Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series)

by Kristine Mason

HUNTING 301

  Whack ’em, stack ’em and pack ’em.

  —Ted Nugent

  Chapter 15

  Cap’n Ryan’s Airboat Tours, Everglade City, Florida

  Friday, 2:12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

  LOLA LET RYAN help her off the boat and onto the dock. Twenty-four hours ago, she’d been scared out of her mind and on a jet with Harrison, destined for Orlando to pick up Vlad. So much had happened in a day. Thanks to Ryan, she’d found her mom and Ian. Also thanks to Ryan, she’d realized she hadn’t been giving herself enough credit and had allowed insecurity to keep her from making adult decisions. As she held his hand and strolled along the dock toward the souvenir shop, she couldn’t stop thinking about those decisions and how they could alter her life.

  Jackass was still out there and would remain a threat until they stopped him. For now, though, she didn’t want to think about him, or what level CORE would go to in order to hunt down the man. Instead, her priority remained on making sure her mom’s and Ian’s injuries were taken care of, a long hot shower—preferably with Ryan—and uninterrupted sleep. Also preferably with Ryan.

  Ryan. She could add him to the lists of decisions she would have to make. Of course she planned to have sex with him. After the kiss in the tent, she wouldn’t deny herself the opportunity. Then what? She didn’t have sex with strangers. While Ryan no longer fit that category, it wasn’t as if they’d both had some sort of soul-tugging epiphany and had decided that they had a case of love at first sight. They liked each other, were attracted to each other, and had gone through hell together. While she still wasn’t certain what his real reasons were for joining in the search for her mom and Ian, she couldn’t have asked for a better…partner.

  There was that word again. Partner. He’d used the term repeatedly, and she couldn’t help thinking about him in the same way. They’d been partners during their pursuit, had worked well together, yet when she thought about a life partner—

  The strong odor of cigarette smoke drifted from the shadows. Vlad stepped into the light. “Asian Lola,” he greeted her with a big grin, tossed the cigarette in a can, then approached them. “Cлава богу. Vlad worry for you.” His grin grew enormous when he looked to her mom and Ian. “Vlad see Asian Lola and Captain Ryan have success, no?” He extended his hand toward Ian. “Vlad Aristov.” When he looked to her mother, his smile fell. He scooped Cami into his arms, then quickly took the steps inside. “Harry, помочь.”

  “You don’t happen to speak Russian, do you?” Ryan asked as they followed behind.

  “Nope, but my mom does look like she just stepped off the set of one of her horror movies.”

  “At least her wounds weren’t deep.”

  While Ryan had sped them to his boat dock, she’d taken her mom below deck to investigate her injuries, and give Cami privacy while she dealt with her seasickness. “Yeah, Ian did a great job bandaging her,” she said, grateful for her boss and future stepdad. Talk about a partner. She’d bet her mom and Ian had worked well together while running for their lives.

  She stepped inside the souvenir store and winced when the bright florescent lights hit her eyes. Then all hell broke loose. Sadie pounced on Ryan. The dog acted as if he’d been gone for eighteen days, rather than eighteen hours. While he chuckled and rubbed his Sadie, Vlad sat her mom down on one of the many blankets and sleeping bags carpeting the floor. Harrison rushed to his side, along with Barney, who carried an enormous medical kit.

  Lola looked up and met John’s gaze. He stood between Hudson and Dante, who both grinned as they spoke with Ian and nodded.

  The moment became all too surreal. The room too noisy. She briefly longed for the peaceful sounds of the Glades, of being at one with nature and being alone with Ryan. Then she remembered sloshing through marshes and climbing over mangrove roots, the mud, the endless amount of plants and trees, and being out of her element. Only, now that it was over and they’d returned to civilization, she wondered what it would be like to explore the Everglades for recreation. To hike alongside Ryan, let him point out the different types of plants and animals that made up the strange environment, then later, camp for the night. Without having to worry about a hunter, they could make a fire, roast hotdogs and marshmallows, exchange stories, then later, snuggle in the tent and—

  “Stay out of your head for just a little longer,” Ryan said, leaning close to her ear. “You know they’re going to want to debrief us. But if you’re too tired, I can do it.”

