“Ian knows. Don’t you?”
The little prick shook his head and grunted.
“By the time I put a bullet in your head you will. Speaking of which, it looks like we’re still on schedule. Dawn will be breaking in less than an hour.” He quickly glanced at his watch. “Actually at six-ten, forty-eight minutes from now—if we want to be exact. And that’s when I’m coming for you.” He motioned them toward the trail that would send them into the heart of the Everglades. “So, I suggest you run.”
Ian stepped in front of Cami. His chest rose and fell quickly, and the way he breathed hard through his nostrils had him sounding more like a snorting bull preparing to attack, than a multi-million dollar businessman on the verge of being hunted. The little prick’s narrowed eyes told him he wanted to say something. Although curious as to what bullshit argument or excuse Ian might make to talk his way out of being hunted, he had no intention of letting the man speak. Ian was, and always would be, a lying, manipulative son of a bitch.
Thanks to the prick, his life had reached an all-time low. But he’d reached an epiphany. Death had a funny way of making him realize that life sucked. That sometimes there wasn’t a better tomorrow. That when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, you could do anything you want.
Like hunting a man.
Like hunting a man who’d taken everything from him.
He glanced at his watch again, then looked up and smiled at the defiance glittering in Ian’s eyes. “You now have forty-seven minutes before I come after you. Not sure what you’re waiting for, but again, I suggest you run. Now,” he shouted.
Cami jerked and squeezed Ian’s upper arm. “Go,” she pleaded, tugging on him.
“Better do as the screamer says. If you don’t, I’ll tie you back up to that tree, kill Cami, then force you to watch as I make her an example of how to properly harvest and field-dress an animal.” He winced and shook his head. “And I don’t think that’s something you want to see.” When Ian didn’t make a move, he raised the knife. “Or do you? She is kind of annoying.”
“My God.” Cami pulled at Ian’s hand. “Please,” she begged on a sob. “Let’s go.”
With hatred in his eyes, Ian curled his hand over Cami’s, then took several slow steps backward.
“Oh, and don’t think about backtracking,” he said. “If you do, the consequences will be much worse. I’ll harvest and field-dress Cami while she’s still alive. I’ve always been fascinated by the human anatomy. Wouldn’t it be interesting to crack her open and actually see her heart beating?”
“You’re sick,” Cami shouted, and tugged at Ian again.
“So I’ve been told.” He waved the gun. “Better get a move on. I’ll be coming to get you in…” He looked at his watch. “Wow, time is flying. You now have forty-five minutes.”
Ian finally turned his back on him, then taking Cami by the elbow, began walking away.
He quickly retrieved his flashlight, then swung it in the direction of the couple. The light glanced off Cami’s cream-colored robe, just before she and Ian disappeared.
Letting out a breath, he ripped off the stifling ski mask, then looked around their makeshift camp. After shoving the mask into his back pocket, he plucked the handcuffs, severed cord and torn duct tape from the ground. Once he placed the items inside his pack, he swung his gear over his shoulders and started making his way toward where he’d stowed the rest of his supplies two days ago when he’d scoped the area. Although anxious to run after them, he had promised to give them until dawn before he began hunting.
Unlike Ian, he always kept his promises. Plus, he was a patient man. He’d been waiting for this moment for six years. He could wait another forty-five minutes.
Then the hunt would begin.
Everglade Airport, Everglade City, Florida
Thursday, 5:26 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
When the door to CORE’s private jet opened, Ryan stopped pacing. With apprehension, he approached the jet to meet the team Dante had sent. Earlier, as he’d readied his boat and the gear they’d need, he’d tried not to worry about how inexperienced the female agent was, and focused on the fact that Dante had sent two other trained agents. He could take Barney with him. The old timer knew the Glades better than most, but the man was pushing seventy, and had lost his left eye while fighting in Vietnam. Besides, he needed Barney to look after Sadie and the business while they were gone.
