Team 52 Box Set: Books 1-3

by Anna Hackett

  Seth nodded and lifted his head. Out the window, he caught a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. They were close.

  A screen on the wall of the X8 flickered, and Brooks’ face appeared. “Guys.”

  The man’s tone made Seth stiffen. He gripped the armrest. “January?”

  “Nothing yet.” Regret flared in Brooks’ eyes. “But something is going down in L.A. It’s all over the Internet and the news channels.”

  The screen changed to a news report. A sleek blonde in a snappy suit was reporting, holding a microphone to her mouth.

  “This is an extraordinary event with no explanation.” She stepped to the side, to allow the camera a better look at the iconic Hollywood sign behind her, nestled into the hillside.

  Seth hissed in a breath and Lachlan swore. He sensed the rest of the team moving closer.

  “Fuck me,” Smith muttered.

  Vines and bushes were growing up around the famous sign. As they watched, a vine curled through the first O, tangling around it like a rope.

  “They’re testing the sphere,” Seth said.

  The reporter threw out a hand. “Emergency services are on the scene, but no one has any explanation for the out-of-control plant growth currently taking place.”

  “Brooks, any sightings of the Knights around the sign?” Seth asked.

  “I’ve got a partial plate and make of a vehicle seen leaving the Hollywood sign,” Brooks said.

  Seth’s pulse leaped. Finally. “Find them.”

  “I’m on it.”

  They needed to find her.

  Blair brought the X8 in to land at the airport, and when the team exited the terminal, a sleek, black truck was waiting for them. A uniformed airman was waiting for them, snapping to attention as Lachlan approached.

  “Commander Hunter?”

  “That’s me.” Lachlan took the keys and dismissed the man.

  Seth slid open the side door of the truck. The inside was decked out with comfy seats, computer systems, and built-in cabinets Seth knew would be filled with everything they might need—first aid kits, weapons, armor.

  “I’m driving.” Smith circled the truck to get in the driver’s seat.

  Lachlan touched his ear. “Brooks, we’re at the truck. Any updates?”

  A screen came to life, showing Brooks in his computer room. He’d changed his shirt. It was grey with the NASA logo on it…except the blue circle was actually the Death Star.

  “Everyone is focused on the Hollywood sign incident,” Brooks said.

  “The Knights wanted attention,” Seth said.

  “They’ve sent a message to the press,” Brooks said.

  “Tell us,” Seth demanded.

  Brooks cleared his throat. “We are the Knights of Gaia, defenders of the Earth and mankind. It is our mission to save the planet for our children, and end the destruction of nature by overpopulation and pollution. To do this, hard choices must be made and action taken. In order to save our planet, we vow to destroy every city in the world and save the Earth. To save mankind.”

  Seth settled into a seat. Blair knocked his legs out of the way, and sat beside him. The truck pulled away from the curb.

  “Shit,” Blair muttered.

  “Any luck tracking down the car?” Seth asked. “Do you have a location?”

  “The car’s a rental.”

  Dammit. Seth put a hand to the back of his neck.

  Then Brooks grinned. “But I hacked the rental company’s system. The car has LoJack.”

  Seth straightened. Finally, a break. “Where?”

  “A swanky house in the Hollywood Hills. I’m sending you the address now.”

  Tires screeching, Seth peered out the window as they sped toward the Hollywood Hills.

  Hold on, hellcat. I’m coming.

  January tested the ropes tying her to the chair. They were tight. Really tight.

  She sighed.

  She stared out the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Her prison had a hell of a view. The house was up in the hills overlooking L.A. and had a brilliant view of the city skyline below. The house was also gorgeous. All modern lines, with no clutter, and loads of plants everywhere. One entire wall in the living room was all greenery, and there was actually a pond inside the house, a small fountain within it trickling gently.

  Then she turned her gaze to the television that was showing horrific images from the Hollywood sign. The sound was off, but she saw a police helicopter buzzing overhead. The sign was almost completely engulfed by vegetation.

