by Anna Hackett
“No.” Yes, Dani realized she’d avoided relationships…but not because she didn’t want them. Because she’d been afraid. Protecting herself.
She wasn’t like this evil bitch. Cal had broken her open, and now, Dani wanted it all.
Suddenly, the trees disappeared. They stepped out on to the edge of the lake.
The others made startled exclamations. Dani took in the regular shape of the lake, the dark, still waters. It wasn’t a natural lake. It was a baray.
Then she frowned. This hadn’t been on the satellite maps they’d studied of the mountain. How could they have missed something like this?
“It is definitely man-made,” Khan said. “Khmer construction representing the Sea of Creation.” The man smiled. “This is the exact center of the quincunx.”
“We’re in the right place,” Raven said. “Caspar, Daniels…into the water. I want to know what’s down there.”
The men dug around in one of the large packs they’d brought with them. They pulled out goggles and tiny air tanks.
Raven smiled smugly at Dani. “We’re always prepared for anything.”
Dani was pushed to her knees at the edge of the water, and she watched silently as the two men waded in. They ducked beneath the surface.
Time stretched on. Dani said a silent prayer that the men didn’t find anything. She discreetly scanned the shoreline, hoping Cal was nearby. She had to be ready. He’d come for her.
There was a splashing sound and she jerked her attention back to the water. The men reappeared, heads above the water. Both of them were grinning.
“Raven, there’s a temple. A huge-ass temple under the water on the bottom of this lake.”
The woman nodded and grabbed herself a pair of goggles and a tank. “Casper, Daniels and Khan, you’re with me.” That steely-eyed gaze flicked toward Dani, and then to the man standing beside her. “Brock, you stay up here on lookout.”
“And the woman?”
“We don’t need her anymore.” Raven settled the goggles over her face and stepped into the water. “Kill her.”
All the air in Dani’s chest turned hard. She watched the woman and her men disappear beneath the water. Dani’s heart was a thundering pound in her ears.
She felt the man move behind her. His gun pressed to the base of her neck.
She closed her eyes, curling her hands into fists.
***
Down on his belly, Cal crept closer. He could hear the quiet murmur of voices ahead.
Carefully, silently, he pushed a branch away. He saw the dark pool of water and took his time to count the number of Silk Road thugs. Four plus the leader.
He cursed under his breath. It was still bad odds when they had Dani right in the middle of them. He studied her as she watched the people sink into the water.
Chin lifted, her face a little pale but composed. She was hanging in there. Just a bit longer, beautiful.
He’d have to move around to a better vantage point and try to take a couple of them out quietly. He heard the sound of water and saw the two men had come back.
The red-headed leader sauntered forward, and a second later, the woman and three of her men disappeared into the dark-green water.
Cal grinned. That only left one. Then he frowned. Where the hell had he and Dani gone?
Cal moved again and then he saw her—and the man standing behind her with a gun pressed to her head.
Throat dry as dust, Cal surged to his feet. A red haze skimmed over his vision. No. Hell, no. This is not happening again. It was not happening to Dani.
He charged forward. He sprinted across the space, wishing for his gun.
But he was a former SEAL. Even his hands were deadly weapons.
The man heard him and spun. The gun fired.
Cal dived, rolled, heard the distinctive thump of bullets hitting the dirt. He leapt up and slammed into the man standing over Dani. As they went down, he saw Dani scrambling away. The man’s fist crashed into Cal’s jaw. With a grunt, he scissored his legs and punched back.
They traded more hard punches and then the man surged upward. He slammed Cal onto his back and all the air rushed out of Cal’s lungs, pain exploding in his chest.
Suddenly, two more men that Cal hadn’t seen earlier rushed out of the trees, shouting and lifting weapons.
No. Dammit, where the hell had they come from?
“Dani! Run,” he bellowed.
Cal and his attacker rolled again. He saw the other two sprinting toward them. Cal blocked a hard punch, then countered with his own, driving his fist into the man’s gut. With a cry, the man fell backward.