Poor Sadie. His dog always acted as his first mate, even when he took folks out on an airboat tour. She wasn’t going to like being left behind. But since she was currently the only family he had in the area, he couldn’t risk—
The interior jet lights spilled onto the staircase. Dolph Lundgren’s double stepped from the jet and made his way down the stairs. Nice. The guy could have seriously stood in as Rocky Balboa’s nemesis, Ivan Drago, from Rocky IV. Hopefully the man could throw more than a wicked punch and would serve as an excellent addition to his crew.
Another man exited the jet. The guy stood around six foot tall, but lacked the muscle of his counterpart. Brown hair flopped over his forehead. With the backpack slung over his shoulder, a graphic t-shirt and Converse Chuck Taylor’s, he looked like a college student rather than a CORE agent. Ryan supposed he had no room to judge. Other than wearing a pair of boots over Converse sneakers, he had dressed almost the same and could also use a haircut. Like his dog Sadie, though, he’d taken to only buzzing his hair twice a year, at the end of winter when the temperature started rising, and again in the summer once the heat had become unbearable.
The two men stood at the bottom of the steps, holding their bags and looking toward the exit. Anxious to see the final member of his team, he hoped she wasn’t a girly girl. In the Everglades, there was no room for that kind of nonsense. If they were to save this woman’s mom and the head of CORE, he needed her to be—
She hurried from the plane, carrying a bag and gripping the handrail. Her slim legs, encased in tight black pants, hugged her like second skin. Black boots, something a biker might wear, came to her knees. As hot as her short, leather jacket looked on her, it definitely wouldn’t work in the environment where they were heading. But she looked about the same size as Melanie. Since Mel wouldn’t need her waterproof boots to run the ice cream shop attached to his airboat tour business, Lola could hopefully wear them. Then again, with the way Mel dropped and spilled ice cream cones and sodas, she should not only wear waterproof boots, but waders, too.
The three agents grouped together at the bottom of the steps. As he neared the jet, he raised his flashlight and waved them over.
“Ryan Monahan?” Lola asked when they met halfway. Although too dark to really discern her features, based on her high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes, he detected a hint of Asian descent. And her voice… She’d only said his name, but that sultry, sexy tone had him wanting her to say it again. Under completely different circumstances and in a totally different place. Like maybe in his bed.
He cleared his throat and his mind from going anywhere—except the Glades—with the agent. She wasn’t here for a hookup, and if he wanted casual sex, he could turn to a number of women he knew who would be interested in warming his bed. “That’s me.” He extended his hand.
“Lola Tam,” she said, shaking his hand. “This is Vlad Aristov.” She nodded toward the Ivan Drago lookalike. “And Harrison Fairclough.”
“Wish we could have met under different circumstances. I’m sorry about your mom.”
Lola looked to the ground. “I need to call Dante and tell him we’re here.”
“Already done. But Dante still wants you to call him.” Ryan led them toward his truck. “They’re trying to find out where Ian rented his car. There’s no credit card record of any transactions. Dante said they looked into your mom’s credit report and couldn’t find anything either.”
“I wish I knew this before,” she said, that sexy tone now laced with frustration. She pulled out her cell phone, then punched a key.
“Dante, it’s Lola. Have Rachel search my mom’s credit cards under her real name, Constance Tam.” She didn’t speak for a moment, stopped and turned her back. “We literally just got here. I have no idea what his plans are yet.” She paused for a few more seconds. “He what?” Another pause. “Okay, understood.” She faced Ryan again, and offered him her phone. “Dante wants to talk to you.”
After he took the phone, she kept her gaze averted from his and walked away. Ryan looked to the other two men. Vlad began following after Lola. Harrison shrugged, as if saying you’re on your own, then trailed after the two agents. Uncertain as to what just happened, he put the phone to his ear, hoping for an answer. “It’s Ryan.”
“How soon before you’ll be ready to go?” Dante asked.
“I’ve taken care of our gear and weapons. Once I have your agents outfitted, we can start searching within a half hour.”
