Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (8 page)

“Like I told you, business is slow this time of year,” he lied again. “Plus, I haven’t been hunting in a while.”

“The kidnapper is the one doing the hunting.”

He started the truck, then headed for his boat. “Not anymore.”

Somewhere in the Everglades, Florida

Thursday, 2:48 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

“Watch your step, you don’t want to land on a snake,” he said, keeping his gun trained on his prey and the flashlight aimed at the ground. “I’m going to give you two a few tips before I let you loose for the hunt. This narrow path we’re on probably wasn’t made by humans, but by animals. Wild boar, I’m thinking, or maybe panthers or bears. If I were you, I’d stick to these types of paths for as long as possible.” He flashed the light onto Ian’s bare feet. “You’re going to discover that the vegetation here can be just as deadly as the wildlife. I’ve seen thorns that are almost an inch long. Imagine that impaling your feet.”

He glanced at his watch. Almost back on schedule. “Here’s another tip. Don’t drink the water unless you boil it.” He chuckled. “Good luck finding a pot and a fire-starter.”

Cami tripped and stumbled forward. With her hands still behind her back, he expected her to nosedive into the ground, but she managed to right herself. He landed the beam of light on what she’d tripped over, then to her slippered feet. “You’re going to want to keep your feet dry to avoid trench foot and also watch out for alligator nests. Those mama alligators are rather protective of their young.”

After another twenty yards, he ordered them to stop and keep their backs to him. He shrugged out of his backpack, set the flashlight on the ground, then pulled out a set of handcuffs and a cord. “Here’s how we’re going to do this,” he said, cuffing their wrists together. “We’re going to rest here for a couple of hours. You’ll be thanking me for this later. Fatigue will set in quickly as your body dehydrates and hunger sets in.” He considered adding that spending the next two hours tied to a tree would likely demoralize them. But why waste his breath on the obvious? They had two hours to try and rest against a tree. The temperature had dipped into the low sixties and they were barely clothed. Sleep would elude them. Fear of the unknown wouldn’t. He smiled. “Come along.” He led them to a large bald cypress, forced them to sit, then tied them to the tree, keeping the long cord around their necks and midsection. “Comfy?”

The glow of the flashlight bared the hatred in Ian’s eyes. Good. The feeling was mutual. He looked to Cami. The woman’s face was still mascara-stained and tear-soaked. At least she’d stopped her screaming and whining. He would have hated to have to kill her before the hunt had even begun.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He grabbed his pack, dropped it against the opposite tree and sat down before setting the timer on his watch. “Get some sleep. Because in two short hours we’re gonna have some fun.”

Orlando, Florida

Thursday, 3:09 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

Lola jerked awake and quickly looked out the window of CORE’s private jet. In the distance, thousands of lights twinkled below and she realized they must be nearing Orlando. After they picked up Harrison’s friend, they only had a short one-hour flight to the Everglades.

Her stomach soured. How was her mom? Where was she? Did that bastard hurt her any more than he already had? Oh, God. Would they be able to find her mom and Ian?

She clutched her stomach and fought a wave of panic. Her dad used to tell her that if she didn’t have bad luck, she’d have no luck at all. He also used to tease her and call her his little black cat. If he took her to a Lakers or Dodgers game, they always lost. When she was learning to drive, she’d managed to take out their mailbox and rip off the back bumper of her mom’s car. She hadn’t been able to hold a job past nine or ten months without messing something up, to the point where she’d eventually been fired. What had made her think she could lead a team into the Everglades to rescue her mom and Ian?

The images of the man breaking her mom’s finger, of her tear-soaked face and the terror in her eyes, had Lola fisting her hand with helpless frustration. She wanted to save her mom, but wished she was part of a team of well-trained agents.

Glancing across the aisle, she saw Harrison sleeping, his mouth open and a bit of drool glistening along the side of his jaw. Harrison was a good guy and a good friend, but he was no agent and spent his days in front of a computer. As for his friend? Harrison had been cryptic about the man they were picking up in Orlando, but had said that he was a total badass. But did the badass know anything about the Everglades? Or how to track down her mom and Ian? She hoped to God Dante’s contact did, otherwise they were screwed and would end up in need of rescue just as much as her mom and Ian.

