Team 52 Box Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  The security outfit mainly provided protection for archeological digs, expeditions, and museum exhibits. The owners, and most of the people they employed, were former Navy SEALs. Smith didn’t know them personally, but he’d heard good things.

  They’d knocked up against Team 52 in the field a couple of times, but after some diplomatic conversation, they were now allies.

  The glass door to the warehouse swung open, and two tall, wide-shouldered men stepped out. Smith eyed them and they looked back, faces set and expressionless.

  It was obvious they were brothers. Declan and Callum Ward.

  Another guy stepped out, no less tall or muscled, but he was wearing a suit. He waved them inside.

  Smith looked at Lachlan, who nodded. He grabbed Kinsey’s hand, and along with the team, headed toward the warehouse. Axel was with them. Despite a bullet wound, he’d refused to stay back at base.

  Callie had yelled at him. Then Nat had yelled at him. But he’d dug his heels in.

  “Can’t go up against these guys one man down. The bullet didn’t do too much damage and Callie can pump me with painkillers and stimulants.”

  Looking at him, you couldn’t tell he’d been shot yesterday. Callie had a backpack full of drugs with her in case he needed them.

  They entered the warehouse and passed a reception desk, boots echoing on the concrete floor.

  “Good to see you, Lachlan.” The man in the suit held out his hand.

  Lachlan shook it. “You too, Alastair.”

  Special Agent Alastair Burke was head of the FBI’s Art Crime Team. They’d worked with him a few times, most recently when they’d helped save him and his woman from the head of a black-market antiquities ring in Washington, DC.

  “We’re happy to help,” Burke added.

  From beside him, Dec Ward nodded. “Especially after DC.”

  Cal crossed his arms over his chest. “And especially when some fuckers are tearing our city up.”

  The click of high heels echoed through the space, and a woman pushed forward into the group. “Don’t just leave them standing there, invite them in.” The woman had glossy, dark hair that brushed her jaw. She wore dark jeans with a bright-red shirt. She also had Declan Ward’s eyes. Smith knew this was Darcy Ward—Dec and Cal’s sister, and Burke’s woman. She was also co-owner of Treasure Hunter Security with her brothers.

  They all moved inside, heading over to a long conference table. There were more tough-looking people standing around, along with a few women.

  Darcy waved a hand. “THS badasses meet the Team 52 badasses.”

  There were narrowed looks, chin lifts, and a few smiles.

  Darcy grabbed a small metal case and set it on the table. She flipped it open. “Here’s the tracker you requested. It’s undetectable.”

  This was the plan Lachlan and Brooks had cooked up. Get Enzo to place an undetectable tracker on the artifact.

  “Completely undetectable?” Smith asked.

  Darcy nodded. “It’s transparent, won’t show up on scanners. We used it in DC. The range is somewhat limited…”

  “Our guy can improve on that,” Lachlan said.

  Darcy’s blue-gray gaze narrowed. “Then I hope you share that with us. You know, another show of good faith.”

  Lachlan lifted his chin.

  Darcy closed the box and handed it to Lachlan. “Good luck. Shut these bastards down.”

  “Thanks. This’ll help.” Lachlan handed the case to Blair.

  “I’m still pissed about Africa.” A handsome man with dark skin and dark hair folded his muscular arms over his chest.

  Beside him, a slim, blonde woman in a pantsuit jabbed an elbow in his side. “Let it go, Hale.”

  Smith scowled. A Team 52 drone had opened fire on the pair—Hale Carter and Special Agent Elin Alexander—on a mission in Africa. Team 52 hadn’t known that the couple were undercover at the time. His team didn’t like making mistakes.

  “It was a mistake,” Lachlan said.

  “And we regret it,” Smith added.

  Kinsey leaned into him.

  “Take it as a compliment that we had no fucking clue that you guys were on that mission.” Smith lifted his chin. “You guys are good.” He met Hale’s dark gaze. “As a former SEAL, I’m not surprised.”

  Hale’s face lost some of its hard edge. “Well, when you put it like that…”

  Elin smiled.

