Unexplored (Treasure Hunter Security Book 3)
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Authors: Anna Hackett
Unexplored
Anna Hackett
Unexplored
Published by Anna Hackett
Copyright 2016 by Anna Hackett
Cover by Melody Simmons of
eBookindiecovers
Edits by
Tanya Saari
ISBN: 978-0-9945572-8-5
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.
Contents
What readers are saying about Anna’s Romances
What readers are saying about Anna’s Romances
At Star’s End – One of Library Journal's Best E-Original Romances for 2014
Return to Dark Earth – One of Library Journal's Best E-Original Books for 2015 and two-time SFR Galaxy Awards winner
The Phoenix Adventures – SFR Galaxy Award Winner for Most Fun New Series and “Why Isn’t This a Movie?” Series
Beneath a Trojan Moon – SFR Galaxy Award Winner and RWAus Ella Award Winner
Hell Squad – Amazon Bestselling Science Fiction Romance Series and SFR Galaxy Award for best Post-Apocalypse for Readers who don’t like Post-Apocalypse
The Anomaly Series – #1 Amazon Action Adventure Romance Bestseller
"Like Indiana Jones meets Star Wars. A treasure hunt with a steamy romance." – SFF Dragon, review of
Among Galactic Ruins
"Strap in, enjoy the heat of romance and the daring of this group of space travellers!" – Di, Top 500 Amazon Reviewer, review of
At Star’s End
“High action and adventure surrounding an impossible treasure hunt kept me reading until late in the night.” – Jen, That’s What I’m Talking About, review of
Beyond Galaxy’s Edge
“Action, danger, aliens, romance – yup, it’s another great book from Anna Hackett!” – Book Gannet Reviews, review of
Hell Squad: Marcus
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Chapter One
Thank God her crappy day was almost over.
Sydney Granger walked into her office, wanting nothing more than to kick off her high heels. Her aching feet were killing her. She sighed. But she still had work to do before she could head back to her condo and relax with a glass of wine.
She sank down in the black-leather office chair behind her sleek, glossy desk. The meeting with the board had…not gone well. She touched her aching temple. It had been two months since she’d taken over as CEO of Granger Industries, and the board members were still nervous. All they saw was a wealthy heiress who was inexperienced in business, real estate, and construction.
Sydney shrugged to herself. She was used to people underestimating her.
She swiveled in her chair and, for a second, stared out at the glowing lights of Washington, D.C. She had an excellent view of the grand dome of the Capitol Building. She knew D.C.—had been born and raised here—but she was still finding her feet in the new job. And behind closed doors, she secretly wondered if she’d ever get there.
Glancing back at her desk, she saw the files stacked neatly on the corner by her executive assistant. Then she looked at her laptop. Sydney knew if she opened it, she’d have a ton of emails to deal with. That glass of wine had never seemed further away.
What the hell…there was no one left in the office at this time of night, so she released the clip in her hair. No one to see the new CEO kicking back. The pale-gold strands fell down to brush her shoulders.
Her gaze fell on the framed photo resting on the corner of her desk. It was a picture of her with her father and brother. It had been taken a few years ago, and they were all grinning for the camera.
Why the hell did you leave me the company, Dad?
Still reeling from her father’s sudden death, she’d been stunned when he’d left the lion’s share of the company to her. Her brother, Drew, had inherited stock in the company as well. Drew had a sky-high IQ, and probably knew way more about the business and the company. But she knew that for all his brilliance, her socially awkward brother wasn’t a businessman.
For some reason, her father had wanted
her
to be CEO of Granger.
God, she missed him. Since her mother had died when Sydney was ten, it had just been the three of them. Grief and guilt were a gnawing hollow ache inside her. But Sydney didn’t let it show. She’d been raised in Washington society, and she was damn good at hiding her feelings. At the glittering gatherings, so many people were just waiting for the slightest show of emotion to pounce and spread the gossip. She remembered the insincere faces and condescending pats after her mother had died.
Sydney leaned back in her chair. The CIA should just send their agents to train at society parties and gallery openings. Then they’d have the best poker faces around. She touched the frame. Had it really been two months since her father had died in that explosion? Terrorists had been targeting a foreign diplomat who’d been staying at the same hotel, and her father had been caught in the blast.
“I’m so sorry, Dad.”
Now, Sydney was here, buried in her work at Granger Industries. Drew, unable to cope, had run off to South America. His latest interest was in history and archeology. The guy had a collection of degrees—she sighed—but he never stuck with one thing. Last month, he’d been talking about launching an online tech company. Next month, who knew? He’d probably take up race car driving.
Sydney rubbed her temple again. She had reports to read, forms to sign, tomorrow’s meetings to prepare for. She was trying, but right now, she just felt like she was drowning. Most days she was barely managing to keep her head above water.
