Undiscovered (Treasure Hunter Security Book 1) by Anna Hackett

she wasn’t going to let him get away with using his past as a barrier, she had no doubt Declan had seen too much of the worst the world had to offer. She turned her thoughts to Dr. Stiller. “I wouldn’t put it past Aaron to try to do something to get me removed, if the opportunity presented itself. But this? It’s one step too far, even for him.”
    “Then the local workers.”
    She grimaced. “I don’t know them all, but they all came recommended. And the ones I’ve been working with, well, they seem loyal, and they’re hard, efficient workers.”
    “Rush, Anders and the people behind the black-market antiquities trade have deep pockets. If one of your people has a debt, a sick mother, or a family to feed…”
    He left the thought hanging there and it dug into her skin. “Okay, so we keep an eye out. Make sure nothing like this can happen again.”
    “That’s the plan.”
    She fiddled with her hat. “I don’t understand how people can kill over this.”
    Declan’s face hardened. “I’ve seen people kill for far less. Hell, I saw Anders kill just for the fun of it.”
    She stilled. “You saw Anders kill people?”
    Declan muttered a soft curse, his face hardening. “I’m not going to let Anders get anywhere near you again.”
    God, the pain. It was buried deep in his voice, his eyes. Whatever had happened with Anders, it had left a lasting scar on Declan Ward. One he hadn’t let heal. “I know. And I’m not going to let him take any more artifacts. They should be there for us to learn from, for everyone to see.”
    Declan shrugged. “The past is the past. Are they really that important?”
    Her blood fired. “Yes. We can learn so much from our ancestors, maybe even avoid past mistakes.”
    His gray eyes churned and chilled. “There have been wars in the past and in the present, and I’m pretty sure there will be wars in the future. I don’t think we learn from hunks of pottery and gold statues, Rush.”
    There was that pain again, and it hurt her heart.
    “We can,” she said softly. “That’s why I do my job, keep discovering, keep learning and keep trying to get the stories out there.” She studied him. “How did you know what that hieroglyph was? It’s an obscure variant, not known to many.”
    “My parents are pretty interested in Egyptian history.”
    “No history teacher would know this, Declan.”
    A faint smile on his lips. “My parents aren’t history teachers. Well, I guess you could say my father is. He’s a professor at Denver University.”
    The name clicked and Layne gasped. “Your father is Dr. Oliver Ward?”
    Declan nodded. “And my mother is—”
    “Persephone Ward.” Shock filled Layne. She couldn’t believe it.
    Declan’s smile widened. “Yeah, she’s—”
    “A treasure hunter,” Layne said.
    A rueful look crossed his face. “I prefer artifact acquisition specialist, but she prefers treasure hunter.”
    Layne couldn’t believe one of the greatest teachers of ancient history was Declan’s father, and one of the wildest, most daring treasure hunters was his mother. Declan neither screamed academic nor wild risk taker.
    “They must have been shocked when you joined the Navy.” And joined one of the toughest Special Forces teams in the world.
    “At first. Then my brother, Callum, joined, too. They got used to it.”
    “Well, thanks to your help, I got most of the glyphs translated last night. Not that they make any sense.” She frowned. “They seem disjointed, incomplete.”
    Declan straightened and touched his ear. “Logan needs me. I’ll let you get back to your work. And Rush?”
    “Yes?”
    “Let me know before you move the gold sarcophagus. I want to make sure it’s moved safely.”
    She watched him go. He moved with a controlled grace, a coiled strength that said he could explode into action at any moment.
    She was glad Declan Ward was watching over her dig.
    “Dr. Rush, I do not blame you for getting yourself an eyeful of