Team 52 Box Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  Axel grabbed his arm and Smith barely controlled his snarl.

  “Let them do their jobs, big guy.”

  Gritting his teeth, Smith stood there, feeling totally helpless. He watched the team move out of sight. With Kinsey gone, Smith felt like someone had turned off the lights.

  Lights. Voices. Movement.

  Kinsey blinked slowly, watching the blur of the ceiling and lights. She blinked again, the movement feeling like it took about a year.

  Where was Smith? She wanted Smith.

  She had a mask on her face, and someone in blue scrubs leaned over her. The woman’s mouth was moving, but Kinsey just heard a drone of sound.

  Pain hit her, shooting through her body. Oh, boy, her belly hurt. Really bad.

  Smith. Where was he?

  “You’re in the hospital,” someone said. “Relax. We’re taking good care of you.”

  Kinsey blinked again. The darkness was calling her again. And there was no pain there.

  But there was also no Smith…

  She struggled, trying to raise her arms, trying to speak. She fought to keep her eyelids open, but this was a battle she was destined to lose.

  Soon, there was nothing but the dark.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Smith sat on the uncomfortable chair in the hospital waiting room. He hadn’t moved for a long time, just stared blindly at the floor.

  They’d been there for hours. Kinsey had been in surgery all that time.

  Blair sat down beside him and slid her arm through his.

  “She’s a fighter, Smith. First time I saw her, I thought Jonah was joking, hiring this pretty, sweet wannabe-showgirl.”

  Yeah, a part of Smith had thought the same thing. And another part of him had been reeling from her beauty and the promise of her.

  Something in him had known, had recognized what she’d be to him.

  Now, she was lying somewhere in a hospital operating room, cut open, fighting for her life.

  “But then I saw how smart she was,” Blair continued. “How organized. She was out to prove she could do the job, and she was right. She’s damn good at it.” A smile tilted Blair’s lips. “Half the time, she maneuvers us without us even knowing.”

  It was all true. And Kinsey did all of it with that megawatt smile on her face. It was just another reason Smith was crazy about her.

  He looked down at his hands. He’d washed them, but there was still some blood caked around his nails.

  Kinsey’s blood.

  “I didn’t protect her. I didn’t keep her safe.”

  “You did,” Blair said. “And you did more than that. You trusted her. You let Kinsey be Kinsey, and do her part to help. She’s talked a little bit about her life before…and it sounds like she’s never had that.” Blair patted his thigh. “You trusted Kinsey to protect herself, to be a part of this mission, to do something important.”

  Smith lifted his head, looking at his friend. Emotion was a hard, painful ball in his chest.

  “And you let her protect you,” Blair said. “The man she loves.”

  He pulled in a shaky breath.

  “Who’s here for Kinsey Beck?” a voice called out.

  Smith pushed to his feet, his gaze going straight to the tired-looking female doctor wearing blue scrubs. Throat tight, he felt his team moving in around him.

  “She’s mine,” Smith said. “Kinsey’s mine.”

  The doctor gave a faint smile. “Then you’re a lucky man. She is a hell of a fighter, and she pulled through surgery just fine.”

  Smith’s shoulders sagged. God. God. “Can I see her?”

  “Soon. I’ll let you know when you can go back.”

  As the doctor nodded and turned away, Smith felt like someone had turned the lights in his life back on.

  His friends slapped him on the back.

  Kinsey was going to be okay. She was okay.

  Blair

  Blair Mason watched through the doorway as Smith sat beside Kinsey’s bed.

  The big man was murmuring quietly, and even though Kinsey looked small and pale propped up on the pillows, she was smiling.

  It wasn’t her usual beaming smile, but it was something.

  Thank God. Kinsey was fine and Smith looked alive again.

  During the tense hours in the waiting room, Smith had been like a statue—cold and still. His brown eyes had been devoid of…everything.

  Blair watched as he leaned over and kissed Kinsey.