  Sadie licked her hand. She looked down, and scratched the dog behind her ears. “I’m good. I think I just got my second wind.” She smiled. “Or is it my fourth or fifth?”

  “I’m with you, but I know I’m going to crash hard once I head home.”

  “Alone?” she asked. After the kiss in the tent, after everything they’d been through, she wanted to be with him. She wanted him to kiss her again, touch her, make love to her. They’d connected and she wanted affirmation that she hadn’t imagined that connection. If it hadn’t been for Ryan, she couldn’t have survived and found her mom and Ian. Or maybe she simply wasn’t ready to walk away from him.

  He took her hand, and leaned close. When she met his gaze, the chaos in the room faded to a faint buzz. His intense gray eyes had darkened with desire. He drifted them to her mouth and edged close enough for his warm breath to caress her lips. “If I had it my way, we’d already be in the shower. As it is, I’m trying my damnedest to keep from hauling you out of here and finishing that kiss.”

  Anticipation—primal, sensual—curled through her belly and hardened her nipples.

  He moved back. “I’m sure you’ll want to take care of your mom first. So I understand if tonight doesn’t work.” He sent her a hopeful smile. “Tomorrow’s the start of the weekend. Maybe you’ll stay until Sunday?”

  She looked to her mom. Although exhaustion lined her dirty face, she beamed from the attention Vlad, Harrison and Barney gave her. “I don’t know. It looks like my mom is doing just fine. She does love an audience.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Then let’s get this debriefing over with and leave. After hiking all day, you’re going need a massage to help with your sore muscles.”

  Picturing Ryan rubbing his big rough hands all over her body had her licking her lips. She placed two fingers to her mouth and let out a high-pitched whistle. Sadie whimpered, while the room went silent and everyone stared at her. “It’s late. My mom and Ian need their injuries checked and cleaned, clothes and a bed. So do Ryan and I.” She zeroed in on the CORE team and Ian, who had been huddled and talking quietly. “We can either discuss everything now—together—or in the morning. Whatever the case, any information you have on Steven Weir should be said to all of us. Ryan put his life on the line to help my mom…” Her breath hitched when she considered the lacerations and gunshot wound, and how Jackass had terrorized her mom. “Let’s make this happen before I fall asleep standing.”

  Ian half-smiled. “Lola’s right.” He turned to Dante. “Tell them what you know.”

  Dante explained that Steven Weir had once been a CORE agent, and had been arrested for beating a murder suspect to death, then incarcerated for six years. He went on to tell them what Harrison and Vlad had discovered in Fort Lauderdale, along with what John and Hudson had found at both Steven’s dad’s farmhouse and his ex-wife’s home.

  “The notes,” Ryan began, “Lola and I found one in the Glades near a tripwire Jackass had set for us.”

  Hudson grinned. “Jackass. Very fitting. What did the note say?”

  Ryan reached into his pack, which he’d dropped on the floor earlier. “‘You should have listened. Now I’m coming for you’,” he said, pulling the paper from one of the pockets, then handing it over to Hudson. “The message he left for me and Lola doesn’t matter.”

  “How do you figure?” Dante asked.

  Ryan shrugged. “If anyone found it, they wouldn’t have a clue what it was about. But the ones he left at the houses, along
with the earring…those are his brass knuckles.”

  “Which is why we took any evidence leading back to CORE,” Dante said, then looked to Ian. “If you’re worried about the agency taking a hit should the authorities find out, don’t. I take full responsibility.”

  John shook his head. “Cut the crap, Dante. Me, Hudson, Owen and Rachel…we’re all responsible. If anything goes down, we can keep Harrison, Vlad, Lola and Ryan out of it. They had no knowledge of what we were doing.”

  “No one needs to worry about the authorities.” Ian took a seat on the floor next to Cami. “I’ll personally take care of Steven. Once he’s gone, so will any trace of his ties to CORE.”

  Her mom cleared her throat. “Not quite. After Steven tied me to a tree and…cut me, he pulled out a cell phone and showed me pictures of what he did to his ex and her fiancé. He also took pictures of me. We need that cell phone.”