Cal jumped up and saw Dani hadn’t run. She was on her hands and knees, trying to reach the guy’s dropped weapon. She grabbed it and spun around.
The man Cal was fighting recovered, and his blow caught Cal in the side of his head. He tasted blood and arms wrapped around him, squeezing. Cal slammed the back of his head into the man’s face. The man roared and blood sprayed over them.
A gunshot cracked through trees.
“Stop.”
The deep, accented voice made Cal pause. He turned his head. Dani had been disarmed. The two reinforcements were standing near her, one with his weapon aimed at her chest, and the other with his aimed at Cal.
Fuck. Fuck. He dropped his arms to his sides. The man behind him released him and gave him a kick. He stepped in front of them, holding his broken nose.
“The boss wanted her dead.” The guy’s angry eyes settled on Cal. “I’m pretty sure she’d want you dead, too. He grabbed the gun from the other man and aimed it right between Cal’s eyes.
Cal looked at Dani. Their eyes locked. Helpless rage roared inside him.
“I’m falling in love with you, Dani.”
Her mouth dropped open.
The sudden, deafening boom of a shotgun made Cal start. The man aiming at him fell backward with a groan, blood covering his chest.
Cal swiveled, bending into a protective crouch…to see Morgan Kincaid walking steadily out of the trees, holding a Benelli dual-mode shotgun.
There was more fire, and Cal turned again to see Logan O’Conner walking calmly out of the trees on the other side, firing a large Desert Eagle handgun.
Cal dived and tackled Dani out of the way. As they rolled through the dirt, he heard the sound of more gunfire. He held his body over Dani’s. “Stay down. It’ll be over soon.”
When the gunfire stopped, Cal sat up. “Are you okay?” He cupped her cheek.
She gave a jerky nod. “I am now.” She threw her arms around him. “God, I was so afraid they’d killed you.”
“I got you, beautiful.” He breathed her in. A shadow crossed over them and Cal looked up. “First time ever, I’m happy to see your scruffy face, O’Connor.”
Logan grunted. “You’re welcome.”
Cal looked over and saw Morgan busy leaning down, tying up the Silk Road mercenaries. She yanked hard enough on the zip ties to make Cal wince.
“This it?” Morgan asked.
“Sorry it wasn’t enough for you.” He glanced back at Logan. “Damn glad you guys arrived when you did. Thanks.”
“There are more under the water,” Dani said. “Including the woman in charge. Raven.”
Her voice was a little shaky, but solid. Cal kept his arm wrapped tight around her. “Four in the water with short-range air tanks.”
Dani’s head dropped against his shoulder and he felt a shiver run through her. “I…I thought I was dead.”
He pressed his lips against hers, pulling her closer. The taste of her flooded him, and she made a small sound, her hands clenching on him.
“You going to introduce us?” Logan said dryly. “Or just keep devouring the woman?”
Cal lifted his head. He’d completely forgotten about Logan and Morgan. “Dani, this degenerate is Logan O’Connor. For some unknown reason, my brother and I hired him for Treasure Hunter Security. The badass with the shotgun is Morgan Kincaid. She’s very good to
have on your side, and I suggest you don’t go near her bad side. Guys, Daniela Navarro.”
Dani smiled. “Hi, and it’s Dani. Thanks for the rescue.”
Logan lifted his chin.
Morgan nodded. “I have a photo of yours. A shot of Macchu Picchu with a layer of cloud resting on it. It’s one of my favorites.”
“You do?” Cal said, incredulous.
Morgan’s face turned sour. “You don’t have to sound so surprised, Ward. I like nice things.”
“I thought you decorated with guns and knives.”
“And the scalps of your victims,” Logan added.
Morgan shifted her shotgun to rest against her shoulder. “Both your scalps would look pretty good over my fireplace, now that you mention it.”
Cal tightened his hold on Dani. “Never sure if she’s joking when she says stuff like that.”
Dani smiled at Morgan. “I love that Macchu Picchu shot as well. Sounds like you have excellent taste.”
“Thank you.”
