Knox

Chapter 1

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QUINN ANDERSON’S HANDS flew over the keyboard as she hacked into the system of traffic cameras monitoring downtown Seattle. Numbers flashed across her screen, and she typed in a series of codes, her focus only on her end goal. Access. Surveillance. Eyes from above to monitor the city below.

A terror plot was coming to a head this weekend, and every second counted.

While several of the Shadow Ops: Bravo Team would be headed to L.A.

to thwart the potential attacks there, other colleagues would remain right here in Seattle, focusing on a threat practically at their front door.

A homegrown terror cell had set up weapons caches outside major cities in the U.S.

, plotting simultaneous attacks across the country.

The goal was shock value—attacks on landmarks around the country, causing destruction and chaos, slicing to the hearts of American citizens.

While Bravo Team’s operatives would be on the move, taking out the bad guys and locating the weapons, Quinn would remain at Shadow Security’s west coast office doing what she did best—critical IT work.

Her job encompassed everything from hacking into secure systems to tracing money trails all over the globe to developing complex Trojan Horse viruses to take down enemy systems.

Although Shadow Security was working in conjunction with local authorities, it was faster if they had their own entry point into the surveillance systems. They didn’t have time for all the red tape to be sorted.

And thus, Quinn came in, getting them access to camera feeds and other critical systems so they’d have eyes on the scene and up-to-date information at all times.

She clicked a button, watching as live surveillance feeds popped up from multiple angles across her computer screen, and smiled.

Easy as pie.

Quinn shot off a quick message to the other IT staff. Next, she needed to notify Bravo Team of the newest development. They were briefing soon to make final preparations before they moved out.

Her gaze briefly landed on a separate monitor atop her desk.

She’d not only been hacking into surveillance systems, she’d been poking around the dark web, monitoring the terror cell’s chatter.

And she was almost—almost—able to pose as one of the members, which would give her access to their inner workings.

Adrenaline pumped through her bloodstream.

With specifics, they’d be able to thwart the attacks more easily.

And Quinn would do whatever it took to help stop the terror plots.

While the intended targets might be landmarks, innocents would no doubt be harmed in the process.

The world was full of evil, and she was happy to do her part to keep others safe.

If lives could be spared, she would stop at nothing to prevent the homegrown terror cell from moving forward with their twisted operation.

Movement in the hallway drew her attention, and a large, muscular guy appeared in the doorway to her office, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face. “What’s up, Quinncess?” Cooper Davis asked, looking amused with himself.

“The fuck you calling her that for?” Xaden Wilkerson asked, jokingly smacking Cooper’s head as he strode into the room.

Cooper shrugged, glancing at his teammate “She looked sad the other day, so I was trying to cheer her up.”

Quinn shook her head, barely glancing up from her computer screen as she continued typing. “I wasn’t sad. I was concentrating on my work. And speaking of work, I’ve got something to show you. Let me open it back up.”

The men on Bravo Team were all former military—Special Forces soldiers who’d been hired to run black ops for Shadow Security.

They were a new group stemming from Jett Hutchinson’s security empire based out of New York.

Word around the office was that Jett was expanding even more.

It was hard to imagine given that this building was brand spanking new.

Quinn and the two men with her were some of the newest hires for the West Coast office.

While the rest of the world thought they were bodyguards, providing security services to high-profile clients, only a select few knew the truth.

They handled jobs the Feds didn’t want to dirty their hands with, ridding the world of evil men and keeping the country safe.

“Quinn’s more like a badass computer ninja or something,” Xaden said. “What princesses have purple hair and an eyebrow ring?”

She smirked, brushing back a strand of her dark tresses.

She enjoyed the streak of purple she’d spontaneously dyed in her hair a few months ago.

Maybe next she’d add a streak of pink. Or teal.

And the tiny eyebrow ring was barely noticeable.

It was more cute than badass, but it amused her to no end to annoy the strait-laced members of society with it—specifically her own father.

Was Quinn a capable, intelligent adult? Yes. Did she still have a slight rebellious streak? Also a yes.

“All right guys,” she said as they moved closer. “We’re in. Let me show you what I’ve gained access to.” Quinn clicked a few keys, and multiple camera feeds popped up on her monitor.

Cooper let out a low whistle. “Impressive.”

Xaden edged closer. “Damn impressive,” he agreed. “How’d you get so smart?”

“It’ll be more impressive when we catch these assholes,” she countered.

She glanced over at the two men. “And let’s just say I got into more trouble than I should have as a kid—hacking into our school computer systems to change a few grades for myself and my friends.

What?” she asked with a shrug. “It was harmless. Mostly.”

“Uh-huh,” Cooper replied, looking impressed.

“I might’ve, uh, also lowered the airfare of a few flights to Mexico when my friends and I were in college. Spring break and all,” she explained. “We were broke and wanted a good deal.”

“Now we’re talking,” Cooper said with a grin.

“Jesus,” Xaden muttered with an appreciative look. “And we’re supposed to be the dangerous ones. I’m almost afraid to ask what else you can do.”

“Guess that’ll be my secret,” she joked. “I’ve got to keep you guys on your toes.”

“Remind me never to let you befriend my ex,” Xaden quipped. “Never underestimate a woman on a mission. I learned that one the hard way.”

Quinn raised her eyebrows but never got an explanation as another member of Bravo Team suddenly appeared in her doorway.

She felt a shiver wash over her as she glanced toward the door and locked eyes with Knox Kingsley.

