PRIMAL Renegade (A PRIMAL Action Thriller Book 8) (The PRIMAL Series) Read Online Free

Christina unzipped her backpack and withdrew a camera with a telephoto lens. She slung it around her neck and cradled the body in her lap.
    Francis started the engine with a clatter. “We’ll find her. Kitana doesn't like to walk far with the baby.”
    “Who could blame her?” Saneh chuckled.
    “Do rhinos get morning sickness?” asked Christina as they left the camp.
    “I hope not, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.”
    They continued their banter as the Land Cruiser negotiated a sandy track through the bush. It followed the Mwaleshi River for five miles before they turned off and skidded down a steep bank. Francis slowed as they negotiated a rocky riverbed pock-marked with bath-sized pools of slimy green water.
    “Is it this low all year round?” asked Saneh as they splashed through a stagnant pond.
    “No, when the wet comes the river becomes a torrent. It's only really low during the dry months. Look, it's deeper over there,” Christina said as she raised her camera. She aimed it at a group of hippos half-submerged in a lagoon on the opposite side of the river.
    Saneh smiled as one of the massive beasts yawned opening its mouth to reveal a lethal array of yellow teeth. Behind them, on the bank, a herd of impala were making their way down to the river to drink.
    Christina snapped a few shots. “They're smart, they know if there are hippos there won't be any crocodiles.”
    Francis stopped and waited for Christina to finish taking photos before continuing. “If we don't hurry, Miss Munoz, you will miss the light.”
    Christina laughed. “You're all over it, aren't you, Francis.”
    The two rangers in the front chatted in their native language as they drove through a shallow rivulet and back up the sandy bank. They continued to follow the river as it wound its way toward the falls.
    “This is the best time to be out,” said Christina as she snapped a photo of a giraffe and her calf drinking. The mother eyed them warily as they drove slowly past. “So many mothers out with their babies.” She shot Saneh a smile. “That’ll be you soon.”
    “I might avoid hippo and crocodile-infested waters. Aden wasn’t exactly happy with me being out tonight.” She glanced at the pump-action shotguns mounted between the front seats. Even though there had not been a poaching incident in nearly three years Dom insisted every patrol was armed.
    “I've been meaning to ask,” said Christina as they turned onto another track. “How did you two meet?”
    “He caught my eye in a restaurant.” Saneh wasn't about to explain that she had first crossed paths with Bishop when she was a covert operative in the Iranian intelligence service . Nor did Christina need to know that she had saved Bishop's life on the streets of Kiev while dressed in heels and a particularly revealing cocktail dress. It all seemed so long ago. A tear formed in the corner of her eye as she remembered her friend and former comrade, Aleks. She had met him the same day she met Bishop, but now he was dead.
    “Are you OK?”
    Christina's voice snapped her back to reality. “I'm fine.”
    “We're nearly there,” interrupted Francis from the front of the truck. “One of the rangers saw Kitana around the next bend earlier today.”
    “Excellent, can we go slow so we don't spook her?” Christina asked before turning to Saneh. “The two of you are a great couple. He's going to make an awesome father.”
    She shook her head. “Yes, I know Aden's going to be a great dad. I just, well… Something reminded me of an old friend. Someone I cared about very much who passed away, that's all.”
    “Oh, I'm sorry.” Christina reached inside her backpack, pulled out binoculars, and handed them to her. “But hey, I need your eyes tear-free and ready to spot a two thousand pound momma and her four hundred pound bubba.”
    “God, I hope I don't get that heavy.” Saneh managed a smile as she hung the binoculars around her neck.
     
    ***
     
    Mamba sat against a tree