Cal was just mildly shocked when he saw the tiniest smile tip Morgan’s lips. He turned back to Dani and pulled her camera over his head. He held it out to her. “I think this belongs to you.”
Her smile was blinding. “Thank you.”
Logan shifted, staring at the pond. “Why are these bastards in the water?”
Dani let Cal help her to her feet. “A lost temple and a priceless artifact.”
Logan shook his head. “Fucking Silk Road.” Then he slapped a hand against his neck. “And fucking mosquitoes. I hate the jungle.”
“You hate everything.” Cal looked at the water. “They’re armed. The leader is a woman, and she’s meaner than you, Morgan.”
Morgan raised a brow. “We’ll see. I was just thinking I fancy a swim.” Morgan slipped her backpack off her shoulders and reached in. She pulled out some small, sleek masks.
Cal’s eyebrows rose. “You got your hands on Poseidon masks.”
“Poseidon masks?” Dani said.
Morgan shot them that faint smile again. “Experimental dive masks. Sort of an artificial gill that’ll extract oxygen from the water. They aren’t on the market yet. I have a friend.” She handed Cal a mask. “They don’t work for long, so they’re only good for short dives.”
Dani craned her head. “What else do you have in there?”
“I’m ready for anything.” Morgan patted the backpack. “We could climb a mountain, cross an ice floe, have a nice little candlelit dinner for two.”
“You can sure as hell bet she’s got more weapons in there,” Logan grumbled.
Dani fiddled with the strap on her camera and pulled out what looked like a clear plastic bag. “Marine bag. Protects my camera from water.”
Cal turned to Dani, gripping her shoulders. “I want you to stay here.”
She bristled. “To hell with that, Cal. We’ve come this far, and I’m not giving up.”
Morgan raised a brow. “Might be more dangerous for her to stay here. More of them could arrive.”
Frustration rose up to choke Cal. “Fine. But you stay by my side.” He held out a palm to Morgan. “Give me that little Condor knife you carry.”
“Fine.” Morgan pulled a small, sheathed knife from her boot and slapped it into his hand. “But you lose it, you buy me a new one.”
Cal slipped it into Dani’s pocket. “Just in case you need it.”
She nodded. Then she expertly slipped her camera in the marine bag and sealed it. “I’ve used this a lot when I’ve crossed rivers or had to enter water on the job. Even has a glass piece that fits over the lens to take shots underwater. Works great.”
“All right.” Cal turned toward the water. “Let’s go save the day.”
Everyone pulled their Poseidon masks over their mouths. He checked the fit of Dani’s mask, then led her into the water. It trickled in through his clothes. Cooler than he’d expected.
A moment later, the four of them stood waist deep, staring at the dark water. A feeling of deja vu washed over him. How many times had he stood like this, the familiar sensation of water lapping at him and his team by his side, before a SEAL mission?
But he’d never had the woman he was falling in love with by his side as he did it. Fear skittered down his spine. He’d keep her safe. Even if he died doing it.
He nodded at the others and sank beneath the surface.
Chapter Twelve
It was far darker than she’d imagined.
Dani kicked through the water, holding on tight to Cal’s hand and trying to match his powerful kicks. The deep-green water meant they couldn’t see very far ahead of them. At first, she was sucking on her Poseidon mask too hard, and she slowly forced herself to relax. She’d done a bit of SCUBA diving in the past, and had always enjoyed it.
But this dark, murky water, and whatever ancient secrets it was hiding, was an entirely different thing.
She felt Cal’s fingers tighten on hers, and her breathing eased.
Ahead, she could just make out Morgan and Logan kicking cleanly through the water. Logan had some sort of flashlight on, the beam barely making a dent in the murk.
They arrowed downward. God, how deep was this reservoir? She saw Logan pull up and make a hand signal. She strained to see… There. She could make out dark shadows looming ahead.
Dani’s eyes widened. Oh, my God.
The temple rose up out of the gloom like some sort of dream. It was perfect. There was no rubble or tumbled towers. The water had kept it preserved, except for a coat of slime and the weeds growing up from the base of the baray.