  “I just don’t like remembering my woman under fire,” Hale continued.

  Smith lifted his chin. “Know the feeling.”

  Hale’s gaze moved to Kinsey, lingering on the last of her fading bruises. Sympathy flickered in his eyes.

  “We’re pretty damn concerned about what happened downtown,” Dec said.

  A hush fell over the room.

  “These terrorists are dangerous,” Lachlan said. “And they have a dangerous weapon. We’ll stop them. It’s our job.” His gaze moved to Hale. “And despite Africa, which I am sorry happened, we’re very good at it.”

  Dec nodded. “You guys saved our asses in Antarctica.”

  “And DC,” Darcy added, glancing at Burke.

  “We’ll find these bastards and close them down,” Smith said.

  “If you need any assistance, we’ll be on standby.” Dec nodded at Lachlan. “You need help, just say the word.”

  Team 52 said their goodbyes, and soon they were striding back to the two black rental SUVs Kinsey had organized for them at the airport.

  Smith glanced at his watch. “We need to meet Enzo in twenty minutes.”

  Kinsey set her shoulders back and nodded.

  City Park wasn’t far away. After a short drive, they parked in front of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which sat in one corner of the park.

  From the museum, lush, green grass and trees ran down toward a lake, and the historic boat pavilion built on the edge of it. The elegant cream structure was built in a Spanish-style, with lots of towers and arches. The city skyline lay in the distance, and behind that the mountains.

  “Wow, that’s some view,” Kinsey said.

  “We’ll come back. Spend a few days here, then head up into the mountains to meet my parents.”

  Her blue eyes went wide. “Meet your parents.”

  “You need this.” Smith held out the small box with the tracker in it.

  She nodded, her fingers wrapping around it.

  “You’ll also need this.” He held up a tiny microdot earpiece. He pushed her now-short hair behind her ear, and slid the small device in place. “We’ll be close by.”

  She smiled. “I know.”

  “Anything worries you, anything at all, you run.”

  She nodded, a look of determination in her eye.

  “You see a weapon, you say the codeword.”

  She blinked. “What codeword?”

  “Pick one.”

  She tapped her lips. “Thor.”

  Smith scowled. “Thor?”

  She shrugged. “A good-looking god of thunder and lightning. What’s not to like?”

  His scowl deepened. “He wears a lame cape, right?”

  Kinsey smiled, leaning in and pressing her hands to his chest. “I like him because he’s got a beard. He’s got blond hair and a muscular bod. You’ve got a rougher, more rugged thing going on, but he makes me think of you.”

  Smith shook his head and jerked her up for a kiss. “Go. Be careful.”

  She smiled, then turned, heading toward the pavilion. His. That one word reverberated in his head.

  The rest of his team dissolved into the surrounding trees and grassy area. Not far away, Blair reclined on the grass like she was worshipping the sun. Lachlan and Seth weren’t anywhere in sight. Callie was sitting on a bench, looking like she was enjoying the view. Axel was chatting with a female jogger.

  Smith found a place close to the pavilion. Not as close as he’d like. He stood under the shade of a tree, and watched Kinsey walk onto the small, covered deck that protruded out over the la
ke. She leaned against the railing, fidgeting.

  He touched his ear. “Relax.”

  “You relax,” she snapped.

  “Don’t talk.”

  She poked her tongue out at the lake. It looked like she was doing it to the ducks.

  Smith shook his head. So damn cute.

  “Incoming.” Lachlan’s murmur came across the line.

  Smith spotted the dickhead heading straight toward Kinsey. Enzo’s movements were jerky and nervous, and he continually glanced around the park.

  “Kinse—” The man’s voice came clearly across the line.

  “That’s close enough, Enzo,” she said.

  “I…I’m sorry.”

  She remained silent.

  “I want to help,” he continued. “It’s gone too far. I never wanted you to get hurt, and I sure as hell don’t want to be a mass murderer.”

  “Where is the artifact?”

  “They’ve got it in a truck. They’re about to move it.”

  “Where?” Kinsey asked.