“Prepare for landing,” the pilot said over the intercom.

Harrison snapped awake, then wiped at his mouth. He turned his head and looked at her. “I don’t normally drool. Sorry if I grossed you out.”

She half-smiled. “I’m just glad you got some sleep.”

He rose, then sat in the seat next to her and glanced out the window. “Ever been to Disney World?”

“No, but I’ve been to Disneyland once. It was horrible. I threw up during the It’s a Small World ride and had to walk around in eighty-five degrees smelling like puke.”

He chuckled. “I guess a little drool isn’t that gross after all.” After buckling the seatbelt, he leaned his head back. “Did you get some sleep?”

“A little. I had a hard time drifting off. Every time I closed my eyes I kept seeing my mom tied to the chair.” She plucked a hairband from her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “I’m scared.”

“I know.” He took her hand. “We got this.”

“I want to believe that, only…never mind.” While she knew she could tell Harrison about her worry over their search, she also didn’t want her lack of confidence to discourage him or the rest of their team. “Tell me about the guy we’re meeting. I’ve never met a Vlad before.”

“And you’ll never meet anyone else like him.”

Her ears clogged as the jet made its descent. “How long have you known him?”

“Um…” He pushed his hand through his longish, brown bangs. “I think it’s best we not get into that.”

She studied the side of his face. “Because? Look, it’s bad enough I don’t know anything about the guy who’s going to be guiding us into the Everglades. Since Dante vouches for him, and I trust Dante, I’m okay with that. But I think it’s only fair that you tell me about Vlad. Unless he’s a mass murderer, how bad can he be?”

“Well, he’s not a
mass
murderer. He did work for one though.”

Not a
mass
murderer?

The landing gear hummed and thudded beneath them. She looked out the window just as the jet made its final approach toward the runway. “But he’s a murderer?”

“I wouldn’t call him that, either.”

“Has he killed people?”

“Yeah. But—”

“I don’t know what your definition of murder is, but in my opinion, if you kill people, you’re a murderer.” She looked away from the window and met his gaze. “You should have told me from the start. I would have never agreed to have Vlad on our team if I’d know this.” How in the hell was she going to work with a killer without worrying that he wouldn’t slit their throats?

“You’re right. I should have told you. But Dante knows about Vlad and he approved him joining us. You did say you trusted Dante.”

She had said that, and she
did
trust Dante’s judgment. He’d been Ian’s first hire and ran the agency in his absence. He’d also trained her. Dante wouldn’t jeopardize their mission or place any of them in harm’s way.

“Fine. Then tell me this. Were his victims innocent?”

The jet touched down. Harrison squeezed her hand and closed his eyes. “God, I hate that part.” He rolled his head to face her. “No. Vlad didn’t kill innocent people. When he lived in Russia, he was a heavyweight boxer and won a ton of fights. Some douche bag Russian mob guy unfortunately took interest in him and, after his career had ended, he was forced into working for the mob as a hitman. After a few years, Vlad tried to get out. It ended up costing him his family.” His jaw hardened. “If he returns to Russia, he’s a dead man. If the U.S. government knows about him, he’ll go to prison because of the man he used to work for, which would be better than being deported back to Russia.” The jet stopped and Harrison unbuckled his seatbelt. “Don’t judge him for his past. He’s not that guy anymore. Give him a chance. I think you’re going to love him.”

 
She unbuckled her seatbelt, too. Normally she wasn’t judgmental, but she also didn’t associate with murderers or wanted men. “You said he was badass, and that he’d help us. I promise not to judge him.”

He blew out a breath and stood. “Don’t be surprised if I remind you that you’ve said that.”

Fifteen minutes later, Harrison parked the rental car that had been waiting for them at the Orlando airstrip in front an extended stay hotel.

“Let’s make this fast,” she said, exiting the car. “He knows we’re coming, right?”

