Unmapped (Treasure Hunter Security #6)
Page 16
This was key to her achieving her retirement plan.
Her plan was to be retired at thirty-five. Persephone wanted to be sunning herself on the beach and banging sexy surfers or fishermen. She stroked the copy of the diary page. It held clues from a 1920’s expedition to find a fabulous treasure right here in Ecuador.
That group had been consumed by the jungle, but Persephone wasn’t going to let that happen to her. She was made of tougher stuff.
She folded the island picture and another tattered picture fell out of the sleeve.
This one was of a lovely Victorian house, somewhere in the USA. She’d never seen the house in real life before. While she’d been born in the States, she hadn’t spent a lot of time there. But she’d seen this picture in a magazine once, and something about it had captured her interest. It looked like the kind of house a tight-knit family lived in. A family who celebrated Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July. She snorted. Persephone had never had a home, so she didn’t know much about them.
She shook her head. It was silly that she’d kept the picture. She should throw it out. She was destined for a beach shack by white sand and blue waters.
She lifted the diary page. Right now, she needed to stay focused on following the clues, and solving her big problem—the fact that the archaeology team were digging on the location of her first clue.
Oh, and she couldn’t forget her other problem. The fact that Sosa, the asshole dealer who’d sold her the page, had also sold a copy to someone else. Which meant Persephone would likely have company of the not-so-friendly kind before too long.
When the treasure was an invaluable lost emerald of the Inca, it guaranteed problems.
Someone sat on the stool beside her, reeking of cheap whiskey.
“Hola, bella,” the man drawled.
She rolled her eyes and gave the man an Arctic glare.
Clearly, he was too drunk to read her signals. He set a beefy hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged him off. “Shove off,” she said, in Spanish.
His face hardened. “Just want to have some fun.”
“Not interested.”
His thick brows pulled together. “You aren’t being very friendly.”
Great. She could deal with this buffoon, but it would attract unwanted attention.
“The lady said she wasn’t interested.”
The smooth voice spoke in perfect, accentless Spanish. She felt warmth along her spine as a firm body pressed close to her back. Every single one of her nerves flared to life.
“Piss off, gringo,” the drunk muttered.
Persephone was done. She moved her foot, catching the leg of the stool. It tipped over, and the man sprawled on the floor with a string of curses.
The bartender leaned over the bar, barking out some rapid words to the man. The drunk glared at the bartender, then at Persephone, before he hauled himself to his feet. He unsteadily weaved his way to the door, ranting to nobody.
Persephone grabbed her drink and downed the last of her shot before she turned.
Mr. Mouthwatering Archeologist was even more handsome up close.
She discovered that he had beautiful, cobalt-blue eyes, and he smelled good. Damn.
“Nice move,” he said with a smile.
“I didn’t need a rescue.” She slammed her glass back on the bar.
“I can see that.” He tilted his head to the side. “Can I get you another drink?”
“Hell, no.”
His sexy smile just widened. “Not the usual response I get when I offer to buy a woman a drink.”
She snorted. “I bet.” Persephone was sure that women fell over themselves whenever this man gave them any attention. Pretty, normal women, who wanted to play house with him, cook his meals, roll around naked in his bed, and give him pretty, well-behaved kids.
“I have to leave,” she said.
“I wish you’d stay.” His blue eyes bored into hers, like she was an interesting story that he couldn’t wait to hear.
Staring at that gorgeous face muddled her brain. He was too handsome, too everything. Dammit, she never let anything or anyone fog up her head.
“Why?” She mentally cursed herself for opening her mouth.
He leaned closer. “Because I’d like to know why you were spying on my dig today.”
Shit. She stiffened. God save her from smart men.
Persephone spun and strode toward the door. The man grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
Quick as lightning, she let her switchblade fall down her sleeve and into her palm. She flicked it open and out of view of everyone in the bar, she pressed it against his collarbone.
“I don’t like being grabbed.”
He lifted his hands, palms up. “Fair enough.” His voice lowered. “But I will admit I liked touching you.”
Persephone wasn’t dumb. She felt the electric current arcing between them. Dammit. He was a complication she didn’t need.
“Forget you saw me,” she said.
“Never going to happen.” Again, she got that sexy smile.
Because she felt her brain fogging up again, she pressed her blade a little harder against this skin. He jerked back, and a thin line of blood welled.
Persephone used the distraction to spin under his arm and escape out of the bar.
Treasure Hunter Security
Undiscovered
Uncharted
Unexplored
Unfathomed
Untraveled
Unmapped
Unidentified
Undetected
When astro-archeologist and museum curator Dr. Lexa Carter discovers a secret map to a lost old Earth treasure—a priceless Fabergé egg—she’s excited at the prospect of a treasure hunt to the dangerous desert planet of Zerzura. What she’s not so happy about is being saddled with a bodyguard—the museum’s mysterious new head of security, Damon Malik.
After many dangerous years as a galactic spy, Damon Malik just wanted a quiet job where no one tried to kill him. Instead of easy work in a museum full of artifacts, he finds himself on a backwater planet babysitting the most infuriating woman he’s ever met.
She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s a trouble-magnet. But among the desert sands and ruins, adventure led by a young, brash treasure hunter named Dathan Phoenix, takes a deadly turn. As it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want them to find the treasure, Lexa and Damon will have to trust each other just to survive.
The Phoenix Adventures
Among Galactic Ruins
At Star’s End
In the Devil’s Nebula
On a Rogue Planet
Beneath a Trojan Moon
Beyond Galaxy’s Edge
On a Cyborg Planet
Return to Dark Earth
On a Barbarian World
Lost in Barbarian Space
Through Uncharted Space
Crashed on an Ice World
Also by Anna Hackett
Treasure Hunter Security
Undiscovered
Uncharted
Unexplored
Unfathomed
Untraveled
Unmapped
Unidentified
Undetected
* * *
Galactic Gladiators
Gladiator
Warrior
Hero
Protector
Champion
Barbarian
Beast
Rogue
Guardian
Cyborg
Imperator
Also Available as Audiobooks!
* * *
Hell Squad
Marcus
Cruz
Gabe
Reed
Roth
Noah
Shaw
Holmes
Niko
Finn
Theron
Hemi
Ash
Levi
Manu
Also Available as Au
diobooks!
* * *
The Anomaly Series
Time Thief
Mind Raider
Soul Stealer
Salvation
Anomaly Series Box Set
* * *
The Phoenix Adventures
Among Galactic Ruins
At Star’s End
In the Devil’s Nebula
On a Rogue Planet
Beneath a Trojan Moon
Beyond Galaxy’s Edge
On a Cyborg Planet
Return to Dark Earth
On a Barbarian World
Lost in Barbarian Space
Through Uncharted Space
Crashed on an Ice World
* * *
Perma Series
Winter Fusion
A Galactic Holiday
* * *
Warriors of the Wind
Tempest
Storm & Seduction
Fury & Darkness
* * *
Standalone Titles
Savage Dragon
Hunter’s Surrender
One Night with the Wolf
* * *
For more information visit AnnaHackettBooks.com
About the Author
I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I’m passionate about action romance. I love stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
My books are mixture of action, adventure and sexy romance and they’re recommended for anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories where the boy wins the girl at the end (or sometimes the girl wins the boy!)
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