Petroleum engineers drilling in the African desert uncover a pocket of mysterious, life-preserving gas, and the hellish creatures hibernating within—a colony of ten-foot prehistoric scorpions. After 400 million years, Scorpius Rex has risen to reclaim its throne as Earth’s apex predator.

A humanitarian mission gone awry traps Dave Brank’s security team inside the drilling complex’s electrified perimeter, locked in a life or death battle against hordes of flesh-eating scorpions. Brank, a decorated soldier unjustly drummed out of the army, is determined to save his men and the neighboring village.

But outside the fence lurks another kind of monster—renegade commandos with a barbaric plan to lure the scorpions out . . . by feeding them women and children. Only Brank’s team can stop the slaughter and, just maybe, save the world.

Unfortunately, these aren’t elite Delta Force Operators; they’re mercenaries—battle-scarred mavericks who kill for a paycheck, not to save mankind. But with humanity’s survival at stake and Brank calling the shots, even these hired guns can become heroes.

Scorpius Rex is William Burke’s second novel. He created the Destination America series, Hauntings and Horrors, and produced HBO’s Forbidden Science.