  Jesus. Blair felt her heart clench. They were so damn cute together. Smith was a big, tough guy. Blair had fought alongside him so many times, and trusted him with her life. She knew he loved his solitude and his cabin near the mountains. Knew he loved nothing more than the serene beauty of the Colorado mountains.

  She never, ever imagined seeing him like this. In love.

  Blair had watched three of her teammates—three of the toughest guys she knew—fall in love. First Lachlan, then Seth, and now Smith. They were all unashamed to show how they felt about the women who’d captured their hearts.

  Blair had always thought she wanted that. A man who loved her inside and out, for exactly who she was, and wasn’t afraid to show it.

  And yet… That kind of man was hard to find. And she’d spent the last few hours sitting in the waiting room down the hall, watching Smith being torn to shreds.

  Maybe love wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

  “You called it.” Lachlan appeared beside her. “The bigger they are…”

  “Yeah.” Blair pushed her maudlin thoughts away. Besides, she’d never met a man who made her feel anything remotely close to love. In fact, most men—after a quick, pleasant tussle—annoyed her.

  Anyway, she had zero time to date. She couldn’t really share the truth of her work with a man, and she found most guys…kinda boring.

  “The artifact?” she asked Lachlan.

  Her best friend lifted his chin. “All packed up. Seth’s guarding it at the X8 until we’re ready to head home. It’s beaten up. Arlo and Ty are going to have a shit hemorrhage.”

  “Ty will fix it.” Blair paused. “So, another mission over.”

  “Yeah. The military police from Cheyenne Mountain took all the surviving Cosca Unita people into custody. Mission’s over and we can go home.”

  For Lachlan now, home meant his woman, Rowan. Blair was happy as hell for him.

  Lachlan’s golden gaze moved to Smith and Kinsey. “Could have done without Kinsey taking a bullet to the gut, though.”

  “She’s okay.”

  “Yeah. And so is Smith.”

  “Well, once we get home, we’ll have to enjoy some downtime before we need to save the world again,” Blair said.

  Lachlan tossed an arm around her shoulders. He’d been her best friend for years, from their time in Force Recon. Why were all the best men she knew her friends and colleagues? Guys who were like brothers to her?

  “You won our last poker game,” Lachlan said, interrupting her thoughts. “I want a chance to win some money back.”

  Blair grinned. “No such luck. You are going down, Hunter.”

  He smiled back.

  Blair kept her smile plastered on her face. She had good friends and work she loved. She didn’t need a man.

  Smith strode through the base, happy to finish their training exercises for the day. He was eager to get home to Kinsey.

  It had been three weeks since she’d been shot. Three weeks since they’d come home to Las Vegas.

  She’d spent that time recuperating at his cabin. He smiled. Just that morning, he’d left her tucked up in his bed with Hercules. She’d mumbled a good bye, but his Kinsey took at least an hour to wake up and join the land of the living.

  Smith knew she was itching to get back to work. He strode into the rec room and moved to the refrigerator. He knew she was getting close to being ready to go back to the Bunker, but he wanted to be absolutely sure she was fit and healthy.

  He pulled a drink out of the fridge.
>
  “Hey.” Ty’s voice made him turn around and lift his chin.

  The scientist and Arlo were carrying a big, black box. They set it on one of the tables, and Ty flicked open the lid.

  The Tibetan artifact lay inside, nestled in black foam.

  “What are you guys up to?”

  “I’ve been repairing the horn.” Ty gave it another close look, then shut the lid. “It’s all back to normal.”

  “Did you test it?” Smith asked.

  Ty’s lips quirked. “Oh yeah.”

  Apparently, he’d had fun doing it.

  “Did you work out why it doesn’t levitate people?” Smith asked.

  Ty nodded. “This particular artifact produces the right kind of standing waves to levitate solid objects, but not organic things. Sonic levitation of humans is possible, just not with this artifact.”

  “Well, I’ll tell Kinsey you fixed it,” Smith said. “She’s had a few nightmares about destroying an ancient artifact.”

  Ty smiled, his teeth white against his darker skin. Arlo grunted.