It had to get better, but there was a little voice in the back of her head whispering with a whole lot of glee that she’d fail. Again. It loved to remind her that she’d screwed up her last job…and that others had paid the price. She glanced over at the photo of her father again, and her throat tightened.
The ringing of the phone on her desk startled her. She frowned. It was late. Who’d be calling at this time?
She snatched up the receiver. “Sydney Granger.”
“Ms. Granger, listen and do not talk.”
The electronically-altered voice made her stiffen. “Who is this—?”
“Quiet. Your brother’s life depends on it.”
Sydney’s hand clenched on the phone. “This is about Drew?”
“We have your brother in Peru. If you want him back alive, you come to Lima and be prepared to transfer five million dollars to us to secure his freedom. We will contact you again then.”
What?
Her heart started to pound.
Stay calm, Sydney
.
Keep them talking. Get as much information as you can.
“How do I know this isn’t a hoax?” She looked blindly out the window, the lights of the city now just a blur. “I want to talk with him—”
“I make the demands, not you. My only proof…I am Silk Road.”
The line went dead.
Sydney set the phone back down with a shaky hand. Silk Road? Who the hell was Silk Road?
She’d spoken to Drew a few days ago. He’d been fine. Excited. He was on the trail of an ancient pre-Incan culture. He’d been visiting museums, meeting with local archeologists, and talking about heading into the Andes. He’d been yammering on about the ruins he planned to visit, and talking about all the research he’d been doing.
But for all his amazing intelligence, her brother was a bit oblivious to regular life. It would be so easy to snatch him.
God
. If these people hurt him… Drew was all Sydney had left.
She forced herself to breathe.
Think, Sydney
. Did this have something to do with her previous employment? Her former role had been highly classified. None of her friends or family had known about the work she’d done. To the world, she’d been a Washington socialite who cared mostly about designer clothes, fancy parties, and museum openings.
She quickly opened her laptop and logged on. She typed in a search on Silk Road.
A few minutes later, she sat back in her chair, dread settling in her belly. There wasn’t much, but what she’d learned wasn’t good. Silk Road appeared to be a dangerous, black-market antiquities syndicate. Not much was known about them, except that they were well-funded, well-connected, and ruthless.
Something else caught her attention. Over the last few months, the group had tangled with a private security firm that specialized in security for archeological digs, expeditions, and museum exhibits. Treasure Hunter Security. She tilted her head at the fun name. It appeared that this firm had beaten Silk Road—twice.
She typed in another search, and pulled up the website for Treasure Hunter Security.
They were based in Denver but worked all across the world. She scrolled through the pages and stopped at an image showing three men—all of them wearing khaki clothes and holsters—standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Declan and Callum Ward were the owners of the company. Former Navy SEALs, and from the look of them, tough and capable. Her gaze fell on the third man standing with them. He was slightly taller and a little broader than the Ward brothers. Big, with shaggy, long, brown hair and a rugged face. He looked like a man you didn’t want to mess with.
Her gaze drifted back to the photograph on her desk and locked onto her brother’s smiling face. Her stomach turned over.
She had to rescue Drew. And she needed Treasure Hunter Security to help her do it.
***
Logan O’Connor stretched out, put his boots up on the arm of the couch and pulled his ball cap over his eyes.
Damn, he was tired.
After he’d returned from a job in the Cambodian jungle a month back—having rescued Callum’s ass—he’d plunged straight into another job in the Gobi Desert. It’d been grueling, and hot, and sandy. He hated sand.
“Hey, boots off the couch!” A hand slapped at his boots.
Logan just growled.
His hat was whipped away. Darcy Ward stood there, glaring at him. As usual, she was all glossy and put-together. Not a single strand of her chin-length black hair was out of place and her blue-gray eyes were narrowed on him.
She tried to shift his boots again, but he kept them where they were.
“We have a client coming in, Logan,” she said with a huff.
Logan grunted.
She pushed and shoved again, and finally his feet slid off to the polished concrete floor.
He sat up. “I’m damn glad I never had a sister.”
She pulled a face at him.
“Go bother your
actual
brothers,” he growled.
“They aren’t here.” Her nose screwed up. “Declan and Layne are upstairs. They should be down soon.”
Dec—Logan’s best friend—lived in the apartment above the Treasure Hunter Security offices.
Logan snorted. “I bet I know what the hell they’re doing.” Since his best friend had tumbled head-over-his-ass in love with Dr. Layne Rush, the man couldn’t seem to stay away from his fiancée. “Those two are like fucking rabbits.”
“No swearing in the office,” Darcy snapped.
“Why?”
“We have a client coming in,” she said with exaggerated patience. “She’s flying in from D.C. She’s the CEO of Granger Industries. This is going to be a good-paying job, Logan. Don’t screw anything up.”