  Holy crap. Her mom had always been a staunch opponent of the death penalty—which was exactly what Jackass faced. Only not at the hands of the law. Did she not understand what Ian meant? That the man’s blood would be on their hands?

  “Don’t forget there’s a stolen boat tied to the dock,” Barney reminded them. “She’s a beaut and probably worth about a quarter mil. Mind explaining how you happened to find one in the middle of the Glades?”

  Ian told them about the drug dealers, and how he and her mom had dealt with them. When he finished, he added, “When this is over, I plan to put an end to the man the two dealers worked for.”

  “Good.” Cami gave Ian’s shoulder a squeeze. “I had the impression he was forcing girls into prostitution, too.”

  “Barney,” Ryan began, “can you get rid of the boat?”

  “Yeah, buddy. Same way I got rid of the Mazda.”

  “How?” Lola asked, curious that Barney could dispose of a car and a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar boat.

  Barney gave her a sly grin. “I gotta guy,” he said as if that was enough of an explanation. “Ryan can vouch for that.”

  “I can. Now that we have that squared away… I don’t know Jackass the way you do, but I can’t see him giving up. Just like Lola and me, he could have heard the gunshots coming from the trailer.”

  “He could make the dealers talk, find out if they came by boat, and assume his prey escaped him,” Hudson said. “We gotta figure out his next move. And ours.”

  Dante nodded. “I think we should go with our original plan and head out in the morning. Ryan, Barney was going to take us into the Everglades. Now that you’re back—”

  “Let the boy catch his rest,” Barney said. “Besides, he don’t know the Glades as good as me. I’ll take you out. If I were you, though, I’d either keep Vlad and Harrison at the house for protection, or hang out here until you find him. Your jackass don’t know about this place.”

  Lola’s stomach twisted with anxiety. “But he definitely knows about the rental house. And that worries me.”

  “You guys can crash here or at my house,” Ryan said.

  Although Lola would have loved for just her and Ryan to go back to his place, she was grateful he’d offered his house. Her mom’s safety trumped sex.

  “Thank you.” Ian scratched his chest while avoiding the tiny cuts along his skin. “But Dante said they cleaned up the rental.”

  Dante nodded. “Other than a few cosmetic repairs, there’s no evidence of a home invasion.”

  “I still don’t think it’s a good idea to use the place,” Lola said. Jackass wasn’t a fool and had proven to be more conniving than she’d expected. “As it is, he’s anticipated every move we’ve made.”

  “Vlad think Asian Lola correct. Jackass have ace on sleeve. Vlad feel it.”

  John pushed a hand through his hair. “Me, too. It would make logical sense for him to head back to where he’d started his hunt.”

  “Speaking of which,” Hudson said. “We need to take care of the Range Rover.”

  “Already done.” Harrison stood, then pulled keys from his pocket. “I forgot to tell you, me and Vlad brought it back here before we went to Fort Lauderdale. It’s parked on the other side of the building.”

  Ian winced when he rose from the floor. “Good. We need to clean up and re-dress Cami’s bandages.”

  “I’ll follow you,” Barney said, tapping his first aid kit. “I wasn’t a medic during the war, but I know enough to take care of what’s ailin’ ya.”

  “Thanks, Barney.” Ian glanced around the room. “Let’s call it a night and—”

  “Call it a night?” Lola asked. “Hello? There’s a giant mutant albino alligator in the room that has yet to be addressed.”

  “Honey,” her mom began, worry lines creasing her forehead, “I think exhaustion has made you delirious.”

  “You don’t get it, Mom. Even if Jackass doesn’t come to Everglade City, the hunter is now going to be the hunted.”

  Vlad frowned, then looked to Ryan’s stuffed alligator by the store’s front door. “Vlad wonder…who is bait?”

  “Right on, Vlad.” Harrison picked up his sweatshirt and backpack. “That’s exactly what we’ll be if we stay at the rental. Bait.”

  “Not if we find Steven first,” Dante said, walking toward a duffle bag. “We’ve been over this before, and we all agreed. But if you want out, then—”

  “Wait. Agreed to what?” her mom asked, looking to Ian. “What is Dante talking about?”