  “Into the mountains.” Enzo fidgeted. “Fuck, Kinsey, they’re going to attack NORAD.”

  Shit. Smith had guessed it, but he still didn’t like having it confirmed. He saw Kinsey reach into her pocket and hold up the small case. “There is a tracker in here—”

  Enzo raised his hands. “No—”

  “You want to help?” Kinsey said. “It’s time to man up. Before more people are hurt or killed.”

  The man dragged in a long, shaky breath, then he nodded. He took the case.

  “The tracker is undetectable,” Kinsey assured him. “Get it on the artifact. The team I work with will take it from there.”

  Enzo gave her a nervous nod, then shoved his longish hair off his face. “I’m sorry about everything, Kinsey.”

  She sighed. “Me, too.”

  “Maybe after this is all over—” The man’s voice had a hopeful edge.

  Smith growled and straightened.

  “Nope,” Kinsey said. “I’ve got a man.”

  Enzo’s eyebrows rose. “You do?”

  “He’s big and strong, and he fights to help people, not hurt them.”

  Enzo’s shoulders sagged. “Right.”

  “Plant the tracker, Enzo.”

  The man gave her another nod, then spun on his boots, and walked away.

  A moment later, Smith saw Kinsey crossing the grass toward him.

  Her gaze met his. “NORAD.”

  “I know.”

  Smith wrapped his arms around her. “You did a great job, sunshine.”

  “Maybe I’ll apply for a spot on the team,” she said with a grin.

  He scowled at her. “Hell, no.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kinsey sat in the back of the SUV, watching the trees slide past. They were heading up into the mountains west of Colorado Springs, and if she wasn’t so nervous and upset, she’d probably appreciate the gorgeous views.

  Team 52 all sat around her, checking their weapons.

  Her phone vibrated in her hand and she lifted it to her ear. “Kinsey Beck.”

  The man she’d spoken with about organizing snowmobiles for the team was on the other end. As the man talked, she nodded. “Okay, yes. I need six of them. Great, I’ll transfer payment. Thanks so much.”

  Smith glanced at her. “Good?”

  “Good. The snowmobiles are sorted and will be waiting for us.”

  The weather in Denver had been sunny and pleasant, but here in the mountains, while there was still blue sky, there was snow on the ground.

  Kinsey fiddled with the vest Smith had given her. Team 52 were wearing civilian winter gear, but she knew they all had bullet-proof vests on.

  It appeared Enzo had successfully placed the tracker. She arched her head, looking at the screen on the dash of the vehicle. She saw the glowing dot they were heading toward.

  They were heading to Cheyenne Mountain, just west of Colorado Springs. While NORAD’s main operations were now run out of the nearby Peterson Air Force Base, the bunker at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex housed some of NORAD’s critical systems, and was the alternate, back up location. It appeared Cosca Unita were going to attack the mountain first, and then probably the Air Force base.

  “Okay, listen up.” Lachlan turned around in the front seat. “We go in as we planned. We move in on the snowmobiles and follow the tracker to their location. We stop Cosca Unita from using the artifact, no matter what. Got it?”

  There were rumbles of agreement from the team.

  Kinsey swallowed. She was well aware it wouldn’t be that simple.

  God, if Cosca Unita did use it…

  Kinsey knew that Cheyenne Mountain was designed to withstand a nuclear attack. But could it withstand an ancient Tibetan artifact that could possibly rip the mountain on top of it apart, stone by stone?

  She blew out a breath. Damn, it was hard having the weight of the world on your shoulders. And she knew Team 52 did this every time they went on a mission.

  After this was over, she planned to curl up in bed and sleep for a week. Preferably with Smith.

  She glanced at him, taking in his rugged face and that dark beard. She felt a niggle of uncertainty.

  After this was over, she wouldn’t need saving or rescuing or protecting. Once she was safe, he was going to realize that she was just boring, old Kinsey.

  She pulled in a breath. This wasn’t the time to worry about her love life. They had to save the world first.