Her heart stuttered, suddenly thumping erratically in her chest, and a flush heated her skin.

Something about Knox always set her senses on high alert.

The room felt warmer. Brighter. Everything else seemed to fade into the background as she looked at the man before her.

His broad shoulders filled the door frame, his athletic build far too appealing.

Knox was fit, with chiseled features, dark stubble across his jaw, and deep brown eyes.

He was tall and muscular, confident, and commanded a room without even trying.

Knox was quieter than his teammates but always observing. Always watching her.

And damn if she didn’t like it.

His dark eyes bored into hers, and he seemed slightly surprised that his teammates were in here joking around with her.

Sometimes he’d find ways to stop by just to say hello to her or ask Quinn a question.

Given they worked together, it made sense for him to check in.

Except he’d paid her more notice than anyone else, and Quinn thrilled at the attention.

She knew for a fact that he didn’t go out of his way to socialize with other people in that same manner.

And damn. Being the focus of a masculine guy like Knox’s attention sent her girly parts all aflutter.

Cheesy? Yes. Accurate as hell? Also a yes.

“Hey,” she said, feeling the heat of his gaze as his eyes briefly raked over her.

It was quick, but she felt every moment as if it were a caress.

Her heartbeat sped up, her stomach doing a funny little flip.

Maybe his attention should’ve left her flustered, but she just felt...

warm. Safe. It made no sense, given they were colleagues, but something about being around him just felt right.

The chemistry between them was undeniable, but so far, they’d kept things professional.

They were all new hires, starting up the West Coast office.

It was hardly the time to jump into bed with a man, let alone start a relationship.

What if they dated and things fizzled out? It would be awkward as hell to be around him all the time.

And if things did work out between them? Quinn had a feeling it would be amazing.

“Hey there,” Knox said with a nod, his deep voice rumbling right through her. His gaze briefly landed on his teammates, but he didn’t say a word to Cooper or Xaden. Both men looked amused, exchanging a look amongst themselves.

Knox was the strong, silent type. He wasn’t the type of man to go around engaging in locker room talk—not that a single thing had happened between them.

He seemed lost in his own thoughts much of the time—a trait they shared.

When Quinn was in the zone, working, she had laser-like focus.

Few things could distract her, and she’d joked with her own teammates that it was a good thing she worked behind a keyboard.

While the men on Bravo Team were observant and sharp, always aware of their surroundings, her own situational awareness skills were sometimes lacking.

Which was why she’d been laughing with the two men and didn’t even hear Knox approach.

“Quinncess got us in,” Cooper told him, gesturing toward her monitor.

Knox bristled, looking somewhat surprised that Cooper already had a silly nickname for her.

That was just Cooper’s personality. He’d teased Radley Moore as well, a former operative who’d joined Shadow Security.

Everyone could see that she had the hots for Boone Langford.

And vice versa. That hadn’t stopped Cooper from flirting with her or every other woman here at Shadow Security though.

“Ignore him,” Quinn advised.

“Damn straight,” Xaden agreed. “Cooper’s just trying to piss you off.”

“Sure am,” Cooper agreed. “We all know you’ve got a thing for our Quinncess.”

“Don’t be a dick,” Knox said.

Quinn flushed as three pairs of male eyes swiveled toward her. It felt like Knox was sticking up for them both, not that she couldn’t handle the team of rowdy men. The guys in this room were the least of her concerns. They had goddamn homegrown terrorists to track down.

“I got us into the surveillance systems,” Quinn said smoothly, trying to get the conversation back on track.

“I can monitor things from here, assisting Bravo Team when they’re in downtown Seattle.

Once the others arrive in L.A., they’ll let me know what they require access to there.

We’ll be good to go when the terror cell members begin their movements. ”

Knox crossed his arms, nodding. “That’s good news.”

“It’ll make our jobs easier, at any rate. I guess you and Gage will be here with me?” she questioned.

His eyes slid toward hers. “Affirmative, unless the boss has other plans. You can do your computer voodoo, and we’ll assist as needed.

Holt wants a couple of us on standby to be ready to move in as necessary,” he said, referring to Holt Blackwell, head of the West Coast office.

A former Delta himself, Holt was a force to be reckoned with.

All of the men Quinn worked with were badass, former Spec Ops guys.

She hardly knew what to do with all the testosterone flowing through the office.

The men worked seamlessly together, and she did what she could on her end to ensure they had the intelligence they needed to run ops.

Her lips quirked. “You guys are the muscle of this little operation. I’m hoping Seattle and L.A. are the only places Bravo Team needs to be monitoring. We’re already spread too thin. At least the guys at headquarters will handle the East Coast.”

“Don’t you worry about us,” Cooper said with a grin, giving them both a mock salute as he headed for the door. “Xaden and I have to head down to the armory to gather supplies. Our briefing with the boss got moved to this afternoon. Tonight, we should be a go.”

Xaden’s gaze darkened. “We’ll get those mofos. They have no idea we’re already onto their plot. It’s sick how Americans can become radicalized and want to harm their own country. Some of these idiots weren’t even born yet when the war on terror started.”

“Yeah, well, they might not be around when it ends either,” Knox said, his voice darkening.

Quinn’s gaze darted between the two men. “I’ll let Holt know about the newest developments with the surveillance downtown. I expect he’ll want me at the briefing later to update the team.”

“Sounds good,” Cooper said, all traces of his earlier humor gone. “We’ve got a lot of shit coming our way over the next several days, and I’ve got a bad feeling this is only the beginning.”