Forgotten Forbidden America: Rise of Tyranny Read Online Free

and one in the shop. That was where they kept their stash, around twenty thousand in cash in US dollars and that much in other currencies with a shitload of gold, silver, and platinum. Then, there was the stash at the farm where the rest was stored.
    They had 401Ks through their jobs, but they didn’t trust Wall Street to protect their savings. In truth, Nelson didn’t want his 401K, but his job demanded everyone had one with the company. Before the last crash, he and Michelle had a small IRA set up with other diversities, and it took a massive hit. In the end, they lost money and pulled everything out. After the last “bailout,” he was under no illusions that the government would only protect the banks and not the people who had invested as the bankers gave themselves raises.
    Hearing the SUV backing up, he turned around as Michelle stopped beside him. “Love you, baby. You be careful,” she said as he leaned over, kissing her.
    “You too,” he said and looked at the kids. “You guys be good today.”
    “We will,” Gavin and Olivia sang out, and Devin chewed his fist.
    Michelle backed out and drove off. They lived south of Lake Springfield on a long cul-de-sac subdivision. It wasn’t like a normal subdivision. All the lots were a minimum of five acres, but their house was the smallest by far. The massive monstrosity across the street sat on twenty acres and was four or five times the size of their house. Nelson didn’t know for sure because he had never been inside. The family that owned it only stayed there a few weeks out of the year.
    Turning around, he looked beside the house at the 1980 Chevy Blazer he had bought when he was in high school. It was now totally restored and in mint condition with massive tires, cattle guard, and winch. It normally sat inside the garage, but he had changed the oil in his truck last night.
    He pressed his remote, and the second garage door opened, and he smiled at the present Michelle had bought him last year: a Chevy 2500HD quad cab. They had put running boards and a cattle guard and winch on along with his massive tires. Then in the bed, they installed a sliding storage drawer. It held items he would need if things ever went bad while he was away. It required a combination and not a key to open, so if the police ever wanted to search it, a warrant would be needed.
    Michelle had one in the Suburban only smaller, and each vehicle held a backpack with three days of supplies—what Nelson referred to as a small go bag. They were preppers before the word ever came into vogue. They never talked to anyone about what they had, not friends or even family.
    Thinking of family, Nelson stopped beside his truck. His dad was alive but still drunk in south Texas. His mom had died when he was still in the Army. He had an older brother named Bill, but the last he heard from Bill was he was serving six years for killing a pedestrian, getting his fifth DUI.
    Michelle’s mother was still alive somewhere in Florida, still going to the bars every night. The last time they heard from her was when she needed bail. That was three years ago, and they didn’t send the bail. Michelle had a younger brother, Michael, who was in the Navy, and they talked every few months. Like Michelle, he wanted to change his life. Michelle’s father left the house the day her younger brother was born. The reason: Her brother didn’t look anything like her father.
    “This is our family here.” Nelson smiled, opening the door of his truck. Turning the key, he waited till the glow plug light went off and started the truck. Carefully backing out, the truck fit with only an inch clearance overhead and a few on the side. When he was out, he hit the button, closing both doors.
    He hit the radio and found his favorite talk show was just starting. “Hello, America, it’s Alex here, and the big news today is the market collapse in China,” the host announced, causing Nelson to hit the brakes, stopping in the middle of the