  Blair had turned off the highway, and they were heading down a narrow, empty road. Ahead, a huge truck and trailer were parked on the shoulder. When they stepped out, she saw the snowmobile guy looked exactly how he sounded on the phone. He was a grizzled, old man in the typical mountain man uniform: jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt.

  Kinsey raised a hand. “Hi. Are you Shep?”

  “Yeah.”

  The team inspected the snowmobiles and pulled them off the trailers.

  “The lady said you’re up here for a weekend to explore,” Shep said.

  No one answered the unasked question.

  “Not that much interesting around here.” Shep shrugged. “Only a bunch of antennae and transmitters on top of the mountain, for radio, television, and cellphones.”

  Kinsey smiled. “We’ll, um, just enjoy the scenery.” She tilted her head. “So, nothing else worth looking at?”

  Shep shrugged. “Only other thing is the abandoned Little Mollie mine.”

  Kinsey felt everyone go tense. “What’s that?” She kept her voice conversational.

  “Old gold mine. Opened back in the 1870s. Never got much out of it.” His gaze narrowed on Kinsey. “I’d steer clear. Old tunnels are dangerous.”

  She smiled. “Fascinating. We’re more just here for the sport and natural beauty, but we might check it out.”

  Shep looked at her smile and blinked a few times. “Right. Take care.”

  Kinsey thanked the man again and watched him drive away. When she turned back, the team had the snowmobiles prepped and ready to leave.

  Smith stepped in front of her. “Kinsey, maybe you should stay here with the SUV—”

  Her heart sank.

  “And if the Cosca Unita find her?” Blair asked. “All alone? Unprotected?”

  Smith glared at his friend.

  “She’s safer with us,” Lachlan said.

  Smith’s jaw went tight and he reached back, pulling out a large handgun from the storage on the snowmobile. He handed it to her. “You know how to use this?”

  She did. When she’d joined the team, they’d made her practice at the range. She didn’t love guns, but she kept up her skills. She nodded.

  “Show me.”

  She checked it over. “Decocker.” She touched the lever. Next, she dumped the magazine, checked it, and shoved it back into the gun.

  He nodded. “Keep it on you.”

  Finally, everyone turned to the snowmobiles and mounted up.

  Smith climbed on and loo
ked at her. “You ride with me. If I give you an order, you obey. I tell you to run, you run. Got it?”

  “Got it.” The word obey wasn’t one she loved, but Smith and the others were the experts in this situation.

  She climbed on behind him. She’d never been on a snowmobile before. He handed her a set of goggles and a helmet. She pulled them on, then wrapped her arms around Smith, and a second later he started the engine. The snowmobile vibrated beneath her.

  Lachlan zipped off, Blair following. Then, Smith gunned the engine and they took off.

  Oh, boy. They darted through the trees, gliding over the snow.

  She knew this was a dangerous mission, and there was a lot at stake, but this was fun. She held on tight to Smith and let herself enjoy the ride.

  Smith followed the rest of his team, enjoying the feel of the snowmobile under his control. It had been a while since he’d visited his dad and taken his snowmobile out.

  He dodged around some large trees, Kinsey’s hold tightening on him. He liked the feel of her, her warmth tucked up against his back.

  Not that he wanted her on this mission.

  He wanted her safe, not headed into potential danger.

  He muttered a curse. He had to focus on getting the mission done. Take out Cosca Unita and recover the artifact. Then Kinsey would be safe and secure.

  They all knew that it was likely Cosca Unita was using this mine as a hideout. The tracker was leading right in that direction, and that was the first location they were going to investigate.

  Ahead, Lachlan slowed his snowmobile. He glanced back and even through the goggles, his gaze caught Smith’s. Smith nodded. He knew his leader wanted him to take the lead and look for signs of any tracks.

  Smith moved into the lead, taking in the landscape around them.

  He pulled in a deep breath of fresh air. The mountains were in his veins, but he had to admit that his cabin in Vegas, and the vast, empty beauty of the desert, called to him now as well.

  Although nothing quite matched the way the woman sitting behind him called to him. The way he needed her in his arms. The way she soothed him and made him happy.