“I called and sent him a text.”

She rolled her eyes and looked to the star-filled sky. “Did he respond?”

“Ah…sure.”

“Liar. If he’s not here, we’re back on the jet. We might need his help, but we also can’t afford to waste time.”

He led her up the steps to the outside door of suite twelve and stood under the small porch light. “I’m sure he’s here,” Harrison said, his tone lacking confidence as he knocked on the door. “He just hates texting. Says his fingers are too big to manage the buttons.”

She crossed her arms and waited. If they’d made this stop for nothing, she was going to be furious. “Call him.”

 
Harrison rapped on the door again, this time harder. “He’s probably sleeping. Give him a sec and then I’ll—”

“Busy,” a man yelled from within the room.

Harrison pounded on the door. “Open up.”

“чёрт возьми! Coming,” the man called. “Hold onto horse’s rein.”

“Your friend sounds like that Boris guy from Rocky and Bullwinkle,” Lola whispered.

Harrison chuckled. “That’s
exactly
what I thought when I first met him,” he said, as heavy footsteps approached.

The knob jiggled, just before the door cracked open a couple of inches. “Harry?” The door swung open and a bare chested, giant of a man filled the threshold. “Harry,” he repeated, hauling Harrison into a big, bear hug.

She smothered a grin as she watched Harrison’s feet dangle a foot off the ground.

“It good to see Vlad’s comrade,” the Russian said, setting Harrison’s feet back on the concrete. “Vlad prefer reunion in daytime, but—”

“Didn’t you get my text?” Harrison asked, rubbing his upper arms. “I tried calling, left a voice mail, then texted you.”

“Vlad phone kaput. Take Vlad advice. Don’t drink and hot tub with phone.”

“But I just bought that for you three months ago after your other phone went
kaput
when your girlfriend shattered it. I hope you’re not still dating her, by the way.”

“Misty?” The Russian shook his white-blond head. “Vlad kick Misty to the side of street.”

“You kicked her to the curb,” Harrison corrected him. “And, by the way, it’s hold your horses, not hold onto horse’s rein.”

The big man frowned. “Would not Harry hold horse’s rein to stop it?”

“Yes, but—”

“No but,” Vlad said, waving a hand and finally looking at her. His mouth curved into a grin. “Ah, Harry surprise Vlad. Harry no longer like fiery redhead, but sexy Asian girl. Vlad approve.”

Oh, this guy was too much. Lola straightened her shoulders. “Sorry, Vlad, but me no love Harry long time,” she said, and cocked her brow. “Harry, hand me the keys and get your buddy ready. We have a jet to catch.”

“Geez, Lola. Let me at least intro—”

“Vlad Aristov,” the Russian said, offering his hand. When she took it, he kissed her knuckles, then grinned. “Vlad love bossy woman.”

“Lola Tam. And I’m not trying to be bossy. Time is of the essence and we need to leave.”

“She’s right,” Harrison said. “How soon can you be packed?”

“Where Harry and Asian Lola take Vlad?”

“Everglades.”

The Russian stared at Harrison for a moment before shaking his head. “Has Harry not watch
Gator Boys
?”

“No, why?”

“Alligator live in Everglades. So do snake.” The Russian shivered. “That why Vlad does not and prefer your Mickey Mouse land.”

“Some badass,” she said, taking the keys from Harrison. “Come on, this was a waste of time.”

“Asian Lola no think Vlad badass?” He puffed his brawny chest. “Vlad have strength of hundred alligator. Vlad will—”

“Just go pack your bag,” Harrison said.

The Russian nodded. “Give Vlad five minute.”

After he closed the door, Harrison turned to her. She held up a hand before he could speak. “Don’t,” she said, then headed down the stairs.

“Lola, c’mon, don’t be upset.”

She slid into the driver’s seat, then closed the door. After Harrison climbed in, too, she said, “I’m not upset, I’m frustrated. You told me Vlad was a badass, so I assumed he would be able to handle himself once we’re in the Everglades.”