  “How is she doing?” Ty asked.

  “A whole lot better.” Smith checked her wound daily, much to her annoyance. It was healing up nicely and she was getting around the cabin easily.

  He glanced at his watch. And now he was extra keen to get back to his woman.

  “You take good care of your gal, Creed,” Arlo said. “No more kidnappings or gunshot wounds.”

  Hell, Smith hoped not. “Doing that, Arlo.”

  Arlo hefted the box, nodded at them, and left. He’d be heading back to the secure warehouse to store the artifact.

  Where the damn thing couldn’t hurt anyone.

  Soon, Smith met the rest of his team by the elevator. Like him, everyone was showered and wearing civilian clothes. They moved on autopilot, boarding the X8, and taking off.

  Smith napped on the trip back to Las Vegas, and at the airport, he waved to the others. Then he aimed his truck in the direction of his cabin. He made a couple of quick stops on the way.

  The sun was setting as he pulled up in front of his place. Lights were on inside.

  Damn, he liked that. He enjoyed his own company, but he also loved having Kinsey in his space. In their home. She brightened up everything.

  Smith knew now that he loved the sunshine. He loved walking in it.

  When he pushed open the door to the cabin, a delicious smell hit him. Hercules rushed to greet him with a woof. Smith dropped his duffel bag and rubbed his dog’s head, his gaze going to Kinsey in the kitchen.

  God. He loved this.

  She was wearing leggings and a T-shirt. She’d had her hair cut into a short style and while he missed the long locks, it looked cute tousled around her face. She looked up and smiled.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “You’re home.” She made a beeline for him, smiling.

  Kinsey went to leap on Smith, but he stopped her, gripping her hips. He was worried about her wound.

  Her bright smile faded, and he dropped his head to press a quick kiss to her lips. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Chili.”

  “Got something for you.” He held up the small paper bag he held.

  She peered in, her lips quirking. “Another candle-making kit.”

  “Saw you were nearly out of wax.”

  “If I make any more candles, we won’t be able to move in here.”

  She’d spread the colorful candles all around the cabin—in the bedroom, on the mantel above the fire place, hell, even in the bathroom. Smith liked seeing them everywhere.

  “Let me dump my gear and wash up.”

  She nodded, but his gut tightened.

  Most of the time, Kinsey seemed fine. Perfectly recovered from her injury and the mission. But then her light would sometimes dim. He’d see her eyes turn dull, thoughts churning behind her blue eyes.

  She turned away from him. His dog butted against her legs, and she gave him a rub, talking nonsense to him. Damn dog was practically hers now.

  Smith headed for the bedroom, his jaw tight. After dumping his bag and washing his hands, he headed back into the kitchen.

  She was stirring the chili and he stared at her slim back.

  Something was bothering her, and he was going to find out what.

  Kinsey brushed her teeth, getting ready for bed. Hercules sat on the bathmat beside her. It had become their ritual. The handsome dog loved keeping her company whenever she brushed her teeth.

  They’d eaten her chili, and it had been delicious, even if she did say so herself. Smith had sipped on a beer and she’d had a glass of wine.

  Now, all she wore were her panties and one of Smith’s T-shirts. Rinsing and setting her brush down, she lifted the hem of the shirt, baring her cute, green, boy-leg panties and her belly.

  She fingered the scar on her skin. It wasn’t very pretty.

  But she was breathing.

  Every day, she reminded herself that she’d made it. She’d helped stop Cosca Unita, kept people safe, and she’d protected Team 52.

  She dropped the shirt down and looked back in the mirror.

  And tonight, she was breaking up with Smith.

  She nibbled her lip, pain rolling through her. It was time to go home. Time to get back to work. Time to stop pretending.

  Once things were back to normal, she could start putting together the pieces of her shattered heart.

  Since Colorado, Smith hadn’t touched her. Holding her close on the couch, yes. A quick kiss when they woke, or when he left for work, sure. Sleeping with his arms wrapped around her, every night.

  But he hadn’t made love to her. She swallowed.