  Her stomach tightened. They’d tested the sphere. She glanced around at the silent and very armed guards stationed at various points around the room. They weren’t playing around.

  “Dr. James.”

  A trim man about her age sat down on the chair in front of her. He was good-looking, in a bland sort of way, and wearing chinos and a pressed shirt. She’d seen all the armed guards defer to him, so she guessed he was the man in charge.

  “I’m Mark Kelleson.”

  She straightened. “The tech millionaire?”

  He smiled. “Almost. Tech billionaire.”

  She’d heard of his company. He’d made his fortune in solar panels, wind turbines, and electric cars. Her belly did a slow roll. All renewable energies, and things that were good for the environment.

  “You run the Knights of Gaia,” she said.

  He tilted his head and smiled. “Yes. I plan to save our planet.”

  “Riiiiight,” she said.

  “You don’t believe me?”

  “I think you believe you.”

  He nodded gravely. “So, you don’t agree with me.”

  “I want us to do what’s best for the planet, but over seven billion people call this place home. You don’t get to decide the path forward for everybody.” She leaned closer, as far as her bindings would allow. “You don’t get to steal, kill, and destroy in the process.”

  “We’re already destroying the planet, Dr. James. Overpopulation, pollution, destruction of the rainforests. Soon, it’ll be too late. I’m a savior.”

  January rolled her eyes.

  The mild-mannered look on Kelleson’s face changed, his lips twisting. “Cities will fall.”

  “Then people will die. And that makes you a murderer.”

  He gave a negligent shrug. “It’s unfortunate, but necessary. Collateral damage on the path to something better.”

  “Mass murder is not collateral damage,” she hissed, furious. “It’s never justified.”

  “If we kill the planet, we all die.” His voice rose. “If the cities are razed, nature will reclaim the land.”

  “Nope, not going to happen,” January said.

  Kelleson frowned. “You can’t stop me.”

  “It won’t be me stopping you.”

  “The people who rescued you in Guatemala.” His gaze narrowed. “Who are they?”

  January smiled.

  “They have the other sphere, don’t they?” he asked. “That’s why we wanted to talk to you. I really need the second sphere.”

  “You’ll never get it.” She lifted her chin and shifted her gaze to stare at the wall.

  “Sir.” One of the guards stepped forward.

  Kelleson turned, and January watched another man enter the room. He was tall, lean, and wore a lab coat. He looked exhausted, his shirt was beyond rumpled, and his wire-framed glasses were smudged.

  “Dr. Dempsey,” Kelleson said. “What have you got for me?”

  “The results from the test are looking good,” the scientist said.

  Once more, January looked at the television screen. She could no longer make out any of the letters of the iconic sign.

  “You’ve done excellent work to determine how to amplify the effects of a single sphere,” Kelleson said.

  Dempsey nodded. “I believe we no longer need the second sphere.”

  Oh, no. January swallowed hard. This didn’t sound good.

  “Good.” Kelleson smiled, the ex
pression terrifying. “Then it’s time to put our plan into action.”

  A chill raced down January’s spine. The look on the man’s face…

  “What plan?” she asked.

  The men ignored her.

  Dempsey fidgeted. “We still have more testing to do, I’m not sure—”

  “No. No more testing. No more waiting.”

  “What plan?” January asked again.

  Kelleson’s glittering gaze hit her. “Los Angeles will be the first city to tremble and fall. The first city where nature will rule again.”

  January rolled her eyes, attempting to hide her fear behind sarcasm. “Dude, you sound like you’re auditioning for the villain in a bad movie.”

  Kelleson frowned. “L.A. will crumble, and the trees will rise.”

  Shit. January struggled against her ropes again. She had to warn Seth and Team 52.