“Good. Hopefully we’ll have info on Ian’s car by then.”
“If not, I have a few places in mind where we can start searching.” He’d explained the situation to Barney when he’d called the man in to help him load the boat and watch Sadie. Since Barney knew the area even better than him, he’d given Ryan several good suggestions. “I’m hoping he went by foot. If this guy has an airboat, our scope will be broader, though.”
“Right. If you don’t hear from me before you’re ready to head out, call.”
“Will do.”
“And, Ryan. I let Lola know you’re the lead.”
Awesome. That explained why she walked off in a huff. “Got it,” he said, then ended the call. Honestly, he’d assumed he was the lead. His boat, his gear, his territory. But he’d planned on taking over in a way so as not to step on any of the agents’ toes. He wanted this mission to run smooth and as quickly as possible, without anyone becoming territorial over who was in charge.
When he reached the truck and opened the driver’s side door, the interior light showed the irritation hardening Lola’s pretty face. Because his mom had raised him and his brother to be gentlemen, he took her bag, which was heavier than it looked, then led her to the passenger side.
“Before I forget, does this belong to your mom?” he asked, and pulled the ruby earring he’d found in the back of the Mazda from his pocket, then held it under the interior light.
“I don’t think so.” She crinkled her forehead. “At least I’ve never seen her wear them before. Where did you find it?”
“In a car outside the rental house.”
“Right.” She looked away from his hand, but didn’t meet his gaze. “Dante said you went there. Did you find anything?”
The two other agents lingered by the opened, rear driver’s side door. Knowing Lola’s mom was one of the victims they were pursuing, and sensing that he needed to make sure she understood that he wasn’t planning on keeping her out of the loop or hiding anything from her, he took her by the elbow. Once they were out of earshot, he said, “It made sense for me to head over there right away.”
“I know that, and I’m glad you did.” She looked to the ground. “I guess I…never mind.”
“Please, don’t never mind me. We’re going to be working side by side for however long this search takes. From here on out, we’re a team. If you have something to say, say it. I don’t want us getting off on the wrong foot.”
“Did Dante tell you the kidnapper snapped my mom’s pinky?”
He couldn’t read her expression in the dark, but with the way she slumped her shoulders and hugged herself, she looked vulnerable and…scared. Since he had no problem with being called a mama’s boy, and would go after anyone who would be stupid enough to hurt his mom, he didn’t blame Lola. “He told me.”
“Did you find anything else that might indicate…God, this is harder than I thought.” She drew in a ragged breath. “Was there any evidence that he did…anything else to her?”
“None that I could find,” he said, then quickly filled her in on everything he’d discovered at the rental, including the Mazda.
“He trapped them inside the house?” She clasped her hands behind her head and spun away. “This is…Oh, my God,” she said, her voice shaking and filled with so much terror it made his chest tighten. She dropped her hands and quickly rushed past him. “We need to go. I need to find—”
He grabbed her arm, stopping her before she reached the truck. “Lola, I am sorry about your mom. But I need for you to take a deep breath and keep calm. I can’t have you compromising our mission, our lives, or your mom’s and Ian’s because you can’t separate your job and your personal feelings. Your focus needs to be on getting geared up and ready to go. Let the fear for your mom go. It’ll only compromise what we’re doing.”
“Let go of my—”
He held up a hand, silencing her before she ripped into him. “I’m not trying to sound insensitive. Trust me. I love my mom and, God forbid, if she was in the same situation as yours, I know I’d have a hard time separating the job from how I felt. But you have to try. And you have to trust me. I will do everything I can to bring her home. Okay?” When she didn’t look up at him, he bent his head to try to force her to look at him. “Okay?” he asked again.