  She wasn’t in danger anymore, and he didn’t need to protect her any longer. And it appeared that he didn’t want her the way she wanted him. Growing up in that trailer in Tennessee, Kinsey had been forced to settle for less.

  She set her shoulders back. Not this time. Not even when she was tempted to have a slice of Smith any way he came.

  Rubbing Hercules’ head, she fought back the despair carving out her insides. “I’ll miss you, boy.” Her words were a whisper.

  When she exited the bathroom, Smith was standing beside the big bed, silhouetted by the window behind him.

  He was naked.

  Kinsey’s mouth went dry. She barely noticed Hercules darting out of the bedroom. She watched Smith toss his jeans on a chair. He was still the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Her gaze raked up his body—from his prosthetic foot, up the powerful legs, past the thick cock, over the chiseled abs and chest.

  He glanced up. “Ready for bed?”

  She nodded, then she shook her head.

  He frowned. “Is that a yes or no?”

  She took a step forward, then stopped. She clutched her hands together.

  He sat down on the bed, frowning at her. “Kinsey?”

  “I’m going home tomorrow.”

  He stiffened, his gaze sharpening on her.

  “I’m all healed. I’m safe.” Her voice cracked, but she sucked in a breath. “I spoke with my sister and she’s going to stop by and help me out if I need it.” Another deep breath. “You’re off duty now, Smith.”

  He just stared at her. “You want to leave?”

  No. I want to stay with you forever. I want you to touch me, hold me, confess your undying love. “It’s best if—”

  “Not what I asked.” His voice was hard, gruff.

  She felt tears prick in her eyes. “Why are you making this hard? I thought you’d be happy. You don’t want me here.”

  He stood so fast, she jolted. He stalked toward her like some mountain predator.

  Kinsey backed up a few steps, but his long legs ate up the distance. She collided with his hard chest.

  “Why do you think I don’t want you here?”

  She swallowed. “You…you don’t need to protect me anymore. And you don’t want me…um, physically anymore.”

  He grabbed her hand and slid it lower. He p
ressed it over his cock. A very hard cock.

  Reflexively, her fingers wrapped around him and her lips parted. Her belly spasmed.

  “Never doubt how much I want you, Kinsey. It’s been hell lying beside you, wanting you, but knowing you hadn’t healed enough.”

  “That’s why…?” God, he’d still been protecting her.

  “You bring light to my world. I’d die for you, kill for you, and as long as I knew you were okay, I’d happily live with that.”

  It wasn’t exactly hearts and flowers, but it was a hell of a macho-man declaration.

  “Since I got shot, you haven’t touched me. I just thought, since you haven’t made love to me—”

  Suddenly, she was lifted off her feet. She gasped and his mouth hit hers.

  Smith was holding her, kissing her.

  Pure need shot through Kinsey. She deepened the kiss, sliding her tongue against his. She wrapped her legs around his hips, undulating against him.

  Then he pinned her against the wall. He made a hungry sound—part groan, part growl—and she felt a flood of damp between her legs. Then his hands were tearing at her clothes. He yanked the shirt up over her head, and then with one violent tug, he tore her panties off.

  Oh, God. If she hadn’t been drenched before, she was now.

  His gaze collided with hers, locked. He shifted her up and then he thrust inside her.

  Their groans mingled.

  He started moving, thrusting hard. Kinsey clutched him, surging against him with every thrust. She kept her eyes locked with his. Staring at the emotion boiling in his eyes.

  Soon she was panting and his breathing was fast, hard pants. Sensation poured through her—hot, beautiful, amazing. His thrusts got harder, sharper.

  “Smith!”

  “You’re close.” His voice was guttural. “Come, sunshine.”

  A soul-shattering orgasm hit her. Kinsey let out a cry, pressing her face into his neck. Everything she felt for him mixed with the pleasure, pouring through her in a hot rush.

  Smith thrust deep, staying there as a harsh groan ripped out of him. She stroked his back, feeling small shivers running through him.