  “Mr. Kelleson, I still need to run calibration tests.” Dr. Dempsey took off his glasses, cleaning them on the edge of his shirt. He looked extremely nervous. “We have no idea the extent of the plant growth, and whether we can control it—”

  “No.” Kelleson pointed at the television. “Look, it works. Far better than we’d hoped. We’re ready.”

  “Yes, the plant growth is much faster than we expected. But if we launch a larger offensive, the growth might get completely out of control.”

  “Get the artifact ready to move,” Kelleson ordered. “That’s an order.”

  The scientist’s shoulders slumped. With a nod, he turned and walked out.

  Kelleson stood. “Everyone get ready to move.”

  A guard gestured at January. “What about her?”

  “She can stay here.” A smile edged the billionaire’s lips. “She’ll have a bird’s eye view of the destruction.”

  “You’re insane,” she said.

  “I’m a crusader.”

  “You’re deluded.”

  His smile dissolved and he scowled at her.

  “Sir, ah…we have a problem.”

  Kelleson swiveled to glare at the guard who’d spoken. “What is it?”

  “Our security system is picking something up outside… No, wait.” He touched his ear. “My people say it’s gone. Must have been a glitch.”

  “Check the cameras, and get the sentries to report in.” Kelleson headed toward the door. “I’ll be preparing to leave.”

  January looked out the window, scanning the outdoor area. There was a built-in fire pit, surrounded by comfortable-looking chairs. A lone guard was on patrol.

  She turned her head, staring at the lush gardens growing up close to the windows. She stilled. There was a figure hidden deep in the greenery. They were dressed all in black, with high-tech goggles over their eyes.

  January blinked. When she looked again, the figure was gone.

  Suddenly, gunfire broke out somewhere outside. Her pulse leaped, and a wave of hope and relief washed over her. She knew it was Seth and the others.

  They’d come.

  No, she wasn’t thinking of Seth. All she was focused on was getting the hell out of there alive.

  Kelleson started barking orders. “Get the artifact on board! I want extra guards at—”

  A sound splintered the room—an ear-splitting, high-pitched squeal.

  January gritted her teeth as the noise speared into her brain.

  Then, all around them, the windows shattered, sending glass shards flying everywhere.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Seth dove through the broken window.

  He hit the ground with a crunch of glass, rolled, and came up on his feet. He saw a guard rushing at him, and Seth whipped his gun up and fired.

  All around him, he heard shouts and gunfire.

  Shit. He had to get to January before she got hit.

  Lachlan charged past him, firing. The rest of Team 52 burst into action. They moved together—firing and fighting.

  Seth slammed into another guard, and saw a second one swinging at him. He ducked and spun. Then he grabbed a fistful of the man’s shirt, yanked the man to the floor, and landed a hard chop to the back of his neck.

  “Seth,” Blair shouted.

  He swiveled, just as she spun a man at him. Seth ducked down low, and rammed his fist into the man’s gut.

  The guard doubled over, and Blair jumped into the air and landed an unforgiving kick to the man’s head. He fell to the floor, unconscious.

  “Look out!” Smith bellowed.

  Seth turned, and saw a man step out of a doorway, rifle in hand. He started spraying the room with bullets.

  January. She was tied to a chair in the center of the room, eyes wide, unable to move.

  As his team ducked for cover, Seth leaped up and sprinted toward her.

  “Seth, get down,” Lachlan growled.

  As the guard aimed in his direction, Seth dropped and rolled. Bullets ripped up the carpet and furniture behind him.

  “Give him cover fire!” Lachlan roared.

  His team opened fire. Seth came up on his feet and leaped over a couch. He heard the boom of a shotgun, and suspected it was Smith.

  Seth reached January, just as a female guard appeared beside her. The woman launched herself at Seth, kicking at him. He dodged and landed a blow to her chest that sent her flying back into a small pond with a splash.

  “January.”

  Her head turned, but she didn’t meet his gaze. Instead she looked at his boots. “Hey.”