She finally met his gaze. Damn, he wished they weren’t in the dark, and that he could read her eyes. She was upset, and rightfully so. But he needed her calm, and now wanted to know if what he’d said had helped her or would only make her resent him further. He would do everything he could to bring her mom home, but also had no problem leaving her behind if she allowed her emotions to rule her judgment. He’d watched too many good soldiers die or lose limbs because they’d let their emotions screw with their head.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I know what my role is and how to do my job.”
Although unconvinced, he decided to let the subject drop for now and led her to the Suburban. “Ever been to the Everglades?” he asked, and helped her into the truck.
“I’ve never been to Florida.”
He looked to the backseat, where Harrison and Vlad were tossing in their gear, and then sliding inside. “How about you guys?”
Harrison shook his head. “Nope. But Vlad’s been living in Orlando for the past few months.”
“Vlad love the sunny state.”
Holy shit. The big guy even sounded like Ivan Drago.
“Florida is called the Sunshine State,” Harrison said. “Not the sunny state.”
Vlad lifted his massive shoulders. “Sunshine…sunny, all same to Vlad.”
On that note, Ryan closed Lola’s door, then made his way to the driver’s side. “Dawn is right around the corner.” He sat and started the truck. “I have my boat ready, so once you’re all changed and—”
“Boat?” Lola asked. “Why are we taking a boat? He’s hunting, not fishing.”
“Right, but water makes up most of the Everglades.” Ryan made a turn, and headed for his airboat business. “If you didn’t bring waterproof boots, I should have some that fit.” He looked at the Russian guy in his rearview mirror. “Vlad, you might be a problem, though. What size shoe do you wear?”
“Do not worry for Vlad. Vlad come from Russia and know boots.”
“So…your boots are waterproof?”
“Water, snow…not snake or alligator,” he responded, his heavy accent laced with disgust. “Vlad like idea of use of boat. Alligator and snake only good for boot or purse.”
Great, the Russian guy was scared of critters.
“I like that we’re going by boat, too. Hiking really isn’t my thing,” Harrison said. “And I’m a size eleven.”
“That’ll work.” He glanced to Lola. “What about you?”
“I hate boats.”
Harrison nudged Vlad. “Yeah, she threw up on It’s a Small World.”
Lola wanted to shove a sock into Harrison’s mouth. She glanced over her shoulder to glare at him, hoping he’d let the subject rest. Dante and Ryan had already embarrassed her enough, and she didn’t need Harrison adding to
her humiliation. Since she didn’t know the area, she hadn’t expected to take the lead during their rescue mission, and had assumed Ryan would take charge. What she hadn’t planned on was Dante making that point clear to Ryan thirty seconds into their mission. After how the former SEAL had given her his insensitive separate your job and personal feelings spiel, it was obvious Ryan questioned whether she could handle going after the kidnapper and saving her mom.
She might not be experienced, but she was determined. And, damn it, how could she not hang onto her fear? Right now, her fear was what kept her going. Her mom was the only family she had left outside of relatives in China. Relatives who had disowned her father after he’d married a white woman. But Cami Carlyle was more than her mother, she was her friend. Her throat tightened and her eyes misted with tears. Losing her…
“Sorry,” Harrison said. “But you did say you threw up all over—”
“I know what I said. Let’s just drop it.” Using the dim glow from the dashboard, she studied Ryan’s profile for a reaction. His chiseled jaw shifted as he grinned. Well, at least one of them was amused. “The boat will be fine,” she said, hoping to assure him that she could handle herself. “And I’m a size eight and a half.”
Ryan veered left off the main road. “I have Dramamine, if you need it.”
“Asian Lola not need this Dramamine. Vlad have vodka. A couple sips should do trick.”
“I would prefer if you refrained from drinking while we’re out there,” Ryan said, turning into a large parking lot. “Have at it when we’re finished. Hell, I’ll even join you. But until then, the flask stays behind. Got it?”
“получил его. Vlad will leave flask.”
“Is this where you work?” Harrison asked.
“That’s right.”
“Cool. But shouldn’t we be going to the rental house?”
She turned toward the backseat. “Ryan’s already been there.”
Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) Page 8