Florida.

  “This smells incredible, Mom,” said his brother, Jack. Drew knew Jack was capable of eating everything on the table. Jack was six feet of solid muscle, a machine that required protein and energy. Fortunately for the Jackson family and all of those who now depended upon them for survival, Jack was an unparalleled marksman. The deer and turkeys of the Upper Cumberland Plateau were no match for his skill.

  “Amen,” said Drew’s sister, Alexandra. Like her brother, Allie, as the family affectionately called her, was more than a match for the wildlife, or the boys, of Muddy Pond. She was a stunning young woman who was every bit as capable of taking care of the family farm as her brothers. As an eighteen-year-old girl, she was frequently underestimated when compared to her fraternal twin brother, Jack. That was a mistake two wayward souls made one night when they tried to steal chickens out of the coop. Drew imagined those two were still pulling birdshot out of their backsides.

  The sounds of clanking forks and knives faded into the background as Drew’s mind wandered to that day he was lying in the wet grass at Camp Blanding. His mind raced again, like in his dreams, replaying the events over and over again.

  Gunfire. Shouting. Screams.

  Am I in Afghanistan? No, too wet.

  The pain in his head was unbearable. He couldn’t open his eyes.

  Try to breathe.

  “Judge, please pass the corn bread around, but be sure to use the hot pads.”

  Then the sun was out. His face began to warm. The shivering was over. His mind again wandered to the Middle East.

  Why can’t I move?

  A dog was licking his face. Is it Jack’s beloved Labrador—Sammie Jo?

  “Mom, this dressing never tasted so good. I love the extra sweet onions you mixed in.”

  “They’re Vidalias from the Judge’s garden.”

  Drew recalled finding the strength to get up and look for help. He had wandered in the direction of the base housing, which was where he found the bodies.

  Slaughtered. All of them. Children, too.

  He thought he was crying, but it was blood from his gashed forehead dripping down his cheeks. They couldn’t defend themselves against their murderers. They weren’t allowed guns.

  Drew had retched, emptying his stomach at the sight of the massacre. In the process, he discovered his cracked ribs. As he wrapped his arms around himself to provide self-comfort, his broken forearm revealed itself. He dropped to his knees, revealing a bloody gash in his thigh.

  He was fully coherent now, and with that, the pain made itself known.

  “Jack, normally we’d go to the turkey shoot this afternoon. What should we do instead?�
�

  Drew gathered himself and made his way through the woods toward a familiar place. He dragged his body through the trail, frequently stumbling over fallen tree branches. Hurricane Danni had taken its toll.

  When he made his way into the clearing, Drew was greeted by guns pointed at him, but behind the barrels were friendly faces. For two weeks, the McCoys nursed him to health. The couple and their grandson had survived the onslaught of escaped prisoners who had nearly beaten Drew to death. When faced with return fire, the inmates quickly moved on to easier targets.

  Drew’s mind began to confuse the past and the present.

  “More turkey, please.”

  “Okay, honey. Hey, Jack, do you want this other turkey leg?”

  “I need to get home to Muddy Pond,” Drew had announced one morning as he entered the McCoys’ kitchen. The Floridians were prepared for this eventuality.

  While Drew was unconscious, they’d found the keys to the Secret Service-issued Suburban in Drew’s pocket and retrieved the vehicle from Lulu, Florida, where it was parked. They mustered up enough gas to fill him up and provided him with a couple of weapons.

  Drew used backroads as he traveled the six hundred miles to Muddy Pond. Through Georgia, he encountered minor resistance in a few small communities, but he used his temporary Secret Service credentials to gain favor with the local law enforcement personnel who guarded the towns’ borders.

  The tearful reunion and emotions Drew felt on the day he drove up the mile-long gravel driveway to the Jackson homestead was unsurpassed until now. Drew was trying to keep it together. I have to tell them.

  “Drew, honey, you hardly said a word during dinner,” started Janie Jackson, retired ER nurse and head nurturer of the Jackson family. “Were you not hungry?”

  “I loved it, Mom,” replied Drew. “I have a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

  Janie pushed away from the table and began to gather up the family’s fine china, which had been passed down through four generations of Jacksons, including Drew’s namesake, President Andrew Jackson.