It looked like a smaller version of Angkor Wat. Four towers in the corners and a larger tower in the center. Logan made another gesture and Cal nodded. They changed direction, heading toward a large arch that had to be the front entrance to the temple.
Dani kicked hard and followed Cal. She really hoped Raven and her goons weren’t waiting for them.
They swam through the arch and into a wide, stone tunnel. Logan’s flashlight was the only thing helping them see. It flashed over the smooth stone.
Then she saw something ahead. A set of stone stairs. She watched Logan and Morgan reach it. They pointed upward and rose.
Cal gripped Dani’s hip and pushed her upward. A second later, her head broke the surface.
Cal stayed low in the water, pressing a finger to his mask warning her to be quiet. She nodded. With his wet hair slicked against his head and his mask on, he looked dark and dangerous.
Everyone pulled their masks off and clipped them to their belts. Cal traded hand signals with the others and they quietly went up the steps and out of the water.
At the top, she noted wet footprints on the stone.
Raven had definitely come this way.
There was another grand arch, leading into the main part of the temple. They moved forward cautiously, Cal and the others lifting their guns and tipping them to drain the water from the barrels.
Dani didn’t know much about guns, but she guessed the small swim hadn’t affected them.
The lower gallery they walked down was covered with beautiful engravings, reminiscent of the Angkor and the linga temple.
Dani pulled the plastic cover off her camera and took a few snaps. To see a place like this, undisturbed and looking as it must have looked when the people who built it had left, had excitement sparking in her belly.
They moved through the main part of the temple and at the far wall, she saw another archway. Logan shone his flashlight inside, and it illuminated a dank set of stairs leading down.
Dani focused on trying to move as quietly as the others. For big, deadly people, they sure moved with a light touch.
The staircase wrapped around in a spiral going down, down, down. She wondered how deep it went and marveled at the engineering it must have taken to build the place. Just how valuable was the cintamani stone to warrant a temple like this?
She took a deep breath. She guessed they had a good chance of finding the stone. Sur
ely no one had ever discovered it here inside a sunken temple, beneath a mysterious lake in the middle of a remote jungle.
She just hoped they found it before Silk Road.
Ahead, Morgan stopped. She peered through a doorway, then nodded at the others.
They all stepped out into a huge underground cavern.
Dani pressed a hand to her mouth to control her gasp.
“Shit,” Logan muttered.
“Never seen anything like this before,” Morgan whispered, shaking her head.
Dani lifted her camera, but then lowered it. First, she just allowed herself to experience and admire the space.
It was an underground forest. There was light filtering in from somewhere. The slick stone walls were intersected with large veins of gems that glittered brightly. Parts of the walls were covered in some sort of fungus that glowed in multi-colored hues—bright yellow-green, blues, pinks and a dash of red and orange. She moved closer to the nearest tree. The leaves sparkled, made of a crystalline structure.
She lifted the camera and took shots of the trees and walls. The veins in the wall were mostly a deep green—jade, maybe jasper. Here and there, she spotted some large geometric clumps of brilliant white dotted on the wall. She stilled. Surely they couldn’t be diamonds?
“It’s just how they described the legend of Kunlun Mountain,” Dani said. “Bejeweled plants and rock-like gems.”
“Yeah. Doubt Silk Road will leave a place like this undisturbed.” Cal’s gaze turned deadly. “Let’s go find our friends.”
They moved quietly through the sparkling trees. Dani promised herself she’d come back here and document this amazing place. Dr. Oakley and the team were going to be ecstatic.
“Where the hell are Silk Road?” Morgan murmured.
“Can’t be far away,” Cal answered. “Stay sharp.”
They cleared the trees and Dani gasped. “Look.”
There was a set of carved stone steps leading up to a platform covered with elegant arches. In the center of the platform was a stone pedestal.
And sitting on it was a large, pearl-gray stone.
“The cintamani,” Dani said with awe.
“That’s right,” a cold voice replied. “And it’s mine.”