  His jaw tightened. They didn’t have time to talk right now, but they would. Later. When she was safe.

  Then her head jerked up, her gaze moving over his shoulder. “Look out!”

  Seth was already moving. Another guard with a gun was striding toward them.

  Shit. Seth gripped the empty chair beside January’s, lifted it, and tossed it at the man. He heard the man curse.

  Seth didn’t have time to free her before the guard pumped them full of bullets. He grabbed the arms of January’s chair and lifted her off the ground.

  He raced across the room and through a nearby doorway. She gasped as bullets punched into the wall next to them. He set January down, slammed the door shut, and locked it.

  They were in a long, tiled room that housed an indoor, heated swimming pool. It was a long lap pool, and the entire room was enclosed with glass. The air was warm and humid, fogging the windows, and there were potted plants everywhere. Sunlight streamed in, glinting off the water.

  Seth knelt beside January. “Let me cut you free.”

  She nodded, but still wouldn’t look at him.

  “January.” He cupped her jaw.

  She jerked away from his touch.

  “Hellcat, I’m sorry.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes angry, but he saw the hurt buried in them as well.

  “We don’t have time right now,” he said, “but I want you to know I’m sorry.”

  Her eyelids flickered, but she still didn’t say anything.

  He pulled out his knife. “I fucked up. You know some of my background… I don’t trust easily.”

  She made a sound of disbelief. “You needed to see the evidence before you knew I wasn’t a goddamned traitor to my country.”

  “I knew before we had any evidence. I was fighting myself.”

  January stilled. “You hurt me.”

  Seth felt a pain slice his chest. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Suddenly, bullets came through the door. Shit. Seth moved, shoving her chair aside.

  “I messed up. Big time.” He cut through the ropes on her left arm. “My CIA missions are all classified, so I can’t share details. A good friend and colleague was the one who sold me out. He handed me over to our damn enemies and they tortured me for three days.”

  She gasped.

  “My face is a reminder of it every day.”

  Her eyes sparked. “A fellow American handed you over to be tortured?”

  “Yep. For money.”

  “What the hell? I hope he—”<
br />
  “He’s dead, January.”

  Her face softened, her gaze moving over his scars before she looked in his eyes. “Seth—”

  “I’m not as fucking courageous as you,” he said. “You’ve used what happened to you and your mom to be the best you can be. I used my ordeal to close myself up.”

  “Seth.” She reached out with her left hand, gripping his arm.

  “I was so afraid when I knew they had you,” he whispered. “And it was all my fault.”

  “It was their fault. And you came for me. Again.”

  He reached down and cupped her jaw. “You’re letting me off too easily. I was prepared to beg.”

  “Probably. But you did just carry me through a hail of gunfire. I’ll let you make it up to me in other ways. Later.”

  He smiled. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” She leaned forward, her voice a whisper. “I expect lots of orgasms, followed by fried eggs.”

  “Deal.” He moved to free her other arm.

  All of a sudden, more gunfire reverberated through the air, and the door to the pool room burst open. Seth whipped around and watched an armed female guard race into the room.

  Seth charged. He kicked out, knocking the woman’s rifle out of her hands. It skidded across the tiles and slid into the pool.

  The woman sprang at Seth. She landed a kick to his chest, sending him staggering. Then she launched into a series of powerful kicks, and he dodged and twisted to avoid them. The woman was long, lean, and strong. And damn, she was well-trained in something lethal.

  She kicked at him again, almost catching him in the head.

  Time to end this. He dodged another kick, and on the next one, he caught her ankle and twisted.

  The woman fell. Seth saw her fumbling for the gun in her holster, but Seth yanked on her leg again. He managed to smack her gun away and the woman hit the tiles, right in front of January.

  January was half out of the chair, still tied to it by her right arm. She kicked at the woman.

  Her foot connected with the woman’s head and she growled, spitting blood. Then the woman leaped up, smiled, and shoved January hard.

  January tipped backward.