Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (10 page)

“Which we did,” Hudson said. “We found out he was running an insurance fraud scheme, before and during his time in prison, with the help of a shady business partner. Unfortunately we found out after he was released, and after he’d beat his wife and put her in the hospital.”

John read through the next page. “Shit. He was released eight months ago.” Dread settled in the center of his chest. “One other thing about Brisbane…he was an avid hunter.”

“Brisbane was a tall guy,” Dante said. “Not as thick as our suspect, but he could’ve bulked up over the years. John, find out where Brisbane is now. Let’s see if he still enjoys a good hunt.”

John picked up the file, and stood. “I’ll head to my office and make a few calls.” As he left the room, the dread turned to excitement. They’d started their search looking for the clichéd needle in a haystack. The possibilities had been overwhelming, but they were finally honing in on promising suspects. And based on Brisbane’s record, along with his father’s connection to Ian, the mean son-of-a-bitch was a
definite
possibility.

He took a seat in his office chair, then turned on his laptop.

Time to hunt the hunter…

Chapter 4

Somewhere in the Everglades, Florida

Thursday, 5:11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

HIS PREY STIRRED against the bald cypress. Not much, considering the way he’d tied the cords around their necks and torsos. He turned on the flashlight, then pointed it in their direction. Cami shifted her bottom, causing the bed of tropical ferns she sat on to shiver and whisper. Ian, on the other hand, rubbed his feet together as if trying to scratch an itch. Which wouldn’t surprise him. Although the locals had told him that they were at the tail end of the wet season, the mosquitoes were still bad. They’d been buzzing by him for the past two hours. Between the ski mask and insect repellent he’d sprayed on himself, so far none of the little bastards had taken a bite. He’d guarantee they were feasting on his prey, though.

He set the flashlight on the ground next to his pack, angling it toward the prey, then quickly stood. With his knife in one hand, and his Browning in the other, he approached the cypress, cut the cord, then took a step back. “Don’t move. I’m going to remove your bindings, and then you’re going to run west,” he said, pointing in the direction he wanted them to go. “The first leg of the hunt will be mostly wooded and dry. In about four miles, that’s going to change.”

After he removed the handcuffs, he shoved Cami to her side, then cut the duct tape surrounding her wrists. Her hands free, she ripped the tape covering her mouth. “Bastard,” she said, her voice hoarse, likely from lack of water, along with all her damned screaming.

“I’ve been called worse,” he responded, knocking Ian to the ground. After he sliced through Ian’s bindings, he aimed the gun at his head. “Don’t take the tape from your mouth. Anything you have to say will only piss me off and make me trigger-happy.” He waved the gun at Cami. “Get up, Screamer. You too, Prick.”

Ian glared at him as he used his palms to rise from the ground. He then offered his hand to Cami and helped her to her feet. Once she was standing, she rubbed the front of her neck. The glow from the flashlight didn’t expose much, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the cord had chafed her throat. She’d better hope that she hadn’t rubbed the skin raw. The bugs would have a grand ol’ time feasting on an open wound.

“Why are you doing this?” Cami asked, reaching for Ian’s arm. “You don’t
have
to do this. We haven’t seen your face, we don’t know who you—”

“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.