  Ian let out a deep breath. “Killing Steven.”

  Her eyes widened, before she glanced to her lap. “I see that I misunderstood you.”

  “What did you think I meant when I said I’d take care of him?”

  Cami glared at him with disbelief. “How about prison?”

  “After everything he did to you?” Ian shook his head and pointed to her arm. “Look at your body. Remember the pictures he showed you. Think about what he would’ve done if he caught us. Think about what he would have done to Ryan and Lola.”

  She rubbed her temple. “Fine. But my daughter will not play any role in this.” Her mom shifted her gaze to hers. “Lola, once we’re back in Chicago, you can give Ian your official resignation, then find a more suitable job.” She let Vlad help her stand, then held out her hand toward Lola. “Come on, honey. Let’s get some rest.”

  Humiliation washed over Lola, as every person in the room but her mom and Ryan looked away. How dare her mother embarrass her in front of her coworkers? How dare she think that she could decide what was best for her?

  Her earlier conversation with Ryan filled her head. She met his gaze. His eyes didn’t hold the pity she’d expected. Instead, they challenged her. They dared her to stand up for herself. She could be reading him wrong, but it wouldn’t matter. She did need to do right by herself.

  She squared her shoulders, took a few steps, then reached for her mom’s outstretched hand. “Mom, I love you. But, if I leave CORE, that will be my decision, not yours.”

  “Lola, darling,” her mom said, and touched her cheek. “I admire you and love you so much. I appreciate that you came searching for me and Ian, but this is no business for a woman.” She sighed. “Acting was your true calling.” When Ian cleared his throat, her mom closed her eyes. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

  Ian kissed her mom’s cheek. “Yes. But I still love you.”

  “What is he talking about?” Lola asked as everyone else made their way out of the room.

  When they were alone, her mom said, “Ian told me I coddle and control you. And he’s right. I’m sorry I embarrassed you just now. I’m also sorry for pushing you to do what I thought was best for you, rather than allowing you to make your own decisions. Most of all, I’m sorry I couldn’t be strong like you.”

  “What do you mean? You’re strong, Mom.”

  “In some ways.” She shook her head. “But, unlike you, I couldn’t be by myself. I did everything I could to keep you close to me. I even tricked you into moving to Chicago.”

  Ever since she could
remember, her mom had always shown so much strength and determination. But as her mind touched on a few memories, she realized her mom’s Achilles heel was loneliness, which was the one thing that had never bothered Lola. Sure, she’d had plenty of bouts with insecurity, but she enjoyed her own company.

  “I wanted to live near you. Being in LA without you just wasn’t the same.” She smiled, and touched her mom’s cheek. “I missed seeing your face.”

  Tears slipped from her mom’s eyes. “But the job with CORE—”

  “I’m not stupid. I know Ian wouldn’t have hired me if it wasn’t for you. But I’ve been proving myself capable of being part of his team. Acting was your calling. I don’t know if being an investigative agent is what I was meant to do, but it’s what I’m doing right now.” When shame and sadness filled her mom’s eyes, she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Trust that I can decide what’s best for me.”

  “Oh, honey, I do. It’s just…” She gripped Lola’s shoulder. “Steven Weir…I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want to ever be without you. Do you understand?”

  “You’ll always have me, and now you have Ian.”

  Her mom gave her a watery smile. “We broke up.”

  “What?”

  She half-laughed. “We’re fine now. But there were a few times today when I was ready to drown him in a marsh. As horrible as this day was, I think it brought Ian and I closer.” She grew serious. “And he helped show me a part of myself I’d never been willing to face—how I’ve treated you.”

  “You’re the best mom. Don’t ever think otherwise. I’m lucky you were always there for me. Honestly, I blame myself for being too unsure to make my own choices, not you.” Careful of her injuries, she pulled her in for a hug. “I was so scared today. Are you sure you’re okay? We can get you to a hospital and—”

  Her mom pulled back and shook her head. “If I go to the hospital, questions will be asked, that none of us want to have to answer.”

  Yes. How would they explain her mom’s lacerations and the graze from a bullet without the doctors or nurses becoming suspicious?