Team 52: Cover Reveal and Box Set

Jonah Grayson listened to the sirens echo off the walls as the doors to the large warehouse slid closed.

All the files and artifacts related to the Minoan Minotaur virus were now safely locked away in the underground warehouse deep in the heart of the Area 52 base.

He slid his hands into the pockets of his suit pants, nodded at Arlo standing by the door, then headed back toward his office.

The team had enjoyed a few days off, but were now back at base and busy with training.

He passed the gym, and through the glass window, he saw Blair kick Lachlan. The team leader blocked the hit with his prosthetic arm.

“No fair.” Blair landed on the mats in a crouch, rubbing her shin.

“Everything’s fair in a fight, Mason,” Lachlan replied.

The rest of the team was on the treadmills or lifting weights.

Jonah kept walking, a faint smile forming. He remembered when he’d first formed the team and recruited them.

Their military careers had been over for lots of different reasons, and they’d all been angry, unhappy, lost. His smile faded. He remembered how that felt all too well.

He’d given them all a purpose, and now, the entire team was in love, contentment shining off them.

That wasn’t a feeling Jonah was very familiar with.

In his office, he walked past the fish tank set in the wall in lieu of a window. Then he sat behind his desk and grabbed a file off the shiny surface. There were always people in Washington wanting updates, and other business to attend to before the next mission arose. It was his job to keep Team 52 safe and functioning smoothly.

Movement in the corner of the office caught his gaze and Jonah tensed.

A woman pushed away from the wall and he shot to his feet. He’d never seen her before. If he had, he’d remember.

Copper-red hair brushed her shoulders, and she had smooth, pale skin, high cheekbones, and brilliant hazel eyes. She was stunning.

And there was no way she should be in his highly secure office.

She shot him a direct look, like it was her office not his.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded.

“That’s not important.” Her voice was liquid, like the smoothest liqueur.

“How did you get in here?”

“I’m here to give you a warning. Watch your back, Director Grayson.”

Jonah scowled and skirted his desk. He didn’t take his eyes off her. She was dressed in fitted black leggings and a black shirt.

“Who are you?” He stressed each word.

He already knew that she had no intention of answering him.

But Jonah wanted answers. Her identity, how the hell she’d snuck into his office in the middle of a secret, underground military base.

He lunged for her.

The woman moved like water, she flowed. She struck his arm, ducked, then punched him in the stomach.

Jonah grunted. He lunged for her again.

Together, they danced across his office until he pinned her to the wall.

Her breasts pushed against his chest and the scent of her hit him—something bold and woody. She touched her tongue to her top lip. Her lips were painted bright red.

“So, you aren’t just a desk jockey who wears a suit well,” she murmured. “You have some moves.” Then she smiled. “So do I.”

She whirled, slipping out from between him and the wall. She darted around him and landed a jab to his ribs, then another to his lower back. Cursing, he shifted and followed her.

He blocked her next hit, then tried to grab her shirt.

She leaped up and landed a huge roundhouse kick to his head.

Fuck. His ears ringing, he stumbled back and hit his desk.

Before Jonah could move, she whipped out a small length of rope from her pocket, and wrapped it around his wrists.

He went to roll, but she wrapped the rope around the desk leg and pulled tight.

Fuck.

He was now half lying on his desk and tied to the damn thing.

Her lips quirked. “You almost had me.”

“I won’t let you get away with this.” He kept his gaze locked on hers. “I will find out who you are, and I will track you down.” Jonah had the pleasure of seeing her hesitate, then she set her shoulders back.

“I’m actually on your side, Grayson. Trouble is coming. I’m warning you so you can protect your team.”

“I need more information than that.” He jerked on the rope.

He watched her gaze fall to his throat, where the top two buttons of his shirt were open. She looked distracted for a second, then she shook her head.

“I can’t tell you anything else. I shouldn’t even be here.” She pushed away from him. “Be prepared.”

“Wait,” he growled.

She sauntered to the door. He jerked on the rope again, and he heard the wood of his desk creak.

But she was already gone, slipping out the door.

Dammit.

Jonah lifted his leg. He always had a knife strapped to his ankle. He bent his leg, and gripped the blade awkwardly between his tied hands. He maneuvered the knife and sawed through the rope. It felt like it took forever, but finally the rope dropped to the carpet.

He shoved out of his office and prowled down the corridor. There was no sign of the redhead.

Dammit to hell, where had she gone? She couldn’t have gone too far.

He turned a corner and passed the rec room. Through the windows, he saw Nat perched on a stool, Axel beside her, his hand stroking the hem of her skirt. The man had a wide smile on his face.

Jonah stepped into the doorway. “Did you two see a woman come past here? Red hair?”

They both looked surprised.

“No.” Axel raised a brow. “You got woman trouble, Director?”

With a scowl, Jonah pivoted and headed out. He continued down the corridor and yanked out his cellphone.

“Edwards, lock down the base. We have an intruder inside. A woman, red hair, black clothing. She’s about five foot seven, and was in my office.”

“Sir,” the head of base security said. “That’s impossible.”

“I know it should be, but she was there. Pull up the security footage.”

“I already am.” The man cursed. “It’s all blurry. It’s still running, so it didn’t trip any alarms, but it’s impossible to make out any details.”

Jonah cursed. “Get Brooks on it. See if he can clean it up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jonah jammed his phone back into his pocket and stopped, hands on his hips.

Who the hell was she? And what was the trouble that would put his team at risk?

He drew in a deep breath. Whoever his mystery redhead was, he would find her.

Jonah Grayson was a man who always kept his word.